Frauenliga It was a final that will remain in the memory of Austrian women’s football fans for a long time. Austria Vienna won the national championship for the first time in the club’s history, ending the dominance of SKN St. Pölten, who had claimed the title every year for the past decade.
The decisive clash between the two sides took place at Generali Arena in Vienna in front of nearly 2,500 spectators. From the opening whistle, the match carried enormous significance, and its conclusion delivered a true sporting thriller.
The hosts started the game more aggressively and looked dangerous from the opening minutes. First, Tatjana Weiss came close to scoring following a corner kick, and shortly afterward SKN goalkeeper Carina Schlüter was forced into action after a free kick delivery into the box.
The high temperatures and the importance of the occasion made for a very physical contest. There was no shortage of determination and intensity in the first half, but clear cut scoring opportunities were few and far between. The teams went into the break level at 0-0, a result that suited Austria Vienna better.
The pace remained high after halftime. Both teams fought for every inch of the pitch, while the defenses continued to neutralize most attacking threats. Austria came closest to breaking the deadlock through a dangerous free kick from Modesta Uka, but Schlüter once again rose to the occasion.
As the match progressed, St. Pölten began to apply increasing pressure. In the 65th minute, Ludmila Matavkova had an excellent opportunity, but Jasmin Pal produced a brilliant save. The Austria goalkeeper would later play a decisive role in the title race.
Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, the game took a dramatic turn. Deep into stoppage time, the referee awarded a penalty to St. Pölten following a foul by Katharina Schiechtl, who was also shown her second yellow card and sent off. Leila Peneau stepped up and calmly converted to give her side a 1-0 lead.
The championship trophy was almost in the hands of the visitors. Almost.
Austria launched one final desperate attack. In the last action of the game, even goalkeeper Jasmin Pal joined the attack in the opposition penalty area. Following a scramble in the box, the ball fell to captain Carina Wenninger, who fired it into the net in the 100th minute. Generali Arena erupted in celebration.
The 1-1 equalizer meant that Austria Vienna were crowned Austrian champions.
For the Vienna club, it is the greatest achievement in the history of its women’s section. Moreover, after previously winning the Austrian Cup, Austria completed a historic domestic double and finished the season in perfect fashion.
There was no shortage of emotion after the final whistle. Head coach Stefan Kenesei emphasized that his team had shown character throughout the season and never gave up. Captain Carina Wenninger admitted she had never experienced such emotions on a football pitch before. Meanwhile, last minute hero Jasmin Pal spoke of fulfilled dreams and a historic day for the entire club.
On the other side, disappointment was immense. St. Pölten coach Laurent Fassotte described the match as one of the most dramatic of his career, while captain Jennifer Klein admitted that it would take a long time to come to terms with such a painful ending.
One thing is certain after ten years of dominance, Austrian women’s football has a new champion. And the way Austria Vienna claimed the title will go down in history.
