Scotland 0-1 Austria
UEFA Women's Nations League
Friday, 30 May 2025 – 7.35pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

The dream debut wasn’t to be for Melissa Andreatta with a Julia Hickelsberger header enough to claim the three points for Austria as they secured their UEFA Nations League - League A status courtesy of a 1-0 victory in what was captain Rachel Corsie’s final match on home soil.

Scorers

Scotland 0

Austria 1 (62’ Julia Hickelsberger)

Team News

Scotland’s new Head Coach made three changes from the side that were defeated 6-1 by Germany last time out as the Australian prepared to take charge for the first time since the her appointment in April.

There was a debut for Hibernian striker Kathleen McGovern fresh off her SWPL title winning season, a first start in Scotland colours for Newcastle United’s Freya Gregory and a return to action for Amy Rodgers as Rachel McLauchlan, Claire Emslie and Kirsty Hanson all dropped out.

Caroline Weir led the side with Rachel Corsie taking a place on the bench.

As it happened

A single goal separated the sides the last time they faced each other back in February and it was another tightly contested encounter.

There was a moment of appreciation from the Tartan Army in the fourth minute for their soon-to-be retiring captain, Corsie as a round of applause rippled through the stands during an opening period where Scotland, and in particular Lee Gibson, would dig in to keep the visitors at bay.

The first clear chance of the game came in the 13th minute. Neat interplay on the edge of the Scotland area released Verena Hanshaw but the full-back’s effort was pushed clear by a strong hand from the Glasgow City keeper.

Soon after Erin Cuthbert, who pre-match had received recognition for her 75th appearance for the national team, would pull an effort from the edge of the area wide but it would be the visitors who would continue to carve out the best of the chances.

A driving run from Liverpool’s Marie Höbinger generated an opportunity for Sarah Puntigam but Gibson denied the Austrian captain with her feet before a clever flick from Hickelsberger would kiss the crossbar before bouncing dangerously across the Scotland goal line as the hosts held on to keep scores level going into the interval.

The Scotland boss made a change at half time, Corsie coming on to replace Jenna Clark with Weir handing the central defender the captain’s armband, as the hosts started the second half brightly with both sides looking for the opener that would boost their hopes of remaining in League A with one game to come.

It would be the visitors that would break the deadlock though with 62 minutes played. Hickelsperger found space at the front post following an Austrian corner to head the ball home from close range.

She nearly had a second ten minutes later as a low effort skidded across the turf but Gibson was sharp to deny the Austrian from the edge of the area before Rangers teenage winger Mia McAulay came on for her Scotland debut as the chase for an equaliser continued.

The Gibson v Hickelsberger battle continued with the keeper again on hand to deny the Hoffenheim midfielder with a smothering save before the home side summoned a late rally led by substitute Kirsty Howat.

The Rangers striker almost made an immediate impact but was unable to untangle her feet in front of Zinsberger’s goal after starting a counter attacking move with good hold up play and then she nearly grabbed the goal Hampden craved in spectacular fashion after she let fly from 25 yards out but Zinsberger was able to tip the effort onto the crossbar.

Despite those efforts the home side couldn’t find the equaliser their late flurry had pressed for, the game ending 1-0 to the visitors.

Post-match, Rachel Corsie took in the plaudits of her family, friends and fans, as she left the Hampden Park pitch for one final time as a Scotland player, ahead of her retirement following this international window.

Next-up

Melissa Andreatta now takes her side to The Netherlands looking to end their UEFA Nations League - League A campaign on a high with defeat confirming Scotland’s place in League B next time out.

Post-match Reaction

 

Teams

Scotland: Gibson, Muir, Howard, Weir ©, McGovern (Thomas 73'), Gregory (Howat 81'), Clark (Corsie 45'), Rodgers (Watson 61'), Lawton, Davidson (McAulay 73'), Cuthbert.

Subs Not Used: MacIver, Cumings, Smith, Cornet, McLauchlan, Hay, Maclean.

Austria: Zinsberger, Zadrazil, Georgieva, Wienrother, Kirchberger, Höbinger (Hillebrand 90'), Schasching, Puntigam ©, Hickelsberger (87' Campbell), Hanshaw, Purtscheller.

Subs Not Used: El Sherif, Pal, D’Angelo, Brunold, Plattner, Wenger, Schiechtl, Pinther, Feiersinger, Billa.