It was a football match like a chess match, Sturm coach Christian Lang said. The black and white was not the opponent that afternoon in Liebenau, but the colors of his team, host of the women’s Bundesliga Austria Vienna. “We expected them to be in a different lineup, so we swapped just before the match started. This shocked us,” admitted Lang. Result: Austria dominated the match at the Merkur Arena and deservedly stepped up. Advantage: Former Sturm Yvonne Weilharter scored the goal from a 1-0 corner kick for Austria (33 ‘).
Then the game of chess picked up speed. “During the interval we went back to 4-4-2 with a diamond and we had our chances. Austria then moved on to a five-man chain and we reacted again,” said Lang. However, he showed a golden hand with tactical decisions and a castling: first, captain Annabell Schasching used one of the increasing possibilities to reach 1: 1 (58 °), then Lang brought into play the Neo-Grazer Merle Kirschstein, who with her first touch of ball 2: 1 scored (64th).
“I could not have imagined this replacement better. I am happy to have been able to help the team win with my first goal,” said the neo-Grazer and gold top scorer. Praise from the captain too: “I’m happy for them. It was a good start for them, first contact, first goal, and in this stadium to top it off,” said Schasching.
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