This match against probably the best of the current European sides, gave England a famous victory. The game was a personal triumph for their centre-forward Nat Lofthouse. He was outstanding and his performance earned him the nickname 'The Lion of Vienna'.

A crowd of over 65,000, considerably boosted by the presence of many British soldiers stationed in Austria, saw a thrilling match that often became very rough, especially in the latter stages.

England decided on a tactical plan that allowed the Austrians to attack them continually. They defended in numbers and relied on a positive breakaway or two. From the first such breakaway England scored a fine goal. In a flowing move the ball sped from Eddie Baily to Billy Elliott, on to Jackie Sewell whose centre was met by Nat Lofthouse who thumped it past Musil.

England's joy lasted barely a minute as Austria were then awarded a rather fortunate penalty after Jack Froggatt's shoulder charge on Dienst was seen as a foul by the referee. Huber made no mistake with the spot-kick. This sent the crowd wild with delight and the home attacks grew even more fierce.

But the England players held their nerve and on 31 minutes another excellent break gave them a second goal. This time it was Froggatt who set the move going, slipping the ball to Billy Wright. Wright moved forward and released a fine pass through to Sewell who sold a marvellous dummy to the whole Austrian defence before cracking in a fine right-foot shot which left Musil helpless.

Austria were stunned but came back strongly and with only three minutes of the first-half left they scored a superb equaliser. It came from Dienst and was the result of a glorious run and shot giving Gil Merrick no chance.

What followed after the break was probably one of the toughest halves England have ever faced. The Austrians tried to power their way through and the visitors needed all their experience to keep them out.

Then on 82 minutes came a wonderful moment for the English fans present. Once again a swift break paid off as Merrick's kick was flicked on by Tom Finney's head to send Lofthouse scampering away from the half-way line. With the entire Austrian defence bearing down on him from behind the Bolton star kept his nerved and slipped the ball past Musil as the goalkeeper came out of his goal.

Lofthouse never saw the goal as the defenders had clattered into him as he shot and he had to go off for treatment. But the great-hearted player was soon back and in the last few seconds he came desperately close to a hat-trick when another shot crashed against the bar.

The British soldiers went beserk at the end of the match and chaired the brilliant Lofthouse from the field in their delight. For Lofthouse it was a game he will never forget.
   

The match that earned Nat Lofthouse the nickname 'The Lion of Vienna.' Eight minutes from the end, with the game deadlocked at 2-2, Tom Finney collected a long throw from Gil Merrick and released a pass that sent Lofty clear just inside the Austrian half. He galloped forty-five yards with a pack of defenders snapping at his heels, and collided with oncoming goalkeeper Musil as he released a shot. He was flat out unconscious and did not see the ball roll over the goal-line for the winning goal. The Bolton hero was carried off on a stretcher, but, still dazed, returned for the final five minutes. He struck a shot against a post in the closing moments. England's counter-attacking tactics had worked to perfection. They took the lead in the twenty-first minute after soaking up non-stop pressure from the Austrians, who were rated the number one team in Europe. A penetrating pass by Eddie Baily opened the heart of the Austrian defence and Lofthouse finished off the move with a left-foot volley deep into the net. The cheers of the Partys of British soldiers in the 65,500 crowd were still filling the Prater Stadium when Jack Froggatt conceded a penalty from which Huber side-footed an equaliser. The Portsmouth centre-half quickly made amends with a pass that put Jackie Sewell through to score after he had wrong-footed the Austrian defenders with two exaggerated dummies. Austria pulled level again just before half-time through centre-forward Diego, who shrugged off Billy Wright's challenge before powering the ball past goalkeeper Gil Merrick. Then came the storybook climax from Lofthouse. The triumphant England players were carried back to their dressing-room on the shoulders of cheering Tommies, who had come from their posts in Germany in their thousands.
  

The decision to visit Siena before going to Vienna for the return match against the Austrians on May 25th led to much adverse criticism. But the detour afforded the team a rest in delightful surroundings, and there were opportunities for some hard spells of training, so that the team arrived at the Prater ground fit and confident.
Against a tough and perhaps the most scientific opposition in Europe, England played a gallant match, and at the end gave a display of British football at its best. The early stages produced little of notice, except for some fine midfield play by the Austrians. Then in the 21st minute came a snap goal by Lofthouse from a neat pass by Sewell. The next four minutes produced a further two goals: first Huber scored for Austria from a penalty; then came a brilliant solo effort by Sewell. Just before half-time Dienst collected a rebound from Froggatt's tackle and scored a clever equaliser.
In the second half the game became very ragged and rough, but England lasted the pace better than the Austrians. Then came Lofthouse's magnificent run from the half-way line to make the score 3-2 — the first occasion on which England has won in Austria for over 40 years.