Substitutes Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic scored late goals as Austria sealed a 3-1 victory over major tournament debutants North Macedonia in their Group C opener at Euro 2020 on Sunday.
Stefan Lainer put the Austrians ahead early on in Bucharest, but 37-year-old captain Goran Pandev levelled before the half-hour mark to become the second-oldest scorer in Euro history and delight the vocal Macedonian fans.
But Gregoritsch diverted home the deciding goal 12 minutes from time and Arnautovic added a third to ensure Austria claimed their first-ever European Championship win and struck first blood in a group also containing the Netherlands and Ukraine, who meet in Amsterdam later in the day.
"Above all, the substitutions really paid off," said Austria coach Franco Foda. "Gregoritsch and Arnautovic gave the team a new impulse. Overall I think it was a deserved win."
?? Austria claim their first ever EURO win; Gregoritsch nets 700th goal in finals history ✅
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 13, 2021
?? Goran Pandev nets first ever major finals goal for North Macedonia on their debut#EURO2020
Austria next visit the Dutch on Thursday, while North Macedonia stay in the Romanian capital to face Ukraine.
"There's no room for disappointment, we have to improve not to repeat the mistakes we've done in this game," said North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski.
"Now we have to prepare for the next game against Ukraine. I cannot not be proud of my players who qualified for this championship.
Marko Arnautovic scored and did possibly the angriest goal 'celebration' in football history ?
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) June 13, 2021
David Alaba had to force him to celebrate the goal and stop ranting ?https://t.co/om61zLSzOM
"I feel sorry for the supporters, I'm speechless about the atmosphere they've created, I hope we will reward them."
After a bright start by Angelovski's Macedonians on Sunday, Austria struck against the run of play in the 18th minute as right-back Lainer met Marcel Sabitzer's cross at the back post to volley past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Lainer celebrated by holding up a shirt with the words "Eriksen stay strong" after Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in their game against Finland on Saturday.
80% - Four of Austria's five goals at the EUROs have been scored by substitutes (80%), including two today from Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic. Impact. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/ghyPAPShBi
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 13, 2021
It was the first time Austria had taken the lead in a European Championship game.
They quickly threatened a second goal as Sasa Kalajdzic turned Sabitzer's pass too close to Dimitrievski.
Pandev scores historic goal
But North Macedonia continued to press and levelled in the 28th minute as Austria goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann lost the ball as he slid out to collect it after some comical defending, and Pandev gleefully accepted the gift to slot into an empty net.
Goran Pandev is 37. He made his debut for North Macedonia 20 years ago this month. His nation had never reached a major tournament before.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 13, 2021
But he’s here. And he’s scored. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/rh2jroEJ4a
It was a record-extending 38th goal for the former Inter Milan forward for his country, making him the second-oldest player to net in the tournament after Austrian Ivica Vastic at the age of 38 against Poland in 2008.
Foda sent on Arnautovic and Gregoritsch as his side dominated the early stages of the second half, but North Macedonia remained a danger on the break and Boban Nikolov was denied on the hour mark by an onrushing Bachmann.
Minutes later it was Austria who almost forged ahead, but Gregoritsch's header was excellently palmed away by Dimitrievski.
Neither side sat back to protect their point, but it was the underdogs who continued to look threatening and Ezgjan Alioski and Eljif Elmas both had efforts well blocked.
37 - Aged 37 years and 321 days, North Macedonia's Goran Pandev is the second-oldest player ever to score at the EUROs, after Austria's Ivica Vastic (38 years 257 days) vs Poland in 2008. Golden. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/OsuGlza92X
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 13, 2021
Austria's quality shone through in the closing stages, though, as Gregoritsch nipped ahead of Dimitrievski to stab home David Alaba's low cross.
In the 89th minute, Shanghai Port forward Arnautovic ran clear, rounded the goalkeeper and tapped in to give the scoreline a slightly flattering complexion.