The ÖFB selection prevailed on Friday against vice world champions Netherlands in the first of two tests within a few days as part of a training camp in Malta after a 0-1 deficit. Altach striker Eileen Campbell (86th) with her first goal in the ÖFB dress and Bayern’s Sarah Zadrazil (91st) made the turnaround late.
PSG legionnaire Lieke Martens (17th) had previously met for the 2017 European champions and number eight in the world. The Austrians were able to celebrate their first success in their sixth duel with “Oranje Leeuwinnen”, after four defeats and a 1-1 draw in the premiere in 1994 a strong nation like Holland wins. We showed a cohesive team performance and in the end we achieved a really cool victory,” summarized ÖFB team boss Irene Fuhrmann.
Due to poor space conditions, the game did not take place directly in Malta, but on the neighboring island of Gozo. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday (6 p.m./live ORF Sport+). There is to be played in Malta’s national stadium Ta’Qali.
Fuhrmann refrained from surprises in the starting eleven, sent their nominal “one formation” onto the field with one exception. Instead of Julia Hickelsberger-Füller, who was rested due to slight muscular problems, Katharina Naschenweng was allowed to try her hand at the left offensive position on the wing. The Austrians found a first half-chance in a mutual pat-down in the early stages, but Naschenweng couldn’t come close to a Feiersinger cross in the penalty area (7′).
After around 15 minutes, the Dutch women took over and promptly took the lead. The ÖFB selection gave the opponent too much space in the middle, whereupon Martens was able to prepare the ball in the penalty area and sink it with a flick in the corner. There was nothing to stop goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger. The favorites controlled the action, had more possession and could have done more. After a good hole-in-the-hole ball, Danielle van de Donk didn’t get the shot from a good position (29′), a Martens shot was deflected to a corner (31′) and a header from Fenna Kalma, who was unmarked in the penalty area, went centrally to Zinsberger (33′).
Her opponent Daphne van Domselaar had nothing to do, also because Laura Wienroither, who had moved up, shot well over the ball after the ball had finally run well in their own ranks (34th). After the restart, the game rippled a bit, Zinsberger prevented the 0:2 with a brilliant save from a Spitse volley (65th).
In the last 20 minutes, the ÖFB troop dared more and suddenly became dangerous on the offensive. Nicole Billa unluckily blocked a Feiersinger shot (71st). It was Billa’s last action and Substitute Campbell was supposed to bring about the turnaround. The 22-year-old from Vorarlberg ran towards the Dutch goal and shot coldly past goalkeeper Van Domselaar into the corner. The leader of the domestic Bundesliga scoring list with nine goals showed their goal-getting qualities for the first time at ÖFB level.
“It’s definitely a huge pleasure, especially because the goal equalized and we were able to turn the game in our favor at the end of the game,” said Campbell. Zadrazil made it 2-1 with a shot from 18 meters into the Kreuzeck. “We struggled in the first half, getting hold of things, we didn’t get into the pressing that much. But we created a few good chances in the second half. The fact that we then made it 2-1 is all the better. From that point of view I’m just proud of the girls,” said the match winner.
The world number 19 succeeded. after the 1:0 against Italy and 3:0 against Slovakia the third win en suite. As a result, there was also cheering on the ferry, which had previously been used to travel to the game.
Source: Nachrichten
