No points in first of six big end-of-season ties FC Red Bull Salzburg Women 0-1 SK Sturm Graz (H/T:0-1). Goal: Wirnsberger (3')
We weren't able to claim any points in the first match of the ADMIRAL Women's Bundesliga championship group – suffering a narrow 0-1 defeat against the clinical visitors, as we failed to respond to Graz's lightning start.
The opening phase of our championship group debut did not go as planned: Wirnsberger rose higher than everyone else after a corner and headed the Styrians into the lead (3'). As the first half progressed, our team grew into the game, and chances quickly followed: Vina Crnoja curled a shot – coming closest to equalizing – while the Spinn sisters tried their luck from outside the penalty area.
Sturm, who only threatened once more in this disjointed first half – as a Brandl goal was disallowed for handball – then faced a Hamzic header just before the break that went wide.
The opening minutes of the second half also belonged to Djakovic's team. However, after Wirnsberger was thwarted in a one-on-one situation by goalkeeper Michaela Fischer and an ambitious foray forward by our keeper went unpunished, our RBS women pressed for the equaliser. Despite the vocal support from the fans at the Red Bull Football Academy, our women lacked the final clinical touch today. A late lob from Krassnig proved to be the final nail in the coffin of our attacking efforts: we lost 0-1 to SK Sturm Graz.
It was a very close game, and we showed once again that we are competitive. We conceded the goal from a set piece that the opponents executed superbly. If you want to look for something specific, it's that we didn't play our best on the ball – but there's also the factor of the opponents, who are one of the strongest teams in Austria. I'm generally satisfied with the performance, our mentality, our approach, and our attitude. We'll take this match to learn from and grow. The best and most valuable thing that can happen to us is to play these kinds of matches week after week.
FC Red Bull Salzburg Women: Fischer – Gierzinger (46. Lutz), Hamzic, Schirmbrand, L. Spinn (65. D’Angelo) – Orkic © (75. Pamminger), Illinger, G. Spinn, Grünwald – Crnoja, Kobler (65. Krassnig)
SK Sturm Graz: Gritzner (45. Krammer) – Petersen, Wattilete, Brandl – Großgasteiger, Jakobsen, Maierhofer ©, Krejcova (73. Keutz), Krumböck – Wirnsberger (54. Spieß), Kustrin