SKN women after thriller

“Enjoy, don’t analyze”

(Bild: Tom Seiss)

Twelve championship titles in a row there, the last eight in a row there- Neulengbach against St. Pölten is always a cracker in Austrian women's soccer, in the Cup quarter-final the hosts were able to chase their favored "heiresses" into extra time. But Mateja Zver brought SKN more in a 3:1 win.

Because goalkeeper Rusek thwarted Rita Schumacher's huge chance in the last minute of normal time, the game went into extra time at 0-0. Where Meteja Zver scored to make it 1:0 (105'). "I just went for it," admitted the SKN striker, "that goal was important." Just 130 seconds later, she added the second from a free-kick. "Our team played more calmly after that."

But they still conceded a goal through Schreiber (110') before Meyer (118') put the lid on it with the 3:1. "We only had games in the Champions League in January, with a bit of a break in between," explained Zver after scoring her first two goals in the Cup this season.

"Problem area" finishing
And St. Pölten coach Liese Brancao added: "We had a necessary break in February, no preparation games with the full squad." She took the fact that the serial champions were forced into extra time by the sixth-placed team in the women's Bundesliga in her stride: "It was a cup game, which is always difficult because it's about more than just playing style. The game was good for the most part, we just need to work on our finishing." But: "Now is the time to enjoy, not to analyze!"