A Goal at the end of each half put paid to Northern Ireland's hopes of finishing third in World Cup qualifying Group Six.

It was a disappointing end to an enthralling campaign and one which typified the frustrating nature of the series as, once again, Lawrie Sanchez and his players will reflect on what might have been.

There was an early moment of danger from the Austrians when, on ten minutes, Roman Wallner fired over when well placed while soon after Andreas Ivanschitz had penalty claims waved away by referee Athanassios Briakos following a Chris Baird challenge.

Northern Ireland began to assert themselves with a 13th minute David Healy effort from the edge of the area which keeper Juergen Macho did well to save before, barely two minutes later, he once again denied the Leeds United striker from a set piece.

In what was a rare home attack Rene Aufhauser fizzed the ball past the far post from around 25 yards before, on 22 minutes, Northern Ireland created another real chance when an inch perfect Chris Brunt ball from the halfway line picked out Healy on the edge of the area but unfortunately his first touch was sufficiently poor to allow Emanuel Pogatetz to make the tackle with Keith Gillespie firing the loose ball into the side netting.

Then, on 26 minutes, James Quinn played Healy clear only for the Killyleagh front man to finish disappointingly.

Another chance followed on the half-hour from a Gillespie free-kick which Healy cut back for Aufhauser to slice over the bar for a corner from which Michael Duff headed just over.

It was a composed, confident and convincing first half performance from Northern Ireland from which they deserved something.

Unfortunately the Austrians hit back with a sucker punch right on the whistle when Markus Schopp knocked the ball back for Aufhauser to fire past Maik Taylor just inside the left upright. A goal very much against the run of play.

Disaster almost struck ten minutes after the interval when Roland Linz found the back of the net only for his backheeled goal to be ruled out offside while just sixty seconds later Taylor needed two attempts to make safe an Andreas Ibertsberger effort from the far side of the area.

Northern Ireland almost levelled just after the hour when an exquisite Brunt free-kick from the left was desperately scrambled over by Macho.

Then, a few minutes later, Warren Feeney - a 57th minute replacement for James Quinn - got in behind the home defence to meet a Gillespie ball. His flick back into the area was cleared for a corner by Martin Stranzl and when the ball was returned Steve Davis thundered it just wide from the tip of the area.

The game, already at times a tetchy affair, almost boiled over on 74 minutes when Damien Johnson was dismissed by the Greek official for a challenge on Pogatetz. The Austrian then followed the Birmingham City midfielder into the dressing rooms for retaliation.

With time running out it was the Austrians who looked the more purposeful. They created a series of openings before extending their advantage two minutes into added time when Aufhauser combined with Joachim Standfest to slot the ball past Taylor for a second time.

A real sickener for Northern Ireland and a scoreline which most certainly did not reflect the balance of play.

Indeed, the night was summed up right at the end when Steve Jones thought he had reduced the deficit only for Ronald Gercaliu to scoop the ball off the line.

Frustration all round but in the cold light of day this campaign will be looked upon with fondness as one which surpassed most expectations, one which provided us all with life-long memories and one which fills us with quiet confidence going into the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Craigan, Duff, Murdock, Davis, Gillespie, Johnson, Healy (Jones 70), Quinn (Feeney 57), Brunt (Elliott 77)