Austria fight back from early red card to beat Tunisia

Marcel Sabitzer's second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory for 10-man Austria against Tunisia in a World Cup warm-up match on Monday. The win came despite Austria having Konrad Laimer sent off in the 37th minute for a deliberate handball that denied Tunisia a scoring opportunity.

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Sabitzer netted a second-half winner for 10-man Austria as they overcame early scares to beat Tunisia 1-0 on Monday in their World Cup warm-up international.

Tunisia had multiple chances to take the lead in the first half, hitting the woodwork three times through Hannibal Mejbri, Firas Chaouat, and Anis Ben Slimane. The North Africans, also preparing for the World Cup, showed their attacking threat before Austria's resilience took over.

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Sabitzer, winning his 98th cap, swept home a square pass from the right flank from Stefan Posch to break the deadlock in the 63rd minute.

Following Sabitzer's goal in the 63rd minute, Austria nearly doubled their lead. Stefan Posch provided the assist for Sabitzer's winner. Shortly after, Tunisia's goalkeeper Abdelmouhib Chamakh denied substitute Marco Friedl, only for the rebound to hit the post and then Posch to hit the crossbar. Austria will open their World Cup campaign against Jordan on June 16, while Tunisia faces Belgium before meeting Sweden.

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Austria, preparing for this month’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, had been on the back foot after Konrad Laimer was dismissed in the 37th minute for a deliberate handball that denied Tunisia a goalscoring chance.