Austria 2-0 N Ireland: Irish hope of knockout rounds are all but over

Austria 2-0 Northern Ireland: Kenny Shiels’ hopes of reaching Euro 2022 knockout stages are all but OVER as Katharina Schiechtl and Katharina Naschenweng strike to bounce back from defeat to England’s Lionesses

  • Victory at St Mary’s keeps Austria’s hopes alive of reaching the knockout stages
  • Both sides in Southampton lost their opening Group A matches at Euro 2022
  • Katharina Schiechtl got the opener before Katharina Naschenweng made it 2-0
  • It means Northern Ireland’s hopes of making the knockout stages are all but over 

Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2022 are all but over after a 2-0 defeat to Austria.  

Both sides went into this clash at a sun-kissed St Mary’s stadium having lost their opening group match.

It meant victory was essential to keep alive any hopes of reaching the knockout stages ahead of one of England or Norway and it was Austria who ground out a precious win.

Kenny Shiels’ side will be kicking themselves, too, given the opening goal of the game, scored by Katharina Schiechtl, came from a set-piece situation on the edge of their box.

Austria all-but put an end to Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching Euro 2022 knockout phase

Katharina Schiechtl was on hand in the 19th minute to tap in following a set-piece routine

The game was over two minutes from time when Katharina Naschenweng made it 2-0

Schiechtl, one of three changes for Austria following that opening 1-0 defeat by England, could not believe her luck when Sarah Puntigam’s low delivery was deflected by Julie Nelson into the path of Schiechtl. 

Jacqueline Burns in the Northern Ireland goal looked to the linesman in hope of an offside flag that never came and it was to be all that separated the sides on the night. 

Northern Ireland rallied late on and Austria will have rued any late slip having missed the chance to put the game to bed just before half-time when Barbara Dunst looked to chip Burns.

An error playing out of the back by the goalkeeper left her exposed off her line, but she recovered brilliantly to backtrack and tip onto the crossbar.

MATCH FACTS FROM ST MARY’S

Austria: Zinsberger, Schiechtl, Wenninger, Dunst, Zadrazil, Schnaderbeck (Georgieva 45), Hobinger (Feiersinger 45), Billa (Makas 85), Puntigam, Hickelsberger-Fuller (Naschenweng 73), Hanshaw.

Subs not used: Degen, Schasching, Kirchberger, Eder, Kresche, Enzinger, Pal

Goals: Schiechtl (19), Naschenweng (85) 

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna (Magee 73), Vance, McFadden, Nelson (McDaniel 85), McCarron, Callaghan (C McGuinness 85), Furness (Andrews 79), K McGuinness (Wilson 80), Wade, Holloway. 

Subs not used: Flaherty, Turner, Hutton, Burrows, Caldwell, Rafferty. 

Referee: Emikar Caldera

Att: 9,268 

With temperatures soaring on Monday afternoon both managers were able to relay tactical instructions during cooling breaks.

Shiels was particularly animated in a second half cooling break as he looked to find a way back into the contest for his Irish side.  

That opening goal from Schiechtl meant Northern Ireland had to push, they had to go for it given they were all-but heading out of the competition without a goal and they were eventually punished with the game put to bed two minutes from time by Katharina Naschenweng.

Naschenweng, who plays for Hoffenheim, was picked out by a long ball over the top and after it was misjudged by Abbie Magee, the Austrian was free to bear down on goal and slot past an onrushing Burns. 


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