This Group 6 encounter kicked-off in Baku, with the third placed Austrian's still hoping to gain three points, and possibly achieve second place in the group, contrasting with the Azeris having no chance of qualification for next summers World Cup Finals.

The Austrian's started to find their feet early in the game, with three attempts in the first 10 minutes, with Austria's Ivansic playing some beautiful balls forward to his team-mates.

Gurbanov, the Azerbaijani Captain missed a perfect opportunity in the 29th minute, for a left foot tap in on goal, but he checked his run slightly and was just a yard short of scoring, and in so, becoming a national hero.

Schrantzel had a nice chance towards the end of the first-half, chesting down a cross, and volleying the ball just high of the crossbar. Immediately the Azeri's counter-attacked, and gave the visitors a scare with a shot on goal themselves, which was turned away for a corner.

This spurred the home side on and the closing minutes of the first half the Home side were also denied a blatant penalty appeal, and seemed to be back in the game. Both teams left the field for the break, honours even, but the home side could have felt aggrieved for the penalty appeal having been turned down.

The Azeri keeper Kramarenko was immediately brought into play in the second half with a fine save to deny the visitors, and he continued with some fine saves to deny Austria. Along with the disciplined defence of the home team, and some wayward play from the visitors

The 80th minute saw the Azeri's best opportunity of the game thus far. The Austrian keeper scrambled off his line, only to punch the ball down to an Azeri player, only for the resulting shot, to an almost open goal, going wide.

With a draw being of no use to the Austrian's, the last 10 minutes of the game saw a more sustained attack from the visitors, but the Azeri keeper, and defence kept their composure until the final whistle. The Home team can be proud with their well-deserved draw.

Austria now have no chance of qualification for the World Cup finals, but can instead look forward to the European Championships in 2008.

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