Scotland bounce back

from Patrick Rowley in Invercargill (10.11.2009)

Scotland bounced back after their 8-0 drubbing by New Zealand to pick up their first points in the World Cup qualifier here in Invercargill
twice coming from behind to beat the higher ranked Austria 3-2.

They were by far the more adventurous side on another bitingly cold day.

Against the play Peter Prokosch gave Austria the lead after 27 minutes. Ross Stott levelled immediately after half-time with a first time volley after a telling pass by Mark Ralph, Scotland’s dominant player.

Michael Korper, a lumbering but effective centre forward, regained the lead for Austria from a corner but again Scotland hit straight back.

Michael Christie made the opening and Kenny Bain made the score 2-2.

Christie, with more skilful play, forced the corner that resulted in Scotland’s winning goal which Ralph scored with a roof bound flick.

Wales went down to their third successive defeat, losing 2-1 to much higher ranked China but deserved better against a team that relied
entirely on electrically fast counter attacks.

Andy Cornick (Hampstead) volleyed in to give Wales the lead early in the second half but Yixia Liu quickly made the score 1-1 from a corner.

Stalwart Yubo Na won the game for China after a superb solo run.

New Zealand, 4-2 winners over Malaysia, and China both have maximum points after three games and are strongly placed to play out Sunday’s final to decide the one team to go forward to the 2010 World Cup in Delhi.

Copy for Daily Telegraph 11.11.2009