Northern Ireland missed out on third place in World Cup qualifying Group Six when they lost to Austria in a match which saw both sides reduced to 10 men. David Healy had two good chances to score before Rene Aufhauser put Austria ahead on 44 minutes with a low shot.
On 73 minutes, Damien Johnson saw red for a reckless challenge on Emanuel Pogatetz, who was also dismissed for raising his hands in retaliation.
Aufhauser grabbed his second with a stinging left-foot shot in added time.
James Quinn shot wide early on and soon after Chris Baird challenged Andreas Ivanschitz in the box but Austrian appeals for a penalty were waved away by the Greek referee.
Healy had a chance to open the scoring on 13 minutes when he found himself through on goal but Juergen Macho dived to his right to save the striker's weak right-foot shot.
A minute later Healy's free-kick was comfortably gathered by Macho while at the other end Aufhauser was just wide with a long-range shot.
Lawrie Sanchez's side again went close on 22 minutes when Healy was tackled as he ran through on goal and the ball fell to Gillespie, whose shot found the side netting.
Healy squandered a glorious chance to break the deadlock on 26 minutes when Quinn found the Leeds striker unmarked in the penalty area, but he sliced the ball wide when it seemed easier to score.
Ten minutes after the interval, Stranzl backheeled the ball into the net but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Roman Wallner curled a shot wide of the post and Chris Brunt's firecely hit left-foot drive was tipped round the post.
Another opportunity was lost on 72 minutes when Steve Davis shot high and wide when well placed inside the area.
The match opened up after both sides had players sent off, Roland Linz seeing his shot brilliantly palmed away by Maik Taylor and second half substitute Steve Jones having his shot cleared off the line.
Austria: Macho, Dober (Ibertsberger 46), Stranzl, Scharner, Pogatetz, Aufhauser, Schopp (Standfest 55), Kiesenebner, Linz, Ivanschitz, Wallner (Gercaliu 77).
Subs Not Used: Schranz, Saumel, Lasnik, Kuljic.
Goals: Aufhauser 44, 90
Sent-off: Pogatetz 73
Booked: Aufhauser
Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Duff, Craigan, Murdock, Gillespie, Johnson, Davis, Brunt (Elliott 76), Healy (Jones 69), Quinn (Feeney 56).
Subs Not Used: Ingham, Sproule, McAuley, McCann.
Sent-off: Johnson 73
Booked: Gillespie, Quinn, Baird, Davis, Brunt
Referee: Athanassios Briakos (Greece)
Attendance: 12,500
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