Republic of Ireland travelled to Austria on Tuesday knowing that had to win in order to maintain a chance of reaching the 2014 World Cup.
The Irish threw away the lead before losing to Sweden on Friday, which moved them to second in the table and needed a victory against qualification rivals Austria.
However, Ireland slipped to defeat in Vienna, meaning that they will not be making the trip to Brazil next year.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Vienna, where Austria host the Republic of Ireland in a Group C World Cup qualifying match.
It's a huge game for both these sides tonight. Both teams can still take part in Brazil next year, but they would require a win here this evening to do so. It's do or die time in Vienna, as a draw would suit neither country.
Heading into Friday's fixtures, the two teams along with Sweden all sat in second and were only separated by goal difference. However, Sweden have since emerged as huge favourites for second after seeing off Ireland at the Aviva Stadium along with Austria's defeat to group leaders Germany.
The Swedes are now six points ahead of Ireland and Austria, having already beaten Kazakhstan this evening. Awful news for the two countries going head to head in Vienna this evening.
Qualification is still mathematically possible for Ireland, but they still have to travel to Germany in their remaining fixtures.
Prior to their 2-2 draw earlier in qualifying, it had been 18 years since these two sides met. It doesn't make pleasant reading for Ireland fans, they were beaten 3-1 in June and September of 1995.
This may also be one of the final Ireland games under the reign of Giovanni Trapattoni. The Italian's contract expires at the end of the campaign in June and he looks highly unlikely to renew his current deal. Trapattoni has been in charge of the side for the past five years.
Let's bring you his team for the match.
IRELAND XI: Forde, Coleman, O'Shea, Dunne, Wilson, Walters, Green, McCarthy, Pilkington, Keane, Long
So two changes to the side who were beaten by Sweden the other night. Glenn Whelan misses out due to a hamstring injury, while James McClean drops to the bench.
In their places are Paul Green and Anthony Pilkington, who makes his first start for Ireland having made his debut on Friday.
Pilkington has received criticism from some Ireland fans having pulled out of five previous squads because of injury. However, he is adamant that those problems were unavoidable and that he had no choice but to withdraw his place.
Elsewhere, Jonathan Walters (ankle) and Shane Long (dead leg) have shaken off injuries to retain their places in the starting lineup.
History isn't on the side of Ireland heading into this encounter. The Irish have not beaten Austria since 1963 when they won 3-2 at the European Championships. Since then Austria have put 21 goals past tonight's opponents in seven games, having only conceded seven times.
We're still awaiting the Austria team news, although their side that were beaten by Germany last week did feature three Premier League-based players. Andrea Weimann of Aston Villa, West Ham United's Emanuel Pogatetz as well as Stoke City's new signing Marko Arnautovic.
AUSTRIA XI: Almer, Garics, Dragovic, Fuchs, Alaba, Weimann, Harnik, Baumgartlinger, Prodl, Burgstaller, Kavlak
So Pogatetz and Arnautovic drop to the bench for the hosts but Villa's Weimann holds down his place in the starting XI. Other names you will perhaps recognise are Bayern Munich's David Alaba and Schalke 04's Christian Fuchs.
With five minutes until kick off, let's bring you the two benches.
IRELAND BENCH: Westwood, Randolph, Clark, O'Dea, McShane, Cunningham, Quinn, McClean, Hoolahan, Brady, Cox, Sammon
AUSTRIA BENCH: Lindner, Ozcan, Pogatetz, Suttner, Klein, Ortlechner, Ivanschitz, Leitgeb, Arnautovic, Sabitzer, Hosiner, Janko
The teams are out, the national anthems have been sung, and we're ready to go in Vienna.
KICK OFF! Austria get the game underway and will shoot from left to right in this first half.
No early chances as of yet, Ireland are passing the ball well in these early stages.
In terms of kit selection, Austria are wearing red shirts, white shorts and red socks, while Ireland are sporting all black.
A half chance for the Irish and McCarthy floats a free kick into box which finds O'Shea. His header is off target but nearly falls into the path of Pilkington. However, he cannot quite reach it.
A long ball over the top into the box nearly finds Shane Long on the left hand post, but it just bounces away from the striker.
To say it is raining in Vienna at the moment, would be an understatement. Very wet in Austria.
The masked Kavlak hauls down Keane in the centre circle, much to the annoyance of the LA Galaxy striker, and he more to the frustration of the home fans.
Nearly a chance for Austria as Weimann goes down the right before checking back onto his left foot and curling a wonderful ball towards the far post. Burgstaller is up against O'Shea and cannot quite make contact with the ball as it bounces behind for a goal kick.
Walters goes down when competing in the air with Fuchs and lands awkwardly. The Stoke man is down temporarily, but is now back to his feet.
Still no real chances yet in this match. A couple of half-opportunities are as good as it has got. It's been even so far.
CHANCE! First sniff at goal in this match and it falls to Ireland. Walters causes problems down the left and makes the most of an Alaba mistake, who fails to clear. He then lobs a cross to the far post, but Long is just not quick enough to reach it.
Alaba takes the first corner of the match from the right, but Green is on hand to head clear for Ireland.
Austria are starting to dictate the attacking possession a little bit more, and have a lot of men forward as they look to create a chance, but they then give away a free kick for a foul on McCarthy that relieves the pressure off Ireland for the moment.
