Extra-time win for Scotland Women in World Cup play-off against Austria

Scotland moved one step closer to their dream of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Austria & New Zealand with a narrow 1-0 victory against Austria after extra time in their semi-final play-off at Hampden.

Before the match there was a presentation on the field to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Scotland’s first Women’s match back in 1972.

Surviving members of that team came on to the pitch to receive a warm round of applause from the record 10,182 crowd for a competitive Women’s match in Scotland.

The conditions were tough for the players as the relentless rain continued throughout the majority of the match and both teams were finding it hard to get a grip of the game.

With few chances for both sides it seemed inevitable that the match would drift into extra-time and be decided either by a single goal or penalties.

A moment of magic from Scotland’s substitute Abi Harrison won the match when she bulleted a header from a corner kick past the Austrian keeper in the first couple of minutes of extra time.

After the match Scotland’s manager Pedro Martinez Losa was pleased with his win over the Euro 2022 quarter finalists:

“The mental strength helped us find the result against a very difficult opponent.”

The reward for Scotland’s victory is a one-off home match against the Republic of Ireland in the play-off Final. However the complicated qualifying system means that the winner of that match is not guaranteed a place at the finals as only the top two ranked playoff winners advance automatically.

The third play-off winners having instead to compete in an inter-confederation play-off tournament early next year involving nine other teams.

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