World Cup qualification: Austria’s women in a goal mood with a mandatory victory

In contrast to the first leg in Liepaja, when they only turned up the heat at the start of the World Cup qualification after being 1-0 down and still managed to win a clear 8-1 away win, the Austrians quickly made things clear at home. A double pack from Sarah Puntigam, who first confidently converted a hand penalty (10th) and shortly afterwards followed up with a well-placed shot into the right corner of the cross (14th), as well as Celina Degen with a header (16th) ensured a quick 3-0 lead .

After that, the clearly superior ÖFB players were a bit too careless with their chances or were unlucky when Barbara Dunst shot the pole. The fourth goal came in the 58th minute from Katharina Schiechtl, who headed in after a corner kick. A little later, Maria Plattner also entered the shooter list with a shot into the far corner (64th). Katharina Naschenweng contributed to the 6:0, who surprised Latvia’s goalkeeper Enija-Anna Vaivode with a directly converted free kick (68th). Lisa Makas (76′) contributed to make it 7-0, Plattner fixed the result with her second goal (92′).

“It was important that we took the lead quickly. We then let ourselves be put to sleep more and more and were not so good in the backfield,” said team boss Fuhrmann in an ORF interview. “But I think the players did well in the second half. We were much more dynamic and focused. Of course we could have scored more goals, but we still had to give up our top scorer. I’m glad we had some first-time scorers. In the end we confirmed that we are well and broadly positioned.”

Five changes to Northern Ireland victory

Fuhrmann made five changes from the 3-1 win against Northern Ireland. Two concerned the attack, where Lisa Kolb started for Naschenweng in place of top scorer Nicole Billa and Julia Hickelsberger-Füller. Marie Therese Höbinger was allowed to play in midfield instead of Laura Feiersinger. Degen made her starting debut in defense, replacing Marina Georgieva who was ill. In addition, Schiechtl was given preference over Laura Wienroither. Captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck, who recovered from a coronavirus infection, was initially only on the bench.

As expected, the ÖFB defense, this time with a three-man chain, had nothing to do. The game only went off in half of the Latvians, who were completely overwhelmed, especially in the early stages. An unnecessary handball by captain Sandra Voitane was the beginning of the end. Puntigam confidently converted the penalty in their 118th game. Just three minutes later, the France legionnaire scored the next goal with a dream shot from almost 20 meters into the Kreuzeck. That’s not all, Degen headed a cross from Barbara Dunst into the goal.

Rod prevents higher pause lead

Bad luck prevented a higher break lead. Freiburg’s Kolb shot to the post (20′), a Schiechtl shot was deflected there by Latvia’s goalkeeper Enija-Anna Vaivode (21′). After that, the game slacked off a bit, the ÖFB women found it harder to break through the Latvian defense, despite three changes on the part of the underdog due to injury.

The addition of Naschenweng, Feiersinger and Plattner also gave the ÖFB offensive game a lot of momentum after the restart. Schiechtl scored with a header after a Naschenweng corner (58′), and Plattner acted callously in the end. From the 68th minute, Schnaderbeck was also allowed to collect match practice. After that, Naschenweng sunk a free-kick directly and also fitted the shot at Makas, who scored for the first time since the EM 2017. Plattner made the final point with her second goal.

Race for good position for play-off

Another goal festival in the last competitive game before the European Championships in England was also important with regard to the World Cup play-offs. In the end, the goal difference could perhaps decide whether Austria saves the first of possibly many hurdles on the way to a World Cup ticket. The top three runners-up in the group only enter the second play-off round.

Two of the three teams that are then successful there are going to Australia and New Zealand for the final round in 2023. The remaining team will get one more chance to qualify in the Intercontinental Playoff in February 2023. Depending on the setting, one or two games have to be won there at the World Cup venue. At the end of the World Cup qualification, the ÖFB women will face the flawless English team at home on September 3rd and North Macedonia on September 6th.

Comments on the game:

Sarah Puntigam (two-time ÖFB goal scorer): “It’s always difficult against an opponent who is so deep. I think we did well, found good solutions and scored a lot of goals, that’s always nice. The important thing is that we won, it doesn’t matter who scores the goals. We can score one or two more goals, but 8-0 is a great result. We are very happy with that. We tried to play a lot, everyone wanted the ball. At the Euro it will be something completely different. We have other opponents, stronger opponents. You can’t really compare that.”

Maria Plattner (two-time ÖFB goal scorer): “I believe that we controlled the game in every situation, played very dynamically, especially in the second half, and then also forced goals. I think we’re happy about every win, if that’s still a clean sheet it’s all the better of course. I think we have developed extremely well over the course of the year and are taking all of this experience into the pre-season games.”

Women’s World Cup Qualification, Group D

Tuesday:

Austria – Latvia 8:0 (3:0)

Stadium Wiener Neustadt, 1,350 spectators, SR Valentova (SVK)

goal sequence:
1:0 Puntigam (10./Elfmeter)
2:0 Puntigam (14.)
3: 0 Degen (16.)
4: 0 Schiechtl (58.)
5: 0 Plattner (64th)
6:0 Naschenweng (68.)
7:0 Scissors (76th)
8-0 Plattner (92′)

Austria with: Zinsberger – Schiechtl, Wenninger (68./Schnaderbeck), Degen – Dunst, Zadrazil (46./Feiersinger), Puntigam, Höbinger, Hanshaw (46./Naschenweng) – Kolb (56./Makas), Hickelsberger-Füller (46. /Armorer)