2023-12-13 22:23:30
SKN St. Pölten is still without a win following the third game in Group B of the Women’s Football Champions League. Austria’s series champions had to settle for a goalless draw once morest Slavia Prague in a hard-fought game at the NV Arena on Wednesday evening. Coach Lise Brancao’s team scored their first point, but the draw was the next big setback in the fight for a place in the quarter-finals.
In front of only 762 spectators, Melanie Brunnthaler was unlucky with a shot from the pole (36th), but otherwise there were absolutely few top chances for the home side. The Czechs were more dangerous overall, Carina Schlüter saved St. Pölten from conceding a goal with a few saves. The gap to second-placed Brann Bergen (6), who, as expected, lost 1:3 to CL record champions Olympique Lyon (9), might not be significantly reduced with the draw. On Thursday (9 p.m.) next week, St. Pölten and Slavia will meet once more in the Czech Republic.
Liese Brancao sent out the same starting eleven that last started in the 0-2 defeat in Lyon. However, the Brazilian’s hope of taking control of the game from the start and dominating it was not fulfilled. The hosts found it difficult to get into the game and had a lot of trouble defensively. Schlüter had to defuse a shot from Tereza Krejcirikova early on and was lucky that Michaela Khyrova’s follow-up shot ended up in the side netting (4th).
A long-range shot from Franny Cerna went just over (21′), and Schlüter was able to fend off a shot from Haleigh Stackpole for a corner (24′). It was only following half an hour that the Lower Austrians were able to develop something on the offensive, such as in the 33rd minute. Brunnthaler went down following a challenge with Diana Bartovicova. Instead of a possible red card for stealing a goal and a free kick, the Portuguese referee Catarina Campos allowed play to continue. Much to the annoyance of Brancao and the home crowd.
Brunnthaler took center stage once more three minutes later. After a wonderful running pass from Mikolajova, the striker hit the bar first and in the follow-up shot, defender Lucie Bendova, who was able to block the ball for her goalkeeper (36th).
After the restart, little changed in the game. A Brunnthaler volley went over (49′). On the other hand, Schlüter saved from a Xio shot (56th). St. Pölten’s “Joker” Rita Schumacher missed the goal once (64′), but otherwise remained harmless. In the finish, Slavia was clearly closer to victory, Schlüter made a brilliant save from Haleigh Stackpole’s shot in the 92nd minute.
This at least prevented the third defeat following the bitter opening 1:2 once morest Bergen and 0:2 at Lyon. And Slavia, who had previously lost 9-0 once morest Lyon and 1-0 in Bergen, were kept at bay. As in 2022 in St. Pölten (1:1), there was a division of points in the direct home duel with Slavia.
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