UWCL: St. Pölten can be proud of their European journey as Hammarby take three points | OneFootball

Swedish side Hammarby scored two goals in two minutes to secure the three points and seal their third place finish in group D of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Both St. Pölten and Hammarby bow out of the UWCL with both sides being able to hold their heads high after strong showings throughout the tournament.

With group winners Barcelona and English outfit Manchester City already having qualified it was a low stakes for the remaining fixtures. St. Pölten gave Austrian prodigy Valentina Mädl a start on her 19th birthday whilst Hammarby rewarded the young ‘keeper Moa Erdud with a first UWCL start respectively.

Starting XI’s

St. Pölten

Schlüter; D’Angelo, Pekel, Balog, Mikolajová, Brunnthaler, Mädl, Schumacher, Mattner, Dubcová, Touon.

Hammarby IF Fotbollförening

Erdud; Nyström, Joramo, Jøsendal, Vallotto, Carlsson, Tandberg, Hasund, Andersson, Holmberg, Blakstad.

Hammarby find two goals in quick succession

The fixture had a balance between the two sides, both finding good pockets of space in the opposing halves. Brunnthaler had managed to show good strength on a number of penetrating runs into the Hammarby half, in the first 15 minutes. The best chance for St. Pölten fell to Mädl who was fed a clever pass by Brunnthaler, but ‘keeper Erdud was equal to the effort.

Vilde Hasund of Hammarby IF the UEFA Women’s Champions League. 2024 (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Hammarby found their rhythm at the 20 minute mark, catching St. Pölten off guard. Tandberg connected with a wishful cross and found the back of the St. Pölten netting making it 1-0 despite Schlüter managing to get a palm to the ball. The away side then quickly capitalised on the energy of the goal with Jonna Andersson in her last game for Hammarby finding the foot of Julie Blakstad who sliced the ball beyond the ‘keeper to make it 2-0 in two minutes.

St. Pölten managed to grab a goal back as Kamila Dubcová settled a sublime volley into the top left on the Hammarby net.

St. Pölten galvanised by a Schlüter wonder-save

The St. Pölten goal momentarily gave Hammarby the incentive to push the Austrian champions, searching for a third goal to settle the tie. Japanese international Asato Miyagawa had a sensational strike from outside the box saved by the seemingly gravity defying Carina Schlüter, stretching with strong hands to palm it away.

This galvanised St. Pölten as they pushed Hammarby to the final whistle with strong changes from Glibo, Mädl and Dubcová. It was however Hammarby’s night as they finished their European season on a high note.

What’s next for Hammarby and St. Pölten

Hammarby have now finished both their domestic and European season. Hammarby finish third in their league behind runners-up BK Häcken and Damallsvenskan champions FC Rosengård.

St. Pölten will now enjoy the winter break sitting top of the Frauen Bundesliga with their next fixture falling in the Bundesliga women’s league cup quarter final against Sturm Graz.