Early goals pave the way for women's team defeat in Austria

Two goals in the first ten minutes paved the way for a 6-0 win for Austria over Malta in a match from Group 5 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying round at the Donaustadion in Ottensheim on Wednesday.

This was the seventh defeat for the Maltese side. However for this game, Malta coach Pierre Brincat could not count on some players who were unable to make the trip and others who were not fully fit for the game.

Austria took a two-goal lead in the opening minutes as Lisa Makas put them ahead on the 3rd minute and Marion Gröbner doubled the score seven minutes later.

Makas increased the lead eight minutes in the second half while Marlies Hanschitz made it 4-0 on 59 minutes.

Lisa Makas scored the fifth goal on 68 minutes to complete a hat-trick while Marion Gröbner sealed the issue with a sixth goal in added time.

The final game for Malta is against Spain on June 24 at La Albuera in Segovia.

AUSTRIA Jasmin Pfeiler, Virginia Kirchberger, Marlies Hanschitz, Susanna Koch (74′ Romina Bell), Jennifer Pöltl, Susanna Höller, Laura Feiersinger (67′ Isabella Grössinger), Nadine Prohaska, Marion Gröbner, Lisa Makas, Nina Burger (59′ Sarah Puntigam)
MALTA Sharon Costantino, Gabriella Zahra (38′ Kathleen Saliba), Chantal Fenech, Natasha Pace (46′ Maria Azzopardi), Rebecca D’Agostino, Dorianne Theuma, Ylenia Carabott, Rachel Cuschieri, Mandy Debono, Kimberly Parnis, Corissa Vella (72′ Catherine Camilleri).
Referee: Yuliya Medvedeva-Keldyusheva (KAZ)
Assistant referees: Tatyana Popova (KAZ), Elvira Nurmustafina (KAZ)
Fourth official: Agnes Sirrka Prammer (AUT)

Photo: © www.stephengatt.com