Vastic equaliser denies Chile another victory

Some 20 minutes earlier Chile were awarded a free-kick on the left of the penalty area. Zamorano climbed high above two defenders to head powerfully down towards the goal and Salas was on hand to force the ball over the line with his knee.

Austrian defenders Anton Pfeffer and Peter Schoettel had kept a close watch on Zamorano and Salas throughout the match, while Wolfgang Feiersinger played well as sweeper in a three-man defence.

But Austria had their nervous moments particularly when Schoettel tried to clearand gave the ball straight to Salas. His cross was just too high for the leaping Zamorano.

Chile defender Javier Margas then came close with a free-kick from 25 metres which he struck well with the outside of his right foot but it flew just wide of the far post.

Chilean midfielder Moises Villarroel got the first yellow card after a clumsy challenge with 15 minutes gone.

Chile’s strikers continued to drag the Austrian defence around and Schoettel received an almost inevitable booking on 25 minutes for a clumsy challenge on Salas.

Austria’s best chance in the first half came on 38 minutes when Mario Haas, playing instead of Andreas Herzog, struck a drive from just inside the 18 metre box but it was blocked.

Austria made a double substitution at halftime bringing on playmaker Andreas Herzog and Markus Schopp for Dietmar Kuhbauer and Harald Cerny as they tried to pep up the midfield. But Chile still looked the more likely to score, although Salas was booked after 58 minutes for dissent.

Just after thehour Francisco Rojas, a constant menace to Austria down the flanks, robbed Schopp and fed Salas on the left wing. He fired in a low cross for the unmarked Zamorano but Konsel just got there first. As the game wore on Austria began to create more chances with Herzog finding more space in the middle of the park and Toni Polster a willing target man.