LUCKY? Wales certainly enjoyed a little good fortune as they held Austria to a 2-2 draw in a rain-soaked Vienna.

Austrian manager Marcel Koller ruffled a few feathers before the match by suggesting Wales were lucky to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

And it took a backs-to-the-wall performance and an own goal to earn Chris Coleman’s side a vital point at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.

Joe Allen’s stunner gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half but they had to rely on another doughty display from goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to keep their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign on track.

Marko Arnautovic cancelled out Allen’s opener and levelled again after the break after Kevin Wimmer had put through his own net.

Wales had an early scare when Tottenham Hotspur defender Wimmer got his head to a corner at the near post and Hennessey had to be alert to prevent the hosts breaking the deadlock.

But a minute later Gareth Bale forced Austrian goalkeeper Robert Almer into an even better reflex save at the other end.

The initial corner was cleared as far as Ben Davies and his hooked effort was headed goalwards by Bale but Almer saved superbly at full stretch.

He could do nothing to stop Allen’s spectacular half-volley midway through the first half, however.

Bale’s cross from the left was headed back into the middle by Chris Gunter and it fell perfectly for Allen to unleash an unstoppable left foot volley from 25 yards.

Having failed to score in his first 31 international appearances it was a second goal in two games in this campaign for Allen, who also netted against Moldova last month.

The midfielder has also scored in his last two games for new club Stoke City but Austria were level within five minutes thanks to Allen’s Potters teammate Arnautovic.

Bayern Munich star David Alaba was given too much time and space in midfield and he lofted a perfect ball over the Welsh defence.

Arnautovic got away from Gunter and timed his run perfectly to beat Hennessey to the ball and head it downwards and into the net with a clever finish.

Coleman’s men then relied on Hennessey to keep the scores level as Austria enjoyed a period of sustained pressure.

The Crystal Palace stopper got down brilliantly to his right to keep to keep out a low drive from Zlatko Junuzovic.

Moments later Hennessey reacted brilliantly to prevent an own goal from Ben Davies, tipping his attempted clearance over the bar.

Wales were a little fortunate to remain level and they were gifted a half-time lead in stoppage time as the Austrian defence failed to deal with a Bale long throw into the box.

Sam Vokes nodded the ball and James Chester headed towards the goal.

Almer saved the initial effort but the rebound struck the prone Wimmer on the leg and rolled into the bottom corner of the net to silence the home fans.

In contrast, the 4,000 who travelled from Wales were in fine voice.

But the boot was on the other foot with in three minutes of the restart as Austria once again showed why they are unbeaten at home for four years.

Allen went from hero to villain as his sloppy pass caught out Chester and Arnautovic raced clear to curl the ball past Hennessey with the help of a slight deflection off the boot of Davies.

Allen was then forced off through injury and replaced by David Edwards.

That was a big blow to a midfield already shorn of Aaron Ramsey and a major worry ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Georgia at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales’ best chance of a winner came from a Bale corner that found Chester at the far post but he headed over the top, possibly put off by Vokes’ leap in front of him.

But a point in what should be the toughest away match in the group must go down as a good result.

Wales: Hennessey, Taylor (Huws, 90), Davies, Williams, Chester, Gunter, Ledley, Allen (Edwards, 56), King, Bale, Vokes (Robson-Kanu, 77)

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Argus star man: Hennessey