CL qualification

Vienna women slip into 0:9 debacle against Paris

Hanging heads with the Vienna women.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

SKN St. Pölten cleared the first hurdle on their way to a third consecutive appearance in the Women's Champions League group stage with ease. Austria's serial double champions beat Neftci Baku 5-0 in the semifinals of the 1st qualifying round in Tskaltubo on Wednesday. Albanian champions Vllaznia await in the final of the mini-tournament on Saturday. As expected, Vienna were without a chance as they were thrashed 9-0 by Paris FC in Linköping.

St. Pölten pressed for the opening goal on Georgian soil from the outset and laid the foundations for their fourth competitive win of the season in the first 20 minutes. Sophie Hillebrand scored a brace (12th, 17th) and captain Jennifer Klein added to her tally with a converted penalty (16th). Immediately after the restart, two more goals were scored, this time by veteran Mateja Zver (47) and Kamila Dubcova (51), who had joined from Italian club AC Milan. As a result, important energy was saved for the deciding match for promotion to the 2nd round.

Vllaznia is the opponent that was expected on paper. In Kutaisi, Megi Doci (42'), Klaudia Borci (45.+4) and Xhesika Ndoj (82') secured a 3-0 win against hosts Lanchkhuti. St. Pölten are also clear favorites against Vllaznia. If they are to advance on Saturday (18:00), they will have to successfully complete a knockout duel with a first and second leg on their way to the "premier class". The draw will take place on Monday in Nyon, with matches to be played on September 18/19 and 25/26. The group stage starts on October 8.

St. Pölten are champions in the qualifiers and therefore had an easier draw than Vienna, who had no chance at the start of the league campaign. Mathilde Bourdieu (5th, 40th, 55th), Julie Dufour (44th, 46th), Gaetane Thiney (52nd), Kessya Bussy (87th, 93rd) and Daphne Corboz (90th) ensured that the Parisians had a clear advantage. At the end of the European season, Austria's runners-up have an insignificant placement match against Linköping, who lost 3-1 to Sparta Prague, on Saturday.

Dunst out, Zinsberger, Wienroither, Georgieva continue
Eintracht Frankfurt, who lost 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon in Kopavogur with Barbara Dunst, also have to play one of these matches. However, defender Marina Georgieva is still in the running for a ticket to the 16-team main competition with Fiorentina after a 1-0 win over Brøndby, as are goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger and right-back Laura Wienroither (from the 79th minute) with Arsenal after a 6-0 win over Glasgow Rangers.