Austria Vienna were beaten 3-0 by SKN St. Pölten Rush in the final of the SPORTLAND Lower Austria Women's Cup. The match turned out to be very unfortunate: Captain Verena Volkmer had to leave the field due to injury, SKN took the lead during the short-lived violet undercount and increased a little later after a deflected shot. The third goal was scored shortly after the break. Regardless of this, the Austria fans who had travelled with them celebrated the Violet women from the warm-up until long after the game.

An incredible atmosphere and around 1,600 Austria fans welcomed the violet women to Wiener Neustadt. The Violets around captain Verena Volkmer wanted to make the impossible possible. Stefanie Schneeberger and Jacqueline Hajek returned to coach Stefan Kenesei's starting XI compared to the game against Vienna.

Volkmer injured & double strike from SKN

The Violets had the first chance after just a few moments through Lena Triendl, but her shot landed just wide of the goal. Both teams started the final with noticeable motivation and commitment, with historic goals at stake for both: St. Pölten had already won the cup nine times in a row, while it would have been the first title ever for the Violets.

Volkmer was left lying on the pitch in the 20th minute after a collision and was later taken off the pitch covered in blood. Although the Violet top scorer wanted to continue at all costs, she did not do so on medical advice. As it turned out later, Volkmer broke her nose, which was set in the hospital and did not require surgery. Even before Alisa Ziletkina replaced the captain on the pitch (25‘), St. Pölten took advantage of their superior numbers: Mateja Zver flicked the ball into the far corner (25’) - no chance for Larissa Haidner to defend.

Unfortunately, luck was not with the Violets shortly afterwards either: In the 30th minute, the defending champions increased the lead to 2-0 with a shot from Jennifer Klein that was unfortunately deflected by Katharina Schiechtl. At the other end, Stefanie Schneeberger had Austria's best chance, but her shot was too inaccurate.

Quick third goal conceded as the decider

The Violets came out of the dressing room without making any changes - and the game continued unhappily. After a corner, the second ball landed with Sarah Mattner-Trembleau, who increased the lead to 3-0 with an unsaveable shot into the corner of the net (47'). It was also the early preliminary decision in the duel for the cup win.

However, the Violets did not let their heads drop, also thanks to the fantastic support from the Austria fans, regardless of the score. Ziletkina tried her luck from a turn, but her shot just missed the goal (56'). Katharina Schiechtl was first to the ball after a corner kick, but the equaliser would not come (60').

Austria's coaching team made their first change in the 64th minute, with Antea Batarilo coming on for Jacqueline Hajek. The remainder of the match was a bit of a stalemate, with neither side creating too many scoring chances. Anna Schorn, Vanessa Rauter and Alexandra Wölkart were also able to get some minutes under their belts in the final. Ziletkina then had the last chance, but she was also unable to score a well-deserved consolation goal with a header (90+3').

The numerous Austria fans also paid their respects to the Violet women after the game, continuing to support them and allowing the odd tear to dry more quickly. There was applause at the winners' ceremony not only for the Violets, but also for the defending champions from St. Pölten.

SKN St. Pölten Rush - Austria Vienna 3-0 (2-0)

St. Pölten: Schlüter - Touon, Klein ©, Biroova (Tabotta 76'), Wenger - Zver (Schumacher 86'), Johanning, Mikolajová (Meyer 76') - Mattner-Trembleau (Brunnthaler 76'), Mädl, Hillebrand

Austria: Haidner - Schöffel, Schiechtl, Weilharter, Satra - Mauly (Wölkart 85'), Schneeberger - Hajek (Batarilo 64'), Bruinenberg (Rauter 85'), Triendl (Schorn 85') - Volkmer © (Ziletkina 25')

Goals: Zver (25'), Schiechtl (30', own goal), Mattner-Trembleau (47')

Yellow card: Schöffel (53')

Referee Maria Ennsgraber; ERGO Arena, 2,400 spectators