Austria beat Jordan 3-1 in World Cup opener after Schmid, own goal and Arnautović penalty

Austria had to work harder than the final score suggested before beating Jordan 3-1 in their World Cup opener, a result that began with an early lead, swung briefly toward the debutants and then finished with late Austrian pressure.

Austria strike first

Romano Schmid gave Austria the start they wanted in the 21st minute, putting Ralf Rangnick's side ahead in their Group J opener. The early goal settled Austria, but it did not knock Jordan out of the match.

Jordan responded with enough confidence to make the contest uncomfortable for a team returning to the World Cup after 28 years away. The debutants stayed alive in the game and soon showed they were capable of more than simply absorbing pressure.

Jordan make history

Ali Olwan brought Jordan level with what became the country's first ever goal at a World Cup. For a short spell, the match looked much more open than Austria would have preferred, especially with Group J also containing reigning champions Argentina and Algeria.

Jordan's equaliser mattered beyond the scoreboard. It gave Jamal Sellami's side a moment of real history on the biggest stage and confirmed that their first finals appearance would not be a purely ceremonial one.

Late Austrian control

Austria regained control deep into the second half. In the 77th minute, Yazan Al-Arab turned a corner into his own net to restore Austria's lead and shift the momentum decisively back toward Rangnick's side.

Marko Arnautović then added a late VAR-awarded penalty to make the score 3-1 and give Austria a more convincing finish than the match had looked likely to produce for long stretches.

The final scoreline reflected Austria's ability to punish Jordan when the game tightened, but it also underlined how competitive the contest had been for most of the evening. Jordan hit the crossbar earlier in the match and remained in contention until the late stages.

Group J picture

The result gives Austria an important opening win in a difficult group. With Argentina and Algeria still to come, every point carries weight, and Austria have already protected themselves from an opening setback.

For Jordan, the defeat raises the pressure on the rest of their campaign, including the meeting with Algeria. Even so, their first World Cup goal and the way they stayed in the game will give them some encouragement despite the loss.

The match was a reminder that debutants can still make life awkward for more established sides. Austria got the result they needed, but only after Jordan had forced them to earn it.