Vienna Fight Back to Earn Late Draw Against Rapid
To open the new ADMIRAL Frauen Bundesliga season, Vienna welcomed newly promoted SK Rapid to Hohe Warte. In an intense and closely contested match, the Blues and Yellows fell behind twice but showed tremendous character to fight back and secure a 3–3 draw thanks to a late goal from Milanovic.
Cautious Start
Both teams approached the opening match of the new season cautiously. During the early stages, both sides were focused on avoiding mistakes, resulting in a scrappy opening with few clear-cut chances.
After 11 minutes, however, the visitors ruthlessly punished a mistake in Vienna’s build-up play. Following a misplaced pass from Wondrejc, Zöger fired from distance and caught Grabenhofer off guard with an excellent strike to make it 0–1.
Rapid remained dangerous, particularly after winning the ball and launching quick counter-attacks, while Vienna gradually found its way into the game.
Kurkutovic Levels the Score
In the 23rd minute, Vienna were rewarded for their growing presence. Mädl was played into space on the right and delivered a dangerous ball into the middle, where Karla Kurkutovic was completely unmarked and headed home to make it 1–1.
Just two minutes later, Keckeis had a chance to put Vienna ahead after good work from Havel, but her effort lacked power. The equaliser visibly gave the Blues and Yellows confidence. In the 27th minute, Sarac delivered a perfect corner onto Mädl’s head, but her effort narrowly missed the target.
Wasser also had an opportunity in the 35th minute from a promising position, but could not generate enough power behind her shot.
The teams went into the half-time break level at 1–1.
Rapid Strike Back
In front of 1,103 spectators, Vienna made the stronger start to the second half and increasingly took control of the game. A long-range effort from Gebert was saved by the Rapid goalkeeper before Keckeis came close to putting Vienna ahead in the 55th minute after a strong run into the centre, but she was unable to beat the goalkeeper.
However, right in the middle of Vienna’s strongest spell, the visitors regained the lead. Following a Rapid attack, Keckeis initially managed to clear the ball off the line, but Brandl reacted quickest to the rebound and made it 1–2 in the 57th minute.
Vienna came close to an immediate response. After a cross from Keckeis, Kurkutovic powered a header against the crossbar, missing out on a second equaliser by the narrowest of margins.
Strong Character Rewarded Late
Instead, Rapid extended their lead in the 64th minute. A long ball behind the Vienna defence put König through, and she lifted the ball over Grabenhofer to make it 1–3.
But Vienna refused to give up. Just one minute later, Gebert took matters into her own hands and unleashed a spectacular long-range effort into the top corner. The quick goal made it 2–3 and gave Vienna renewed hope.
Vienna then made two substitutions, with Höcherl and Hahn replacing Wasser and Fankhauser. The Blues and Yellows increased the pressure and pushed for an equaliser.
In the 81st minute, Havel had a huge chance to make it 3–3, but her effort narrowly missed the target when she was through on goal. In the 88th minute, head coach Denny Krcmarek introduced Milanovic as a fresh attacking option.
The substitute made an immediate impact. Just one minute later, Hahn delivered a precise cross into the box, where Milanovic rose highest and headed home the much-celebrated equaliser to make it 3–3 and send Hohe Warte into celebration.
Showing tremendous character after falling behind three times, Vienna fought back to secure a deserved point against the newly promoted side from Hütteldorf in the opening match of the new ADMIRAL Frauen Bundesliga season.
