Georg Hochmuth: Bitter draw drives Austria Wien towards promotion

Austria Wien earned their first point in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, but the 1‑1 draw against Inter Milan on Thursday evening left a bitter feeling, as Georg Hochmuth reported. Coach Stefan Kenesei emphasized that the performance was convincing, but the missing third‑point result was disappointing.

Performance and Disappointment

Kenesei said, “We have definitely arrived thanks to our performance, we have again shown that we are to be taken seriously.” Nevertheless it is “bitter that we do not have four points,” he added. The team, despite the late equaliser, was proud of the game shown.

Match Progress and Key Players

Inter dominated the first half, but Modesta Uka put Austria ahead in the 21st minute. The late concession in stoppage time, scored by Verena Hanshaw, turned the result into a draw. Goalkeeper Jasmin Pal described the late concession as “hard to cope with,” while winger Valentina Pötzl called the draw a “good push.”

Implications for the Table

With the point, Austria moves up to 13th place in an 18‑team table and thus approaches the top‑twelve spot needed for advancement. Kenesei emphasized that the clear goal is to reach the knockout stage and that the team must think big mentally.

Captain Carina Wenninger and the team played in front of a record crowd of 3,609 spectators at the Franz‑Horr‑Stadium in Vienna. The fans did not see the result as an individual success, but as motivation for upcoming matches.