Euro 2020: Austria advances to last 16 with win over Ukraine in final group game

The Netherlands, which was confirmed as group winners after beating both Ukraine and Austria, defeated bottom side North Macedonia 3-0 in the other fixture to finish with nine points while Austria has six from two wins.

Published : Jun 21, 2021 23:41 IST

David Alaba celebrates after the Euro 2020 group C match between Ukraine and Austria at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest.

Austria advanced to the European Championship knockout stages for the first time after it beat Ukraine 1-0 in its final Group C match on Monday to finish second and set up a last 16 clash with Italy.

The Netherlands, which was confirmed as group winners after beating both Ukraine and Austria, defeated bottom side North Macedonia 3-0 in the other fixture to finish with nine points while Austria has six from two wins.

READ: UEFA EURO 2020 highlights North Macedonia 0-3 Netherlands

Christoph Baumgartner, who looked shaken after a clash of heads with Illia Zabarnyi minutes earlier, scored in the 21st minute from a corner when he beat the Ukrainian defender to prod home from a teasing David Alaba delivery.

The groggy Austrian midfielder was withdrawn 10 minutes later and his replacement Alessandro Schopf nearly set up a second when he found Marko Arnautovic on a counter-attack but the forward's side-footed attempt was well off target.

Ukraine, which was sloppy in possession and rarely threatened in the final third, has three points and must wait to see if it advances as one of the four best third-placed teams.