Veilchen knock St. Pölten out of the ÖFB Women's Cup!

The cup afternoon in St. Pölten had everything that makes a football fan's heart beat faster – excitement, pace, emotion and, in the end, a sensation: Austria Wien prevailed 2-1 against eleven-time cup winners SKN St. Pölten and are now through to the quarter-finals of the ÖFB Cup. Elisa Pfattner and Lotta Cordes scored the goals for the Violets.

The match got off to a flying start. In the first minute, the hosts caused a stir with a dangerous long-range shot, which narrowly missed the Vienna goal. Just a few minutes later, the Violets also made their presence felt in attack, but Courtney Strode was unable to finish after a quick attack (4').

First half: Early lead, sudden equaliser

In the 9th minute, the serial cup winners were dealt their first blow: Louise Schöffel crossed precisely to Elisa Pfattner, who coolly slotted the ball into the net – 0-1 to the Violets.

Austria got better and better as the game went on and created some good chances, but without scoring again at first. Modesta Uka tried her luck in the 18th minute, but her shot went just wide. A dangerous scene after a header from Carina Wenninger (20th minute) also failed to bring success for the Violets. Suddenly, the game took a different turn: In the 33rd minute, St. Pölten equalised with a penalty. Although Austria goalkeeper Jasmin Pal guessed the right corner, the ball ended up in the right corner of the net – 1-1.

Until the break, both teams played an open game, with the Viennese looking slightly more determined. The score was 1-1 at half-time.

Second half: dream start and passionate battle

Austria Vienna struck again immediately after the restart. A corner in the 46th minute was initially cleared, but Pfattner sent the ball back into the penalty area. Lotta Cordes rose highest and headed home to make it 1-2.

The Violets remained in control for the rest of the game. Cordes tried her luck with a long-range shot in the 59th minute, but the ball was deflected. There was a moment of shock in the 69th minute when goalscorer Pfattner had to leave the field injured after a tackle. Despite this setback, the Violets kept up the pace.

1-3 narrowly missed

The final phase was dramatic once again: Austria's free kick found its way into the penalty area, but St. Pölten finally cleared it (80'). Just two minutes later, Almedina Šišić hit the post with a magnificent shot – 3-1 was in the air.

Wenninger headed the ball into the goal in the 85th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside. At the other end, St. Pölten missed another chance shortly before the end (86th minute). In the five minutes of added time, the hosts threw everything forward, but the Austria defence held firm.

Historic success for the Violets

With a disciplined and combative performance, the Violets achieved a major upset: they handed SKN their first cup defeat since March 2012 and eliminated eleven-time cup winners SKN St. Pölten from the competition. Austria thus deservedly advanced to the quarter-finals.

SKN St. Pölten - Austria Wien 1:2 (1:1)

Austria: Pal – Weilharter, Wenninger, Kirchberger - Schöffel, Weiss, Cordes, Pfattner (Schorn 74.) - Strode (Šišić 74.), Uka (Pavlović 90+4.), Triendl

Goals: Klein (P., 33.); Pfattner (9.), Cordes (46.)

NV Arena, 200 spectators, referee Ernes Bajric