The ÖFB selection celebrated a well-deserved 3-1 victory against Northern Ireland in Wiener Neustadt on Friday evening and thus moved away from their direct rivals by three points after seven games in Group D in the fight for second place. In the event of a tie, the better direct duel (first leg: 2-2) would ultimately speak for Austria. For the squad of team boss Irene Fuhrmann it was also a successful dress rehearsal with a view to the European Championships in England in the summer, where Northern Ireland and the tournament host are group opponents. In front of 1,200 spectators, Carina Wenninger (48th), Nicole Billa (55th) with her 42nd international goal and Barbara Dunst (57th) ensured clear conditions in partly inhospitable conditions due to strong wind and rain. The flawless pool leader England is still five points ahead and did not show any weaknesses in North Macedonia at 10-0. Only the first has their fixed World Cup ticket, the second can try their luck in the play-off.
With Viktoria Schnaderbeck, the Austrians were missing the captain due to a corona infection. Sarah Zadrazil, Wenninger and top striker Billa, on the other hand, had won the race against time after a Corona break and were given the chance by Fuhrmann right from the start. The game developed as expected in the first few minutes after an initial swing by the Northern Irish team.
ÖFB team clearly dominated
The ÖFB selection had the game clearly under control, was much more active and also found two really good chances. Both times (15th, 27th) it was Billa, number three in the German Bundesliga season’s top scorers list, who missed the goal. Katharina Naschenweng and Barbara Dunst formed a three-man storm with the Tyrolean. A shot by Naschenweng was too central (34′), Dunst clearly missed one of several shot attempts (40′).
In contrast to the first leg, where the Northern Irish turned the game upside down with a quick double from 0-1 to 2-1 after the break in Belfast, this time the second half got off to a dream start. Wenninger, who had moved up, put a haze corner directly into the net from a short distance. The guests almost came back into play out of nowhere, but a blunder by Manuela Zinsberger, who dropped the ball, had no consequences (52′). The Arsenal legionnaire missed a shot shortly afterwards, but was able to make up for her mistake with a foot defense when Magill rebounded (55′).
In return, the hostesses made everything clear. Billa got an unsuccessful back pass from Julie Nelson to goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns, played it and completed it from well over 20 meters into the empty goal. Less than two minutes later, Dunst dryly completed a nice attack after an unselfish cross pass from Laura Feiersinger. Northern Ireland then stepped up their offensive efforts and were rewarded with a consolation goal from Joely Andrews (85th). Then Naschenweng hit the bar (88th).
This ended the 200th international game of the ÖFB women extremely successfully. A mandatory win against Latvia – again in the Ergo Arena – is planned for Tuesday. This is also the last competitive game before the European Championship finals.
“Roller Coaster of Emotions”
Fuhrmann was only moderately impressed by the performance of her troupe. “It was a roller coaster ride for me. We controlled the first half quite well but we were too vertical too quickly. The performance of the game wasn’t what we had hoped for but we were extremely effective and got the right result that we needed in the World Cup qualifiers,” said the 41-year-old on ORF.
This ended the 200th international game of the ÖFB women extremely successfully. A mandatory win against Latvia – again in the Ergo Arena – is planned for Tuesday. This is also the last competitive game before the European Championship finals. “Actually, nothing should happen anymore, we’ve matured and are experienced,” said Billa optimistically. For Fuhrmann, anything but success is practically forbidden: “We have to keep the tension high. Victory today is worth nothing if we don’t sweep Latvia off the field.”
Source: Nachrichten
