Northern Ireland Women beaten 3-1 in Austria | OneFootball

Photo: @NorthernIreland

Northern Ireland suffered a disappointing 3-1 away defeat to Austria in a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier.

The result moved Austria three points ahead of them in Group D with three games to go.

Jackie Burns clawed the ball away from the feet of striker Nicole Billa and also saved a shot from Katharina Naschenweng.

A Rachel Furness header from a Demi Vance corner was cleared and just after the restart Austria took the lead, Carina Wenninger finding the net with a clever back-heel volley.

Manuela Zinsberger fumbled a free-kick from Vance and Simone Magill’s close range effort was blocked, before she stopped a goal-bound shot from Marissa Callaghan.

In the 55th minute Nicole Billa beat Burns to a loose Julie Nelson back pass to score and the third goal followed quickly, when Laura Feiersinger fed the ball through to Barbara Dunst  to slot home.

Furness and Magill had headers caught by Zinsberger before substitute Joely Andrews pulled a late goal back, firing in from distance after a corner was half cleared.

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