{"id":26782,"date":"2022-07-11T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26782"},"modified":"2022-07-13T12:02:36","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T16:02:36","slug":"austria-all-but-end-northern-irelands-euro-2022-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26782","title":{"rendered":"Austria All But End Northern Ireland’s Euro 2022 Hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Austria\u2019s Katharina Naschenweng celebrates her team’s second goal (PA Wire\/PA Images<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland\u2019s hopes of reaching the Euro 2022 knockout stages all but ended following a damaging 2-0 loss to Austria in Southampton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goals from Katharina Schiechtl and Katharina Naschenweng condemned Kenny Shiels\u2019 side to a second successive Group A defeat as the Austrians bounced back from being beaten by hosts England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The championship\u2019s lowest-ranked nation, who were thumped 4-1 by Norway in their opening fixture, struggled to create in the absence of the injured Simone Magill and never seriously threatened an upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goalkeeper Jackie Burns kept them in the contest until the final two minutes by superbly tipping Barbara Dunst\u2019s lofted effort on to the crossbar, before Naschenweng added to Schiechtl\u2019s first-half opener to put the result beyond doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland will seek to salvage some pride from their maiden major tournament against Sarina Wiegman\u2019s Lionesses on Friday evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austria, meanwhile, remain in contention of progressing to the quarter-finals ahead of completing the group stage by taking on the Norwegians in Brighton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland faced off against familiar opposition for the third time in a year following a draw and a defeat against the Austrians in World Cup qualifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Captain Marissa Callaghan returned as one of four changes made by manager Shiels, who was without star forward Magill due to her tournament-ending knee injury suffered against Norway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was among a crowd of 9,268 at St Mary\u2019s and saw his home nation deservedly edge ahead in the 19th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Demi Vance fouled Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller just outside the 18-yard box, Northern Ireland\u2019s static defense failed to respond to Sarah Puntigam\u2019s low free-kick deflecting off Julie Nelson in the wall, leaving unmarked Werder Bremen defender Schiechtl with a simple, close-range finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the threat of an early exit, Northern Ireland adopted a very cautious approach and were often pinned back, seeking to exploit scant counter-attacking opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And they were extremely fortunate to only be a goal behind at the end of an opening period in which a tame Lauren Wade effort was their best attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeper Burns almost gifted the dominant Austrians a second three minutes before the interval but, after a poor clearance under pressure from Marie Hobinger, she atoned in outstanding fashion by pushing Dunst\u2019s subsequent effort on to the woodwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland showed signs of improvement and increased attacking enterprise following the restart, but their inability to carve out clear chances persisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool\u2019s Rachel Furness, who held a shirt bearing the stricken Magill\u2019s name during the anthems, sent a looping header on to the roof of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Northern Ireland preparing to throw players forward in desperate search of a leveller, Austria sealed victory in the 88th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbie Magee was caught out by a searching free-kick forward and substitute Naschenweng expertly skipped beyond Sarah McFadden to clinically strike a low shot beneath Burns.<\/p>\n

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