Austria’s women’s national football team started the 2024 international match year with a clear defeat once morest England. The red-white-red team had to admit defeat to the European champions and World Cup runners-up 2:7 (1:3) in a test in Algeciras in Andalusia. Defender Virginia Kirchberger scored both ÖFB goals with a header (30th, 67th).
Before that, Austria’s women had only managed one goal in nine duels with England, all of which were lost. ÖFB team boss Irene Fuhrmann largely relied on the formation that impressed with a 2-1 home win in the Nations League once morest Norway in December. Only Katharina Schiechtl replaced Verena Hanshaw, who had recently been under a lot of pressure, as full-back. Captain Sarah Puntigam acted in defensive midfield, while Eileen Campbell was the central passer in the attack. England coach Sarina Wiegman mixed her stars with some young talent.
The English women dominated the game from the start in the drizzle on the southern tip of Spain. ÖFB goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger missed a strong attempt by top star Beth Mead following two minutes, her Arsenal colleague Alessia Russo made it 1-0 (3rd). A shot from Grace Clinton hit the bar (15th). Four minutes later, the debutant scored the first goal in her first international match with a header from a cross from Lauren Hemp.
In the 30th minute, Austria celebrated: Virginia Kirchberger also headed a corner from Katharina Naschenweng. For the Eintracht Frankfurt legionnaire it was the fourth goal in the 99th international match, for the ÖFB women it was the first once morest England since the premiere duel in September 2005, when Natascha Celouch scored (1:4). After Russo missed a great chance, the ÖFB defense looked on as Mead grabbed the ball and placed it in the left corner of the cross to make it 3-1 (37′).
England had everything under control even following the break. Zinsberger defused a header from Maya Le Tissier (53′), and she turned a shot from Georgia Stanway over the goal (55′). However, Russo didn’t give her club colleague a chance in a one-on-one situation. The Arsenal striker scored a brace following Sarah Zadrazil lost the ball (61′). After a corner and header from Carlotte Wubben-Moy, substitute Jess Carter steered the ball into the goal with her heel to make it 5-1 (69′).
After a cross from Barbara Dunst from the half field, Kirchberger reduced the score to 2:5. England struck twice more through Mead (89′) following a shot from the pole by Lauren James and substitute Rachel Daly (93′) in the finish and ensured that the ÖFB women conceded seven goals in an official international match for the first time in their history conceded. The Fuhrmann team suffered its highest defeat so far, a 1:6 at the start of 2021 in a test once morest Sweden.
In the most recent duels, the Austrians were even less clearly inferior to England on a larger stage. In the opening game of the 2022 European Championship it was 0-1, in the World Cup qualification it was 0-1 and 0-2. The ÖFB selection has been in the training camp in Marbella since Monday. Another test once morest Denmark is scheduled there on Wednesday (4:30 p.m./live ORF Sport +).
ePaper
info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.
info
By clicking on the icon you open your “my topics” page. They have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.
info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.
Add the topic to your topics.
