Bitter! Austria Women Lose CL Playoff First Leg

For the women of FK Austria Wien, the dream of a first-time participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League is still alive.

The reigning double winners had to concede a 1-2 defeat on Tuesday in the first leg of the third qualifying round against Norwegian champions SK Brann. This means everything is still open before the second leg in Vienna.

The winner of the tie after both legs will advance to the Champions League league phase. The loser will at least be able to look forward to a spot in the Europa Cup.

Austria starts strong – Brann takes the lead

Coach Stefan Kenesei's team got off to the better start in Bergen. With aggressive attacking pressing, Austria caused big problems for the Norwegians in the first fifteen minutes. Only the final pass was initially missing for the visitors.

A shot from Patricia Pfanner from a good 20 meters was decisively blocked by Josefine Birkelund in the 8th minute.

After that, Austria retreated a bit and allowed Brann to have several corners. This was punished in the 22nd minute: Nea Lehtola curled a corner directly towards the goal with her strong left foot. Jasmin Pal misjudged the ball in the crowded penalty area and had to let it pass.

Pfattner strikes back immediately

However, Austria reacted immediately. After a free-kick from Modesta Uka, Brenna Lovera got her upper arm to the ball before Carina Wenninger could get a shot off. The Viennese side demanded a penalty, but the Romanian referee Ionela Alina Pesu let play continue. There was no VAR.

Just one minute later, the equalizer still came.

Uka delivered a dangerous corner to the near post, Brann couldn't clear decisively, and Elisa Pfattner arrived from deep to shoot. From about twelve meters, the Italian powerfully struck into the near corner - her half-volley rocket clocked 112 km/h (26th minute).

Shortly before halftime, Brann then had a great chance to retake the lead. Lehtola, after a short corner, this time delivered a perfect cross into the middle with her right foot, where Amalie Eikeland was completely free to head the ball. However, the Norwegian put the ball well wide of the goal from about five meters.

Brann stronger after the break

After the break, the hosts increasingly took control. The experienced Austria defense, led by captain Carina Wenninger, Virginia Kirchberger, and Katharina Schiechtl, dropped further and further back.

In the 60th minute, Brann was eventually awarded a somewhat soft penalty. Lotta Cordes tugged at Lauren Davidson's jersey, the Scot went down – Pesu immediately pointed to the spot.

Davidson stepped up herself, initially failing to beat the strong save from Jasmin Pal in the bottom left corner. However, the fouled player converted the rebound herself, putting Brann back in the lead in the 62nd minute.

No equalizer achieved

Subsequently, the Viennese side looked tired and could barely provide offensive relief. After winning the ball, possession was often quickly lost again.

Uka had the best chance for another equalizer in the 74th minute. However, her shot from just under 20 meters went narrowly over the goal.

In stoppage time, the Norwegians even almost scored a third goal, but substitute Anna Aahjem squandered a clear chance (90+4.).

So it remained 2-1 for Brann Bergen. Due to the hosts' improved performance after the break, the win is certainly deserved, but the starting position for Austria before the second leg remains promising.

Next Tuesday (6:00 PM), the decisive second leg will take place in Vienna. Austria needs a home win to achieve their first-ever entry into the Champions League league phase.