Severe setback: Austria lose 3:5 to France despite being clearly the better team

“It really stinks,”Head Coach Alexander Brömsuccinctly described the mood after the final whistle. Austria took the lead three times and created high-quality chances to extend it. But instead of making it 2:0, 3:1 or 4:2, they conceded an equaliser each time, then the 3:4 just 48 seconds after making it 3:3, and finally the 3:5 into the empty net.

“Of course, it hurts a lot. We had plenty of chances and played a good game. We were not ruthless enough in our defensive zone. We take responsibility as a team,” said a disappointed and self-critical Annika Fazokas.

Austria had the upper hand over the team relegated from the Top Division for more than 60 minutes. After ten minutes, Lena Dauböck deservedly gave her team the lead following an assist from Annika Fazokas. Shortly afterwards, they had the opportunity to make it 2:0 on the power play. But France hit back and equalised in the 15th minute.

Shortly after the first intermission, Theresa Schafzahl struck to make it 2:1. Once again, Austria pushed for 3:1, failed to convert another power play and again conceded an equaliser in the 35th minute.

It was exactly the same picture in the final period: once again, Theresa Schafzahl was in the right place just a few minutes after the start, deflecting a shot from Anna Meixner unstoppably into the net to make it 3:2. And once again, Austria pressed for a fourth goal and let a power play go to waste. France’s latest equaliser came out of nowhere and, just a few seconds later, they caught Austria cold.

At the end of the game, Alexander Bröms pulled Selma Luggin from the net, before Austria had to concede the 3:5 into the empty net on the final siren.

Head Coach Alexander Bröms: “We created plenty of chances and scored goals as well. Three goals should really be enough to win a game. We need to be self-critical within the coaching staff.”

Theresa Schafzahl: “Of course, it is very disappointing because we played relatively well apart from a few small things. France are a good opponent, so we can be proud of that. In a few situations, we were not ruthless enough and did not stick to our game plan. Unfortunately, we were then unable to score any more goals.”

2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women´s World Championship 2024

From 21 to 27 April 2024, Klagenfurt will host the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women´s World Championship 2024. Austria will face Hungary, France, Norway, the Netherlands and South Korea for promotion to the Top Division. Following 2009 and 2017, it is the third Women’s World Championship to be held on Austrian ice.

Schedule

France vs. Austria 5:3 (1:1,1:1,3:1)
Wed., 24 April 2024, 19:30, Klagenfurt, Heidi Horten Arena, 1.942
France goalscorers: Estelle Duvin (15., 50., 60./EN), Clara Rozier (35.), Emma Nonnenmacher (51.)
Austria goalscorers: Lena Dauböck (11), Theresa Schafzahl (23/PP1, 43)

Official Line-ups

Austria vs. Hungary
Fri, 26 April 2024, 20:25, Klagenfurt, live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. the Netherlands
Sat, 27 April 2024, 20:25, Klagenfurt, live on ORF SPORT +

Already played

Norway vs. Austria 3:2 (0:0,0:1,3:1)
Sun, 21 April 2024, 18:30, Klagenfurt, 1.800 spectators
Norway goalscorers: Millie Rose Sirum (42/PP1, 48), Josefine Biseth Engmann (46)
Austria goalscorer: Annika Fazokas (24, 57/PP2)

Austria vs. South Korea 6:0 (2:0,0:0,4:0)
Mon, 22 April 2024, 19:30, Klagenfurt, Heidi Horten Arena, 1.367 spectators
Austria goalscorers: Annika Fazokas (17), Anna Meixner (19, 41, 59/PP1), Lena Dauböck (57), Tamara Grascher (58)

The full schedule can be found HERE!

Day and week tickets for the World Championship are now available via ÖEHV partner Ö-Ticket.

Ticket prices
Day tickets € 10.-
Week tickets € 20.-