Veilchen advance to Q3 of UWCL after 3-0 win

On Saturday, the Veilchen celebrated a commanding 3-0 home win against FC Minsk at the Franz-Horr-Stadion, advancing to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League. Courtney Strode scored twice and captain Carina Wenninger added another to seal the victory. The draw for Q3 will take place on Sunday.

The visitors from Belarus started the match energetically and had their first shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but it went wide. The Viennese women were not fazed by this. In the 8th minute, a strong effort from Elisa Pfattner gave her side an early lead: she kept an almost lost ball in play, played it into the penalty area, where Courtney Strode was in the right place at the right time to make it 1-0 (9'). Minsk looked visibly unsettled after that.

Strode scored twice

Austria controlled the game and continued to create chances: Louise Schöffel tried her luck with a long-range shot (24'), Kathi Schiechtl narrowly missed with a header from a Pfattner free kick (31') and Yvonne Weilharter also tested the visitors' nerves with a powerful shot from a corner (38'). Shortly before half-time, it was captain Carina Wenninger who headed in Pfattner's corner to make it 2-0 (45').

After the break, the Violets remained the dominant team, even though the intensity of Wednesday's match was still palpable. The decisive moment came in the 59th minute: after a handball in the penalty area, the referee pointed to the spot. Strode took responsibility and confidently converted the penalty to make it 3-0 (60').

Fresh legs in the second half

Head coach Stefan Kenesei then brought on some fresh legs: Almedina Šišić, Modesta Uka, Anna Schorn and later Chiara Pucci and Emily Schäfer came on, among others. Schorn in particular had several chances to score, but was unlucky (63', 81'). Minsk had another dangerous moment in the 71st minute, but the Austria defence cleared the ball decisively. Otherwise, the visitors were hardly able to develop any offensive play, while the Violets confidently managed the result.

In the end, Austria Wien celebrated a deserved 3-0 victory. With this win, the Violets are now in the third qualifying round of the UWCL – and are thus only one step away from the prestigious league phase. The draw for Q3 will take place on Sunday, 31st August at 12:00 noon.

Austria Wien - FC Minsk 3-0 (2-0)

Austria: Pal – Wenninger, Schiechtl (Schorn 60'), Kirchberger - Weiss, Pavlović (Pucci 75') - Schöffel, Pfattner (Schäfer 78'), Weilharter - Triendl (Uka 60'), Strode (Šišić 60')

Goals: Strode 9', 60', Wenninger 45'

Franz-Horr-Stadion, 1,024 spectators