Austria began their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over tournament newcomers Jordan in Santa Clara, but the final score did not fully reflect the balance of play. The European side were pushed throughout the contest and only secured breathing space through a late penalty and an own goal after Jordan had threatened to claim a valuable result.
Jordan produced a memorable moment shortly after the restart when Ali Olwan became the first player from his country to score at a World Cup. The forward collected a pass from Noor Al-Rawabdeh during a counterattack, advanced into the penalty area, and struck a shot that brushed the post before finding the net.
The historic goal was the reward for another impressive display from Olwan, who had already come close before half-time. From a corner, he directed a header against the crossbar and later forced Alexander Schlager into an important save with a right-footed effort.
Even after putting Jordan level, the striker continued to cause problems. One dangerous run saw him beat his defender before shooting, only for David Alaba to intervene with a crucial block. His performance gave Jordan hope of earning something from their first World Cup appearance.
Arnautovic changes the game from the bench
Austria looked considerably more dangerous after Marko Arnautovic entered the match at the interval in place of Sasa Kalajdzic. The veteran striker brought greater energy and presence to the attack, helping transform his side’s offensive display.
The 37-year-old thought he had found the net earlier, but VAR ruled out the effort because of a handball by Stefan Posch during the build-up. He also tested Yazeed Abulaila deep into stoppage time, drawing a strong save from the Jordan goalkeeper.
Arnautovic eventually got his reward in the 102nd minute. After Saleem Obaid blocked his shot with an arm inside the area, Austria was awarded a penalty. The striker stepped forward and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way before placing the ball into the bottom-left corner.
The goal carried extra significance as it was Arnautovic’s first at a World Cup. Austria’s record scorer capped an influential second-half contribution by sealing the result and ensuring his team collected all three points.
Kalajdzic struggles before half-time withdrawal
While Arnautovic flourished after coming on, Sasa Kalajdzic experienced a frustrating opening 45 minutes. The Austrian forward found little success against Jordan’s disciplined central defenders and struggled to impose himself despite his physical advantages.
The striker was unable to dominate aerial battles and regularly lost possession when attempting to hold the ball up. Austria lacked a focal point in attack, with Kalajdzic unable to provide the presence his side required.
His only notable effort came in first-half stoppage time, but the attempt flew comfortably over the crossbar and failed to trouble the goalkeeper. It summed up a disappointing display that offered little threat in the final third.
Austria’s decision to replace him at the break underlined his difficult evening. The immediate improvement following Arnautovic’s introduction only reinforced how ineffective Kalajdzic had been during the first half.
