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Defeat hits Northern Ireland hopes

Austria 3 (Wenninger 48, Billa 55, Dunst 57)

Northern Ireland 1 (Andrews 85)

Northern Ireland’s senior women’s team suffered a disappointing defeat to Austria Women in a FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifier.

Kenny Shiels’ side never really got going against the Austrians, who won 3-1 to move three points ahead of them in European Qualifying Group D with three games in the qualifying series to go.

Northern Ireland, showing four changes from the team that started in the 2-2 draw against Austria back in the autumn, started brightly. Demi Vance fired in a couple of corners that tested the home defence before Austria midfielder Barbara Dunst fired a shot wide. In the 12th minute, Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns was called into action to claw the ball away from the feet of striker Nicole Billa, who scooped a shot over the top minutes later.

At this stage Austria, showing just two changes from the starting eleven in Belfast back in October, were on the front foot in Stadion Wiener Neustadt and probing down the flanks with some neat interplay. On 27 minutes, Burns punched a delivery from a corner clear. The ball fell to Billa on the edge of the area and she blasted a shot inches over the bar.

The next chance fell to Austrian midfielder Katharina Naschenweng who pounced on a loose pass and let fly from just inside the area, however her effort was smothered by Burns. A Rachel Furness header from a Vance corner was cleared by the Austria defence and then Dunst’s drive flew wide of the post down the other end.

Just after the restart, Austria took the lead through Carina Wenninger. She lost her marker as a corner was delivered by Dunst and the skipper’s clever back heel volley flew past Burns into the bottom corner.

Austria keeper Manuela Zinsberger fumbled a free kick from Vance and Simone Magill’s close range effort was blocked. Zinsberger also stopped a goalbound shot from Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan before Austria doubled their lead in the 55th minute. Billa robbed the ball off Burns as she attempted to deal with a loose Julie Nelson back pass and the striker stroked the ball home from distance.

Two minutes later it was 3-0 to the Austrians. Laura Feiersinger fed the ball through to Dunst and she coolly slotted it past Burns to put her team firmly in control.

On 66 minutes Callaghan slipped in Abbie Magee down the right, however her cross was cleared by the home defence. Substitute Kirsty McGuinness stretched the Austrian defence with a run down the flank, but her cross-cum-shot was easily gathered by Zinsberger. Sarah McFadden scooped a shot wide as Northern Ireland showed some attacking verve in the final quarter.

A Vance delivery from a free kick found Furness inside the area, however she directed her shot well wide of the target. Furness also had a back post header plucked out of the air by Zinsberger as the girls in green and white showed more purpose. Callaghan, who continued to press and probe, was unlucky to see her cross blocked after some neat footwork inside the area, and a Magill header was pushed away by Zinsberger.

Northern Ireland pulled one back through Andrews on 85 minutes. The substitute picked up a clearance from a corner and drilled it low and hard from long range through a sea of bodies into the bottom corner.

Austria sub Stefanie Enzinger hit the woodwork before another Northern Ireland sub, Megan Bell, tested the Austrian keeper with an angled drive, but it was too little, too late.

Austria: Manuela Zinsberger, Verena Hanshaw, Laura Wienroither, Marina Georgieva, Carina Wenninger, Sarah Puntigam, Katharina Naschenweng (sub Lisa Makas 90mins), Sarah Zadrazil, Nicole Billa (sub Stefanie Enzinger 61mins), Laura Feiersinger, Barbara Dunst (sub Lisa Kolb 80mins). Subs not used: Isabella Kresche, Mariella El Sherif, Celina Degen, Maria Plattner, Katharina Schiechtl, Sophie Hillebrand, Lainie Fuchs, Marie Therese Hobinger, Jasmin Eder.

Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Abbie Magee (sub Emily Wilson 90mins), Demi Vance, Sarah McFadden, Julie Nelson, Rebecca Holloway (sub Kirsty McGuinness 61mins), Chloe McCarron (sub Joely Andrews 80mins), Marissa Callaghan, Rachel Furness, Simone Magill (sub Caitlin McGuinness 90mins), Lauren Wade (sub Megan Bell 80mins). Subs not used: Becky Flaherty, Rebecca McKenna, Kelsie Burrows, Caragh Hamilton, Nadene Caldwell, Toni Leigh Finnegan.

(irishfa.com)