Austria Wien Women Reach Champions League League Phase After 4-0 Win Over Brann

Austria Wien produced the biggest international success in the club’s history by overturning a first-leg deficit and sweeping Brann Bergen aside 4-0 at home.

The Austrian double winners had lost 2-1 in Norway the previous week. Brann entered the tie as favorites, while Austria had also made an unconvincing start to its domestic league campaign. But coach Stefan Kenesei’s team believed it could reverse the result, and that confidence showed from the opening minutes at Franz-Horr-Stadion.

Modesta Uka opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Nea Lehtola brought her down. Verena Hanshaw had earlier tested Brann with a shot from just inside the area, while goalkeeper Jasmin Pal made her first serious save in the 24th minute as the visitors grew more dangerous before halftime.

Austria pulled away after the break. Uka scored her second with a curling right-footed shot after Patricia Pfanner’s assist, despite goalkeeper Sunniva Skoglund getting fingertips to the ball. Skoglund then conceded an own goal in the 66th minute when a back pass slipped under her foot.

Brann had also hit the crossbar from a free kick before Uka completed her hat trick with a sharply struck, well-placed free kick. Austria will now face major clubs from across Europe in the league phase.