Violets finish the first round with a 5-0 win

On the final matchday of the regular season in the ADMIRAL Women’s Bundesliga, Blau-Weiß Linz/Kleinmünchen faced Austria Wien at the Hofmann Personal Stadium. Although the Viennese were no longer fighting for a top-of-the-table spot – the Violets had already secured first place – they were determined to maintain their six-point lead over SKN St. Pölten with a win. They achieved this with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Linz side. The goals for the Violets were scored by Modesta Uka, Lotta Cordes, Almedina Šišić (who scored twice) and Courtney Strode.

The match began in an unusual atmosphere. Following the tragic death of Linz player Alexandra Wimmer, the players from both teams took to the pitch wearing black armbands. Instead of the usual entrance music, there was silence in the stadium before kick-off. After a minute’s silence, the final match of the regular season finally got underway.

Early lead for the Veilchen

Austria Wien started the match with great determination. As early as the 1st minute, Louise Schöffel set off on a sprint down the touchline and delivered a cross into the penalty area, but the Linz goalkeeper got to the ball before Elisa Pfattner. Just three minutes later, the early lead arrived: following a misplaced pass by the Linz defence, Pfattner stole the ball from the goalkeeper and laid it off to Modesta Uka, who coolly slotted home to make it 1-0 (4').

The Viennese remained in control. A free-kick from Almedina Šišić found the heads of Lotta Cordes and Carina Wenninger in the 12th minute, but the ball went narrowly wide. Shortly afterwards, things got dangerous following a corner, as Pfattner’s shot almost reached Katharina Schiechtl’s head – but the goalkeeper reacted brilliantly.

Austria extend their lead

The deserved 2-0 followed in the 24th minute: Pfattner played a precise pass to Cordes, who finished confidently. Further chances followed: Wenninger set up Cordes with a high cross (30'), but her header went wide of the goal. Shortly afterwards, the Linz goalkeeper saved a powerful header from Virginia Kirchberger following a free-kick from Šišić (32').

Linz also created chances towards the end of the first half. In the 40th minute, Austria goalkeeper Jasmin Pal was called into action for the first time, tipping a shot over the bar with her fingertips. Shortly before half-time, she defused another attempt from the hosts from the wing.

The Violets step up a gear after the break

After the break, Austria Vienna quickly added to their lead. In the 48th minute, Šišić broke through in the penalty area and scored again, assisted by Pfattner, to make it 3-0 against her former club. And the Violets remained hungry. In the 51st minute, Wenninger delivered a cross into the penalty area; Šišić got her head to it again, but the ball went narrowly wide. Two minutes later, she did better: after Yvonne Weilharter was initially denied by the goalkeeper, Šišić followed up and lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper into the net to make it 4–0 (52').

Blau-Weiß Linz tried to respond and won two corners in the 55th minute, but these came to nothing. At the other end, Cordes narrowly missed the crossbar with a long-range shot following a Weilharter cross (58').

Strode puts the finishing touch

Substitute Courtney Strode put the final nail in the coffin in the 70th minute: her shot found its way past the defender and the goalkeeper to make it 5-0 – once again, Pfattner had been involved in the pressing. Linz had another great chance in the 83rd minute, but Wenninger cleared off the line to prevent a consolation goal. In the closing stages, the Veilchen created several more chances, but the Linz goalkeeper kept her team in the game with some strong saves to prevent further goals.

In the end, it was a clear 5-0 victory for the Veilchen. Austria Wien thus finish the regular season as league leaders and maintain their lead over St. Pölten.

Blau-Weiß Linz/Kleinmünchen – Austria Wien 0–5 (0–2)

Austria: Pal – Wenninger, Schiechtl, Kirchberger (Schorn 60') – Schöffel, Weiss, Cordes (Schneeberger 64'), Weilharter (Pucci 70') - Šišić (Strode 60'), Pfattner, Uka (Škorvánková 60')

Goals: Uka (4.), Cordes (24.), Šišić (48., 52.), Strode (70.)

Hofmann Personal Stadium, 315 fans, referee Leitinger