In third place with seven points, even a win in the final group match against leaders Germany (12 points) will not help the Austrians to snatch second place and a direct ticket to the European Championships from Iceland (10). If the Icelanders lose to Poland and end up on the same number of points as Austria, the direct duel against the ÖFB team would decide the outcome.
Austria now has to go through the multi-stage play-off in autumn on its way to the finals in Switzerland in 2025. Poland will also be competing there. The bottom team, which still has no points, will be relegated from League A for the next phase. The match in Vorarlberg, played in front of 2,343 spectators, was interrupted for around five minutes in the middle of the second half due to heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
Leadership by Degen
Celina Degen puts Austria in the lead in the 37th minute
Zinsberger’s 100th international match
Fuhrmann changed her formation in three positions compared to the 1:2 defeat to Iceland. Regular goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger returned to goal and played her 100th international match, for which she was honored by ÖFB sports director Peter Schöttel before the start of the match.
In place of Katharina Schiechtl, who was suffering from a calf injury, Laura Wienroither defended at right back in the ÖFB jersey for the first time since recovering from a cruciate ligament tear and since the 2-0 friendly win against the Czech Republic on April 11, 2023. Midfield mainstay Sarah Zadrazil, who was also injured, was replaced by Degen.
Lots of pressure right from the start
The targeted “very clear reaction” after the bitter double against Iceland was visible from the start in the Cashpoint Arena. The ÖFB selection applied a lot of pressure, dominated the proceedings at will, but initially lacked composure in the final stages. Marie-Therese Höbinger (14th, 20th) and Barbara Dunst (19th, 26th, 28th) missed good opportunities.
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European Championship qualification
In the 35th minute, a triple chance was missed. First, Höbinger was stopped by goalkeeper Kinga Szemik, then her follow-up shot was blocked, and finally Lilli Purtscheller was close to scoring. Two minutes later, the fans in Altach were finally able to celebrate. After a short corner and a cross from Dunst, Degen headed in from close range. Seven minutes later, it should have been 2-0. A header from Campbell was wrongly disallowed because the crosser Verena Hanshaw was supposedly offside.
It was the second time that the Austrians disagreed with a decision by the Greek referee Eleni Antoniou. In the 17th minute, however, a goal by Purtscheller was rightly disallowed due to a foul by Puntigam.
Decision by own goal
Degen stayed in the dressing room at half-time and Annabel Schasching was substituted. The nature of the game did not change, however, despite the rain getting much heavier. The score should have been 2-0 straight after the restart. Szemik saved a shot from Dunst, and the unlucky Höbinger missed the empty goal on the follow-up shot (48′).
The heavy rain was accompanied by thunder and lightning, and the Poles almost managed to equalize out of nowhere. The ÖFB defense allowed a counterattack, and top striker Ewa Pajor missed the goal from a great position (57th minute). When play was interrupted shortly afterwards, the players did not go to the dressing room, but remained on the substitutes’ benches. Campbell then scored the second goal with a determined solo effort in her former home stadium.
After an own goal by Wos, who deflected a Schasching cross into her own goal, everything was clear. Padilla only managed to improve the result by rebounding after a shot hit the post. As a result, an even bigger ÖFB victory was in the air. The match ended like the first leg in Poland. Due to the lack of help from Germany, the “small football miracle” that Fuhrmann had hoped for did not happen.
Own goal by Wos
In the 74th minute, Oliwia Wos scores an own goal to make it 3-0.
Voices about the game
Irene Fuhrmann (ÖFB team manager): “I am very happy with the result, but also with the performance over long stretches. We dominated the game, especially in the first half. We created more chances than we have in a long time, but failed to decide the game before the break,” said Fuhrmann in an interview with ORF. The weather conditions then became more difficult. Poland had one or two chances, but in the end they deserved to win by this margin.”
“It’s bitter, of course. We knew from the start that it was no longer in our hands. But now we have to use this game (on Tuesday against Germany, ed.) to gain important insights for our path through the play-offs.”
Eileen Campbell (ÖFB goalscorer): “It is of course very annoying how the other game ended, but it is important that we stick to ourselves. We did that well and gained important confidence for the next games. This is the second time I have played here, I didn’t manage it last time, so it is a very special goal for me.”
Celina Degen (ÖFB goalscorer): “We have shown that we can perform well again, even when we are under pressure. We know what we can do and we managed to bring it onto the pitch. We may have lost our place in the European Championships, but we still felt the victory was very good. We weren’t able to gain any confidence in the last two games against Iceland, but we did today.”
European Championship qualification, Group A4
Fifth round, Friday:
Austria – Poland 3:1 (1:0)
Altach, Cashpoint Arena, 2,343 spectators, SR Antoniou (GRE)
Tore:
1:0 Dough (37.)
2:0 Campbell (71.)
3:0 Wos (74./own goal)
3:1 Padilla (79.)
Austria: Zinsberger – Wienroither, Georgieva, Kirchberger, Hanshaw – Degen (46. Schasching), Puntigam (79. Feiersinger) – Purtscheller (90. Pinther), Höbinger, Dunst (72. Hickelsberger-Füller) – Campbell (79. Billa)
Poland: Szemik – Adamek (46. Dudek), Zieniewicz, Wos, Wiankowska – Achcinska, Matysik – Padilla (91. Kozak), Kamczyk (80. Zdunek), Kokosz (46. Grabowska) – Pajor
