The selection of Irene Fuhrmann had a lot of luck at the Cashpoint Arena, especially in the first half, and took advantage of one of the few options when there was increased pressure in the finish. The 100th international match for Carina Wenninger, who was called up as captain, ended with a flattering success. The defense chief is only the third ÖFB player next to Nina Burger (109) and Sarah Puntigam (105) in the national team’s 100 club.
For Austria it was the sixth victory in the eighth game, only against France (0-0 and 0-3) you had to give up points. In the ranking of the best runner-up, you were initially in second place. However, there was still the possibility that teams from groups B, E and H could pull past in the evening or in supplementary games that had not yet been scheduled. If it is not enough, there is the possibility of securing an EM ticket in the play-off in spring 2021.
Victory goal for Austria
Nicole Billa scored the decisive goal for the ÖFB team in the 79th minute
Hostesses start cautiously
The Austrians didn’t get into the game well and had big problems on the left side of the defense again and again in the first half. Spain legionnaire Allegra Poljak caused big problems for Sarah Puntigam and Co. The Tenerife offensive player failed in the fourth minute after a nice action on the pole, and goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger had to show all her skills twice (35th, 38th). The Lower Austrian was also able to excel in a Blagojevic long shot (24th).
Little was seen of the ÖFB selection on the offensive. Although she attacked early, she only had a few ball wins, also because the ball went well with the technically savvy Serbians. In the only top chance in the first half, Laura Wienroither failed to Serbia goalkeeper Milica Kostic (15th), a conclusion from Barbara Dunst clearly missed the goal (23rd).
The printing phase is rewarded
Fuhrmann responded with a double swap during the break and tried to set new impulses by taking in Laura Feiersinger and Katharina Naschenweng. But they stayed away for a long time. The Serbians were closer to a goal for the time being, Wenninger was just able to clear a Poljak cross (63.).
Only in the finish did the pressure of the Austrians increase. As a reward, the only hit in the game followed. Zadrazil fought for the ball in the pressing and served Billa, who – as regularly in the German Bundesliga – demonstrated her goal-getting qualities. So they won against Serbia just as tightly as the first leg on October 8, 2019 in Nis. Back then, too, Billa was the winning goal scorer.
Voices for the game
Irene Fuhrmann (ÖFB team boss): “It was the difficult game expected, especially considering that we had the France game under our feet. You could see that Serbia has really good players. It was definitely not our best game, but you have to win a game like this first. We have the three points in our account. That’s what matters. “
“We had no access in the first half, we couldn’t get Poljak under control. At the break we switched to a back four and then felt more access. So it was the right decision. Now it is no longer in our hands. “
Nicole Billa (ÖFB goal scorer): “The goal was important for us to qualify, I’m really happy that I took the chance and that we won 1-0. The three points were just important. In general, however, I did not deal with how the others played or had to play. “
Carina Wenninger (ÖFB captain): “The Serbians are a strong team, they were already really good in Serbia and did it wisely against our pressing today. Our team boss then changed over at half time, and from then on we had more access. Now of course I’m all the happier that we were able to score the winning goal so late. “
Women’s European Championship qualification, group G
Tuesday:
Austria – Serbia 1: 0 (0: 0)
Altach, Cashpoint Arena, SR Tess Olofsson (SWE)
Goal: Billa (79th)
Austria: Zinsberger – Wenninger, Kirchberger, Puntigam – Wienroither, Zadrazil, Eder (46./Naschenweng), Aschauer – Dunst (76./Makas), Billa (87./Pinther), Enzinger (46./Feiersinger)
Yellow cards Austria: Wenninger, Wienroither
