The Red Devils now have their European Championship ticket in their pockets after their 3-2 win in Austria

At half time the score was 0-1 at Ernst Happel Stadium. Austria put pressure on the Belgians from the first whistle, but it was Dodi Lukebakio who opened the scoring in the 12th minute, with the help of Timothy Castagne. The Sevilla winger scored his first goal with the national team. Ralf Rangnick’s men frantically searched for an equaliser, but goalkeeper Matz Sels kept the lead on the board. His Austrian colleague Alexander Schlager only had to move once, from a long shot from Amadou Onana.

Ten minutes after the end of the first half, Lukabakio scored the second goal, 0-2. This time, Yannick Carrasco, who replaced Luis Obinda at half-time, was the announcer. Three minutes later, Romelu Lukaku, who had already hit the crossbar shortly before, scored a 0-3 equaliser, a good 78th goal for the Devils. Jeremy Doku did the prep work with a great dribble.

The loot seemed to have been won, yet it was still exciting. Konrad Laimer gave the Austrians new hope in the 73rd minute with a score of 1-3. Five minutes later the Devils were up by ten. Onana was sent off with a second yellow card after kicking an Austrian player in the ankle. Six minutes before the end, Arthur Thethe was penalized for a handball inside the penalty area. Mardel Sabitzer converted the subsequent penalty kick.

Domenico Tedesco threw two more newcomers into the fray: Mandela Keita and Arthur Vermeeren. Antwerp’s defensive midfielders helped preserve the win.