After the 0:1 in the opening game of the European Championship on July 6th, on Saturday in Wr. Neustadt rightly suffered a 2-0 defeat in the penultimate Group D game of the World Cup qualifier. In the “first leg” in Sunderland at the end of 2021 it had drawn 0-1. As a result, the ÖFB selection could not improve their prospects for the World Cup play-off in October. The “Lionesses” finally have their World Cup ticket fixed.
Alessia Russo (7th) and “Joker” Nikita Parris (70th) made the decision in front of 2,600 spectators in the sold-out stadium. Austria did not get anything countable in their ninth duel with the English women, and they still have to wait for a goal.
The World Cup finals will take place in Australia and New Zealand next summer. The ÖFB selection, which secured its second place in the group before the game, has to qualify via multi-stage play-offs. Before that, however, the final duel in Wiener Neustadt with North Macedonia awaits on Tuesday (8.30 p.m.), where a win is a must in order to perhaps still qualify as one of the top three runners-up in the group. These teams save themselves the first playoff round.
ÖFB team manager Irene Fuhrmann refrained from any personal surprises, sent exactly the same starting eleven onto the field that had also started in the 2-0 defeat in the European Championship quarter-finals against Germany on July 21st. In the first game after the end of the career of long-term captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck, who, like Lisa Makas, was officially adopted during the break, the ÖFB selection recorded a classic false start.
The quick goal of the guests was initiated happily. After a Greenwood cross, Lauren Hemp headed for her colleague Beth Mead and the ball from the Arsenal legionnaire landed ideally with Russo, who shot straight into the corner from six yards (7′). The Manchester United offensive player almost managed a brace, but her header from close range was too weak (9′).
The favorite was satisfied with the lead, which is probably why the home team got into the game better, but showed deficiencies in the end. Julia Hickelsberger-Füller missed the goal (12′), Sarah Zadrazil shot the ball into the clouds from a slightly lateral position in the penalty area (24′). The Fuhrmann troop could not radiate more goal danger, at least there were no problems on the defensive for the time being.
That changed immediately after the restart, with Hickelsberger-Füller missing the first chance (47′). Ella Toone aimed wide from a good position (50th), ÖFB goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger had to shine with a foot defense in a Stanway shot (51st). On the other side, Mary Earps also made a good save, fished a Feiersinger shot out of the cross corner (60′). However, the game was clearly dictated by the English, who a little later closed the sack in line with their performance. The ball ran fast and after a Stanway hole pass, Parris, who had just come on as a substitute, finished confidently (70th).
The Austrians were able to create a goal or two as a result, but mostly the shots were blocked. So England didn’t show any weakness at their first appearance after winning the European Championship at home.
Source: Nachrichten
