Biancheri and Popov give Wales U21 much needed win in Austria

Manchester United's Gabriele Biancheri scored on his first start as Wales Under-21s bounced back after two heavy defeats with a fine 2-0 win over Austria in Linz.

Biancheri's first half goal and a second from Leicester City's Chris Popov late in the game secured a much needed win.

Wales had conceded 13 goals in their opening two games of the 2027 European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.

Matty Jones' side had lost 6-2 at home to Denmark in their opening game followed by a 7-0 reverse against Belgium in Newport last Friday.

Victory sees Wales move off the bottom of Group I and above Belarus, who they face in Georgia on 14 November.

Wales' side showed three changes to the one which started the heavy loss against Belgium at Rodney Parade, including a first start for the highly rated Biancheri.

Cardiff-born Biancheri is also eligible to represent Italy as well as Canada, whose senior squad he trained with in May.

Belmin Beganovic wasted a golden opportunity for the hosts when he found himself in space in the area but he curled his effort past the post.

That miss proved costly as a minute later poor back pass by David Heindl was picked up by Biancheri, who rounded the keeper to score.

The pressed for an equaliser in the second half with Nikolas Sattlberger's header from David Puczka's cross hitting the crossbar before substitute Moritz Wels fired over the crossbar.

Tim Trummer also blazed over the crossbar as Austria continued to press against a tiring Welsh side.

But against the run of play Wales sealed the win in the 90th minute, when Luke Harris' pass found substitute Popov, who coolly fired home.

Only the nine group winners and the team with the best runners-up record are guaranteed an automatic spot in the finals in Serbia and Albania in summer 2027.

The eight other group runners-up will face each other in the play-offs to decide the final four qualifiers.