Substitute Abigail Harrison headed the game in the 92nd minute in front of a new Scottish women’s record crowd of 10,182 at Glasgow’s venerable Hampden Park.
Team boss Irene Furman’s selection have never reached the level of performance they showed on their way to the quarter-finals at this year’s European Championships in England. Thus, the fourth duel with Scotland also ended in failure. And that too after a match where both sides had few chances.
Bad first half
With heavy rain and strong winds at times, the weather in Glasgow has been almost continuously inhospitable on match day since the ÖFB team arrived in Scotland on Monday. The hosts were visibly more comfortable, playing the game before the break and convincing with a very safe ball performance.
The only downside is that they didn’t try to finish in the critical area. As a result, a save by ÖFB goalkeeper Manuela Sinzberger in a duel with striker Martha Thomas (14th) was short-lived.
Starting in a 4-1-4 formation, the ÖFB troupe tried their best not to concede a goal and were very secure in defence. A little further, only two shots hit the air. Nicole Billa rattled the net from the left (24′) and Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller’s ball hit the crossbar (43′) after Sarah Sadrasil’s preparation work.
Hickelsberger-Füller hits the bar
A shot from Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller hit the crossbar just before the break.
The Austrians keep the game open
After the restart, the conditions were better without the rain and the Austrians acted more courageously and thus gained more time in the game. A long range shot by Verena Hanshaw goes wide (68′).
Hanshaw at the gate
The ball didn’t want to go into the Scottish goal and Verena Hanshaw’s shot missed the target.
However, things became more balanced as the match went on. Both teams were looking forward to the decision. On the Austrian side, substitute Katja Wieneroether had a shot that was too weak (85′) and another shot from outside the box went wide (87′). It should bear fruit.
Decision early in overtime
At the finish, the Scots came close to winning and for the first time the crowd was truly a factor, creating a frenzy. It did not change for a long time as it was started by the favor of the supporters. Harrison headed home a corner from Erin Cuthbert. The attacking star managed to strike twice, but ÖFB captain Karina Wenninger managed to direct a header into the corner (99).
The equalizing goal was only in the air and a shot by Barbara Dunst did not find its way to the goal (101). With that, the Austrians hung their heads and left the pitch in front of the ÖFB leadership around president Gerhard Millich, after celebrating with Fuhrmann the previous evening at team headquarters in Glasgow over the selection of coach. Personality of the year
The “really interesting showdown” with Ireland at the NV Arena in St Paulton on Tuesday will not happen. Ranked 23rd in the world and slightly worse (20th) than Austria, Scotland can dream of a second World Cup participation after 2019.
Comments about the game:
Irene Furman (ÖFB team boss): “The disappointment is huge, the bitterness is there. You can’t blame the players at the end. We struggled to get going and found bite in the second half. We weren’t allowed to score the goal at the end and it was very harmless going forward. We weren’t ‘on point’ especially in the first half. You can’t afford that at this level. However, everyone tried to give everything here. In the end we missed a big opportunity to go to a World Cup for the first time. There was an opportunity. We have to process it quickly now.”
Laura Fearsinger (ÖFB team player): “It’s very bitter. It was a very close game, a bit of a nasty game. It was very duel-oriented and there were few chances. I think you can say on the pitch that the team that scores first wins. We didn’t reach our level today, and a lot Made simple mistakes. We created good situations for ourselves, but then carelessly gave the ball away. It’s very annoying.”
Play-offs for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, first round
Thursday:
Scotland 1-0 Austria AT
Glasgow, Hampden Park, 10,182; SR Adamkova (CZE)
Tor: Harrison (92.)
Scotland: Alexander – Evans, Howard, Corsi, Docherty (113/Mukandi) – Cuthbert, Ware, Kerr (64/Graham) – Cleland (46/Brown/120/Grimshaw), Thomas (75/Harrison), Emslie
Austria: Zinsberger – Wienroither (112./Kolb), Wenninger, Georgieva, Hanshaw – Puntigam – Hickelsberger-Füller (64./Naschenweng), Zadrazil, Feiersinger (100./Plattner), Dunst (112./Schiechtl) – /Wieneroither)
Yellow cards: Dicherty or nothing
Best: Weir, Cuthbert, Harrison and Weinreuther, Dunst
Scotland will face Ireland in the second round on Tuesday
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