MATCH REVIEW: FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Scotland 1-0 Austria
A tense affair in front of a record Hampden crowd seen Scotland overcome Austria in a 1-0 win on Thursday evening.
Despite the terrible weather conditions, the 10,182 strong crowd witnessed a great structured performance from Pedro Martinez Loca’s side as a goal from Abi Harrison at the start of extra time gave Scotland a deserved win.
First half
The first notable chance of the match would come for Austria just two minutes in as Hickelsberger was played in behind, but captain Rachel Corsie was on hand to cut out the danger following Hickelsberger’s cross.
Scotland’s first real opportunity would come ten minutes later as Claire Emslie’s ball into the box would be flashed across goal but sadly for Scotland there wasn’t any takers.
The 16th minute mark would see Scotland’s first shot on target come from Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir who’s volley from distance following a well cleared corner was comfortably held by Austrian keeper Manuela Zinsberger.
Pressure would be ramped up from Scotland at the half an hour mark as Austria began to struggle to cope with the upped intensity of Scotland’s attack, with Claire Emslie’s dribble into the box and a further acrobatic effort being unsuccessful.
Austria would then fight back well as they managed to carve out a few chances themselves a few minutes before half time as Sarah Zadrazil’s shot in the box being blocked by Caroline Weir. Nicola Docherty also managed to prevent a dangerous cross into the area, while Sophie Howard bravely cleared a dangerous Austrian corner just after.
The last chance of the half would be the biggest of the 90 minutes as a Nicole Billa strike from distance was tipped onto the crossbar thanks to some fast reflexes from Scotland goalkeeper Lee Gibson.
Second half
Scotland’s first substitution of the match would come at the break as Lana Clelland was replaced by Fiona Brown.
Zinsberger would cause some worry for her defence in the 54th minute as cross by Claire Elmslie was spilled by the Austrian goalkeeper and dropped to the feet of Martha Thomas, but to the Austrians relief Zinsberger managed to re-collect the ball.
The first booking of the match would come Scotland’s way as Nicola Docherty would be booked on the hour mark.
Another substitution for Scotland would follow four minutes later as Sam Kerr would make way for Lucy Graham.
Austria would have another dangerous chance with 20 minutes to go as Verena Hanshaw’s strike from distance would go narrowly wide of Lee Gibson’s post.
A third substitution for Scotland with 15 to play would see Martha Thomas be replaced by Abi Harrison.
The 76th minute would see Austria almost take the lead as Lucy Graham was forced to throw her body on the line in front of a Nicole Billa shot to allow the ball to be easily collected by Lee Gibson.
Scotland’s last chance of the 90 minutes would fall in injury time as Lucy Graham played a dangerous cross into the box which was very close to finding the net but sadly deflected away for a corner that eventually came to nothing.
Extra-time
The perfect start to extra time would come from Scotland as pressure from multiple corners would finally pay off as a brilliant ball in from Erin Cuthbert would find substitute Abi Harrison who turned the ball into the net with a header to put Scotland 1-0 up.
Abi Harrison would narrowly miss out on getting her second in the 100th minute as she headed a Fiona Brown cross just wide.
Just after the extra time break, Erin Cuthbert would show some of her magic as she managed to dodge past several challenges and send a strike towards Manuela Zinsberger but her effort was tame and easily dealt with.
A fourth substitution for Scotland would see Nicola Docherty come off for Emma Makundi in the 112th minute.
For the last ten minutes of the match, Scotland would do an exceptional job of keeping the ball in the corner and preventing Austria from breaking into Scotland’s half as Austria appeared to grow more tired and frustrated as the clock ticked down.
The last substitution for Scotland would see Fiona Brown being replaced by Christy Grimshaw going into added on time.
With the two minutes of injury time up, the match would end in a 1-0 hard fought Scotland victory, mostly thanks to the brilliant performance from substitute Abi Harrison who grabbed the only goal of the game.
Scotland now go on to face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday evening at Hampden with the winner of that encounter booking their place at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
With the exciting tie just around the corner, we spoke to Kathleen McNamee from Off The Ball about what we can expect to see:
“I think if we (Republic of Ireland) were full strength then they (Scotland) would have more reason to be worried but we have a lot of injuries to our first team players so Jess Ziu is the most latest one, she plays in the WSL, Megan Connolly is also out with a rib injury so that’s kind of like our midfield destroyed. Obviously, there are players to worry about, you know I think Scotland will be targeting Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan as our best players to try and keep quiet.”
The match on Tuesday is an 8pm kick off with tickets available now, with a sell-out record crowd expected to attend.
Goal scorers: Abi Harrison (1)
Bookings: Nicola Docherty (yellow) Abi Harrison (yellow)
Referee: Jana Adamkova
Attendance: 10,182
Scotland starting XI: 1. Lee Gibson, 2. Nicola Docherty, 4. Rachel Corsie, ©, 8. Sam Kerr, 9. Caroline Lewis, 11. Lisa Evans, 15. Sophie Howard, 18. Claire Emslie, 19. Lana Clelland, 20. Martha Thomas, 22. Erin Cuthbert
Substitutes: 12. Jenna Fife, 21. Eartha Cumings, 3. Emma Makundi (replaced Docherty on 113’), 5. Jen Beattie, 6. Kelly Clark, 7. Fiona Brown (replaced Clelland on 45’), 10. Lucy Graham (replaced Graham on 64’),13. Rachel McLauchlan, 14. Kirsty Hanson, 16. Christie Murray, 17. Abi Harrison (replaced Thomas on 75’), 23. Christy Grimshaw (replaced Brown on 120’)
Austria starting XI: 1. Manuela Zinsberger, 7. Carina Wenninger, © 8. Barbara Dunst, 9. Sarah Zadrazil, 10. Laura Feiersinger, 11. Marina Georgieva, 12. Laura Weinroither, 15. Nicole Billa, 17. Sarah Puntigam, 18. Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller, 19. Verena Hanshaw
Substitutes: 2. Katja Wienerroither (replaced Billa on 83’), 3. Annabel Schasching, 4. Celina Degen, 5. Maria Plattner (replaced Feiersinger on 100’), 6. Katharina Schiechtl (replaced Dunst on 112’), 13. Virginia Kirchberger, 14. Lisa Kolb, (replaced Wienroither on 112’), 16. Jasmin Eder, 20. Katharina Naschenweng (replaced Hickelsberger on 64’), 21. Isabella Kresche, 22. Stefanie Enzinger, 23. Mariella El Sherif
