Gareth Bale enhanced his legendary status in his beloved Wales with another match-winning display to leave a World Cup spot within tantalising reach.
Dragons boss Rob Page predicted in the build up that his big players would deliver on the big stage in Cardiff.
His captain and record scorer did not let him down with two brilliant goals in his 101st game.
Bale may not get a game at Real Madrid these days in the final year of his contract.
But he remains indispensable to Wales and was their match winner yet again.
His incredible dipping first half free-kick with his left-foot was surely as good as any he has scored before.
And Bale doubled the lead after the break to leave the Austrians facing heartbreak.
Bale’s double leaves Wales just one game away from Qatar 2022 as they held on despite Marcel Sabitzer pulling a goal back.
Only Scotland or Ukraine at home in Cardiff later this year now stand in the way of Wales and a place at their first World Cup since 1958.
Few football fans will begrudge four-time Champions League winner Bale the chance to finally showcase his skills on the biggest stage of all.
He had vowed to leave nothing behind in his own personal quest to play in the finals as the clock ticks down on the 32-year-old’s career.
Bale was fit to start despite being omitted from Real's squad at the weekend after a back spasm.
Wales started well in front of 32,059 fans at the Cardiff City stadium where Aaron Ramsey pressed David Alaba into losing possession before Dan James had a shot saved.
But it was the visitors who almost took the lead in just the fifth minute when Christoph Baumgartner released Sabitzer but the forward’s right-foot shot came back off the bar.
Wales were fortunate to escape and soon began to recover their composure and push the Austrians back.
As Wales turned the screw, Baumgartner was booked on the edge of the box for cynically taking out Harry Wilson.
From the resulting free-kick 25 yards out, Bale thumped one of his finest deadballs ever which screamed into the top corner.
It was a sensational strike which sent a packed stadium into ecstasy.
And it underlined why, even if Bale is not playing regularly for Real, he simply has to start for his country.
Keeper Heinz Lindner stood agog to watch it hit the back of the net.
But the shot-stopper showed what he is capable of to deny Ramsey before the break.
Wales should have had a bigger lead at the break which was the fear going into the second half.
Bale eased those concerns with a smart turn and left-foot finish into the far corner after Ben Davies was first to a short corner in the 51st minute.
He might even have had a hat-trick when he ran clear in the 63rd minute but on this occasion Bale's shot sailed over.
Wales were then left to sweat when Sabitzer pulled a goal back moments later with a deflected shot from the top of the box which looped in off defender Davies.
It made for a tense finale as Dan James missed two good chances to restore the hosts’ two-goal advantage.
But Wales, who played their first international match back on March 25 1876 when they lost 4-0 to Scotland in Glasgow, held out.
Now 146 years on, there will be plenty of sore heads in Cardiff and all over the nation after their latest landmark game.
