Austria remain unbeaten: 2-1 win against Neulengbach

In the 17th round of the ADMIRAL Women’s Bundesliga, Austria Wien secured a 2–1 home victory against USV Neulengbach. After a hard-fought contest, they eventually won thanks to goals from Lotta Cordes and Lena Triendl, thereby remaining unbeaten. Furthermore, the Violets have now secured their place at the top of the table heading into the championship group.

The Viennese side started with great determination and earned themselves set-pieces early on. The first free-kick for the Veilchen came as early as the 6th minute: Modesta Uka sent the ball into the penalty area, but Neulengbach managed to clear it for a corner with a header. The resulting corner was taken by Elisa Pfattner, who was back in the starting line-up after a long injury lay-off. Her ball flew dangerously into the penalty area, but Carina Wenninger’s first-time shot went just wide of the goal.

Neulengbach also looked threatening going forward. In the 8th minute, the visitors worked their way forward down the wing and crossed towards the Austria goal. Goalkeeper Jasmin Pal reacted alertly, however, coming off her line to claim the ball before a charging opponent could reach it.

Cordes puts the Violets ahead

In the 14th minute, Austria’s pressure paid off. Once again, it was a corner from Pfattner that made the difference. The ball was flicked on in the penalty area and fell to Lotta Cordes, who was perfectly positioned and headed home to make it 1-0.

Neulengbach remained combative but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Following a free-kick by the visitors in the 22nd minute, the Violets launched a swift counter-attack and once again established themselves in the opposition’s half.

Austria continued to look dangerous: in the 29th minute, Uka dribbled strongly past two opponents, but the Neulengbach goalkeeper saved her shot. Shortly before half-time, the hosts created a flurry of chances. In the 34th minute, Louise Schöffel sprinted forward, won the footrace and cut into the penalty area, where Uka got a shot away – but the ball went over the bar. Another corner in the 42nd minute also came to nothing. In the 45th minute, Pfattner broke through down the wing once more and laid the ball back to Schöffel, whose shot went wide of the goal. So the score remained 1-0 to the Veilchen at half-time.

Neulengbach strikes back after the break

The second half began with a great chance for Neulengbach: In the 50th minute, Austria loanee Alisa Ziletkina charged towards goal but was stopped by Pal. Just a minute later, however, the equaliser came. Following a corner, the ball found Makalić’s head and she made it 1-1.

The goal visibly boosted the visitors’ confidence, and they now ventured forward with greater conviction. But Austria remained dangerous too: in the 60th minute, Uka tried her luck from distance, but the opposing goalkeeper made another save.

Triendl decides the match

With fresh legs – Lena Triendl and Almedina Šišić came on for Dominika Škorvánková and Pfattner – the Violets tried to build up the pressure again. The substitution paid off: in the 71st minute, Šišić played a precise pass to Triendl, who held her ground in the penalty area and slotted the ball centrally into the net to make it 2-1.

In the closing stages, there were still chances for both sides. In the 81st minute, Yvonne Weilharter set up Weiss, but her shot went over the bar. The Violets continued to push for another goal in stoppage time: a corner from Šišić (91’) and a long-range shot from Stefanie Schneeberger (92’) came to nothing. The final move fell to Austria once more: Cordes crossed to Schöffel, who played the ball into the penalty area, where Strode controlled it – but the ball went out of play.

Shortly afterwards, the match was over: Austria won the clash narrowly but deservedly 2-1 and thus remain unbeaten after the 17th round of the ADMIRAL Women’s Bundesliga. Furthermore, the victory ensures the Violets enter the championship group as league leaders.

Austria Wien – USV Neulengbach 2-1 (1-0)

Austria: Pal – Wenninger, Schiechtl, Weilharter – Schöffel, Weiss (Schneeberger 82'), Cordes, Schorn (Kirchberger 78') – Škorvánková (Šišić 61'), Uka (Strode 78'), Pfattner (Triendl 61')

Austria goals: Cordes (14.), Triendl (71.)

Generali Arena, 341 fans, referee Vanja Vucanovic