Arnie on song but unable to prevent defeat

  • by Staff Writer
  • Monday, 25th March 2019

Marko Arnautovic managed to score twice for Austria at the weekend - but still saw his national team fall to a demoralising defeat.

Arnautovic - who has managed the same achievement for West Ham just once so far this season (On January 2 v Brighton) - put Austria ahead in Haifa's International Stadium after just eight minutes.

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However his next goal arrived following an Austrian capitulation, which saw them fall 4-1 behind - Israel scoring four times in just 32 minutes - before Arnautovic grabbed his second of the game with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

The West Ham forward did however manage to complete a full 90 minutes for the second time in four days, following Austria's 1-0 defeat at home to Poland at the Ernst Happel Stadium last Thursday evening.

Elsewhere in Euro 2020 Group G, and in stark contrast, Lukasz Fabianski's Poland secured a second successive win in qualifying thanks to a 2-0 win against Latvia - although the Irons 'keeper was once again a spectator from the bench.

Also in action at the weekend was Felipe Anderson, winning his first international cap for Brazil since 2015 at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto.

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The Hammers winger entered the fray of the Brazilian's friendly encounter with Panama as a late replacement for Barcelona midfielder Arthur. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Adolfo Machado's first half strike cancelling out Lucas Paqueta's 32nd minute opener for Brazil.

* Later today Declan Rice is hoping to feature for England as they take on Montenegro in the Podgorica City Stadium. The match kicks off at 7.45pm local time; we'll bring you team news later in the day.

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