Referee Webb's late spot hands a lifeline to hosts Austria

Substitute Ivica Vastic blasted home past Artur Boruc after referee Webb, England's only representative at the tournament, gave the spot kick in added time for a tug by Marcin Wasilewski on Sebastian Prodl at a free-kick.

Austria's Sebastian Proedl, right, gestures after referee Howard Webb from England, center, awarded a penalty to Austria in the last minute

From looking dead and buried, Josef Hickersberger's side have chance of going through should they beat neighbours Germany on Monday night and hope Croatia make it three wins out of three against Poland.

Otherwise they will follow co-hosts Switzerland out of the competition at the first hurdle. Poland had Brazilian born Roger Guerreiro to thank for their solitary goal after offering Austria host of chances to take the lead before the break.

Vienna had not been a happy hunting ground for Austria, the joint hosts having failed to win on nine occasions in their capital city ahead of last night's encounter.

The alarming run included defeat in their opening group game against Croatia, but the manner in which Austria took command early on last night suggested they had been buoyed by their performance on Sunday.

Ivica Vastic keeps his nerve to fire his penalty kick past Poland's Artur Boruc

And but for Poland keeper Boruc, Austria could have been three goals up at half-time.

The first chance came when Martin Harnik was put through only to be denied by the fingertips Boruc. Harnik was denied once again moments later by the Celtic dominance count, it duly came on the half hour.

Euzebiusz Smolarek found Southampton's Marek Saganowski's whose shot was tipped into the path of Roger by Austria keeper Jurgen Macho.

That said, Poland were granted a large slice of good fortune by English assistant referee Michael Mullarkey who failed to spot Roger was offside when the initial shot came in.

Then came the dramatic finale with Vastic, 38, the oldest player in the tournament, becoming the oldest scorer in finals history. keeper. Another communication breakdown in the Polish back-line presented Christoph Leitgeb with golden opportunity, only for Boruc to save yet again. With Austria ripe for a sucker punch having failed to make their