Austria Beats Israel 3-1 in Nations League Opener After Abu Farchi Is Sent Off
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Austria beat Israel 3-1 in Linz on Thursday in their UEFA Nations League opener. Romano Schmid put Austria ahead with a penalty before halftime, and forward Saied Abu Farchi, in his first senior national-team appearance, equalized with a header. Abu Farchi, already booked, pulled out a corner flag in a cue-like celebration that Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov apparently read as a shooting motion, and was sent off with a second yellow card. Israeli team members called it the player's regular celebration. Phillipp Mwene and Saša Kalajdžić scored late for Austria. Coach Ran Ben Shimon said Abu Farchi "is a young kid and he'll learn." Israel next plays Ireland on Sunday.