Austria's late equaliser leaves coach bitter as knockout hopes linger

Austria's women secured a 1‑1 draw against Inter Milan in the Champions League after a late equaliser, earning a point but leaving coach Stefan Kenesei bitter about missing four points. The match in Vienna drew a record crowd and highlighted the team's growing ambition.

Late equaliser fuels disappointment

The disappointment was palpable after Inter Milan's late equaliser salvaged a point for the visitors. Kenesei lamented, “Bitter, dass wir nicht vier Punkte haben,” underscoring the frustration of not securing a full win. Despite the point, the Austrian side felt the match had slipped from their grasp in the final minutes.

Modesta Uka opened the scoring with a long‑range strike in the 21st minute, putting Austria ahead. Her effort earned her the player‑of‑the‑match award and she described the moment as “something special, an incredible feeling.”

Young Valentina Pötzl sparks buzz

Seventeen‑year‑old Valentina Pötzl caused a stir in attack, constantly testing the Inter defence. She admitted, “A last‑minute goal is never welcome, but we can take the draw positively in the coming days.”

The action was captured by Yigit Oerme of PS Images Wien, whose photographs accompanied the report. The agency noted that this was the first time Austria had scored in the women’s Champions League, marking a historic “Mal” for the club.

Knockout phase remains the goal

The draw lifted Austria to 13th place in the 18‑team group, leaving the coveted top‑12 knockout spot still within reach. Kenesei stressed, “Our clear goal is the knockout phase; it is our mentality to think big.” He added that “Wir haben aufgrund unserer Leistung gezeigt, dass wir ernst zu nehmen sind.”

Captain Carina Wenninger and teammates performed before a record 3,609 fans in Wien, reminding everyone that the 0‑1 loss in London to Chelsea was not a one‑off. Wenninger said, “We are not 100 percent happy because we deserved more,” reflecting the lingering disappointment.

Goalkeeper Jasmin Pal echoed the team’s mood, saying, “When you concede in the last action, it is hard to stay positive; the disappointment is huge right now.” She also praised the squad’s “wirklich coole” performance and urged the group to keep dreaming big.

Austria’s next challenge arrives on 29 October at 18:45, when Juventus Turin visit for the final qualifying round. Kenesei confirmed the squad will keep the knockout ambition at the forefront as they prepare for the Italian giants.

Kenesei reflected that the team had already discussed efficiency after the London defeat, saying, “Wir reden wie auch schon in London über Effizienz, wir müssen die Aktionen besser fertig spielen.” He added that the lack of finishing in the second half was the only factor that prevented a larger lead, a point he described as a “Fall” that the squad must learn from.