Andreas Weimann's second-half strike was enough for Austria Under-21s to inflict a first defeat on Scotland Under-21s in their European Championship qualifying campaign.

In a tale of two halves Scotland had controlled the game in the first period but couldn't convert any of several good chances they carved out.

The decisive goal arrived in the 57th minute when Aston Villa's Weimann pounced after a lapse in concentration by the Scotland midfield. A sloppy pass was seized upon by Austria's impressive midfielder and man-of-the-match David Alaba who set up Weimann to place a first-time shot past Alan Martin.

It was rough justice for Scotland who had began the campaign well with two promising victories over Albania.

Scotland had dominated proceedings up to the goal thanks to their impressive midfield pairing of Burnley's Kevin McDonald and Peterborough's Paul Coutts.

The twin strike threat of Jamie Murphy and Christopher Maguire were constantly getting behind the Austria back four, supported by Falkirk livewire Scott Arfield and St Mirren's Stephen McGinn on the flanks.

In Scotland's best chance of the half, Murphy floated a cross over a crowded area in the 16th minute to Maguire who headed just over the crossbar.

Austria's 17-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Alaba was Austria's main threat in the centre of midfield while Guido Burgstaller also provided some menace from the left wing.

Disciplined defending from Scotland and a lethargic error-ridden performance from Austria however had meant that the hosts were mainly forced to shoot from distance.

They did manage to force a clear chance just before half-time when a slip in the Scottish midfield allowed Sand to send Burgstaller through on goal but his shot went just wide.

It was a warning signal for Scotland which went unheeded early in the second half.

In the 57th minute, the dangerous Alaba ran at goal after Scotland needlessly gave away possession and picked out Weimann in space on the right of the penalty box.

The 18-year-old substitute had only been on the field one minute but confidently slotted home a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner.

Austria seized the initiative from a rattled Scotland side, particularly in midfield where Alaba, the captain Veli Kavlak and the substitute Atdhe Nuhiu found themselves in more and more space.

In the 59th minute, Alaba sent a scorching drive from 25 metres just over the crossbar while a 65th-minute corner, again from Alaba, was headed goalwards by Nihiu and cleared off the line by Scotland's Mitchell.

In the 74th minute a shot from Kablak was spilled by Martin who recovered just in time.

The last 10 minutes were all Scotland as they frantically pressed for an equaliser.

Substitute John Fleck fired a shot straight at the keeper in the 80th minute, and a header in the 85th which the Austrian goalkeeper Lukas Konigshoffer did well to save.

In the last minute of normal time following a goalmouth scramble Paul Hanlon's flick came off the keeper and out off the crossbar.

It was the closest Scotland came to scoring in a match they will look back on as one of missed opportunities and three lost points.