CHANCE! Nearly an opener from Ireland, as Keane goes down the right side of the penalty area following a ball over the top. He then drills the ball on the half-volley from an acute angle across the face of goal, which misses both the bottom corner and the incoming Shane Long by a whisker.
Ireland drill a free kick off the wall which heads out for a corner. Austria are able to comfortably deal with the delivery into the box and quell the danger.
CLOSE! Ireland are starting to build momentum as Pilkington doesn't give up on a chance. He disposes the defender inside the Austria box before wiggling into some free space in the box. He then smashes a low effort towards the near bottom corner, but is flashes into the side-netting.
SAVE! Austria break forward through the powerful David Alaba. He works his way to the edge of the box before slamming a shot at goal which stings the palms of Forde, who pushes wide for a corner.
SAVE! Ireland again with their backs against the wall here. Alaba drills a shot from the right of the box which is blocked by Dunne, before it falls to Harnik. He gets his effort away from the opposite side of the box, but Forde is on hand to make another good save.
Dunne heads a dangerous cross over his own bar for an Austria corner.
YELLOW CARD John O'Shea is the first into the book for climbing over Weimann. He wasn't happy, but Austria now have a free kick.
HALF TIME: Austria 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Not the most entertaining game in the world, but both sides have had chances to go in front.
As things stand, this scoreline does neither side any favours, so one of them will have to step up in this second half.
Something that had escaped my attention was that Keane was booked late in the half for arguing with the referee.
The two teams are back out on the field in Vienna and ready for the second half.
KICK OFF! Ireland, playing from left to right, get the second half underway.
Ireland have a corner on the right but Austria can clear. Alaba then dashes down the wing for the hosts, who have men free in the middle, but Coleman makes a crucial tackle as the ball takes a touch and goes behind for a goal kick.
IRELAND CHANGE John O'Shea pulls up with an injury and is forced to hobble off. Ciaran Clark comes on in his place.
Walters looks up in the centre of the Austria half and has a pop from range, but it sails over the bar from 25 yards.
CHANCE! Ireland have the ball on the left but can't seem the find an opening. Keane twists and turns on the edge of the box before giving the ball to Wilson. The left-back touches the ball inside a crashes a long-range effort just over the bar. That had a lot of power behind it.
Weimann breaks into the box before winning a corner for Austria on the right.
Alaba curls an inswinging ball into the box, but Ireland can clear at the second time of asking.
From the break, Shane Long gets fouled and wins the free kick for Ireland. It's from a similar range to where Wilson had a shot from a few moments ago, and this time his effort is almost identical.
YELLOW CARD Richard Dunne goes into the book for a combination of handball and high foot on Burgstaller out on the touchline.
AUSTRIA CHANGE Burgstaller has since been taken off, with Stoke new boy Arnautovic coming on.
The free kick is curled into the box and Forde goes to catch it but lets it slip through his grasp. Wilson opts to take the safe option and puts the ball behind for a corner, which Ireland duly defend.
Ireland desperately try to create a chance in the Austrian box, but they can't get their shot away.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for Austria to take the lead. Fuchs skips down the left and pulls a low cross back to the edge of the box where Weimann is lurking. However, he can only hit his shot at Forde. Huge opportunity there.
CHANCE! Another great opportunity for Austria as Ireland's defence are caught napping. The ball is threaded through to Harnik inside the box on the right, but he smashes his shot over the bar.
Austria need to take these chances. Ireland, on the other hand, need to create some.
As things stand, Sweden will have had two wins this evening. It would be the perfect result for them should this match in Vienna end as a draw.
IRELAND CHANGE McClean is on in place of Pilkington.
AUSTRIA CHANGE Marc Janko has replaced Andreas Weimann.
OFF THE LINE! How Austria aren't ahead I don't know. The ball smashes about the Ireland box like a game of pinball, before McClean hooks the ball off the line and out for a corner.
SAVE! Ireland again with their backs against the wall as the shots rain in from Austria. The first one is blocked but falls to Harnick, who slams the ball towards the bottom corner. However, Coleman is there to deny a certain goal with a brilliant diving header off the line.
IRELAND CHANGE Connor Salmon is on for Shane Long for the final nine minutes.
GOAL! Austria 1-0 Republic of Ireland (David Alaba)
Finally the breakthrough for Austria, and my word they deserve it. The ball is bouncing around the Ireland penalty area once again following a Fuchs cross, and it falls to Alaba on the left. He takes a quick touch inside before absolutely hammering the ball into the top corner of the net. That's one of the most powerful shots I've ever seen. Ireland's chances of reaching Brazil are all but dead.
Austria look as if they are at least going to live to fight another day as far as Group C qualification is concerned, but even if Ireland find an equaliser, they have no chance of Brazil now.
Alaba hits a free kick from 30 yards out wide of the left post.
We'll have three minutes of added time.
Last chance for Ireland. Everyone forward at this free kick.
Austria can clear and that is that.
FULL TIME: Austria 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Ireland are out! Austria live to fight another day as they try to finish second in the group and will fight it out with Sweden.
Devastating times for Ireland, who were undone by a brilliant Alaba finish in the final 10 minutes.
That's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the game, until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
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