Austria hand coach Constantini winning start

Wednesday 01 April 2009, 21:16

KLAGENFURT - Austria beat Romania 2-1 in a World Cup Group Seven qualifier on Wednesday to give their new coach Didi Constantini a winning start.

Rapid Vienna forward Erwin Hoffer struck twice before halftime to secure Austria's first win in five matches.

Romanian midfielder Cristian Tanase opened the scoring when he lobbed a long-distance shot over Austria goalkeeper Michael Gspurnig on 26 minutes but Hoffer equalised immediately and scored again just before the interval.

Austria next play group leaders Serbia in Belgrade in June.