Northern Ireland’s quest for a first point at a major tournament ended in tears and frustration after Kenny Shiels’ team fell to defeat in their second group game at St Mary’s Stadium.
Austria, who lost last week’s opening game to England, won it with goals from Katharina Scheichtl and Katharina Naschenweng in the 19th and 88th minutes.
Werden Bremen defender Schiechtl helped home a free-kick to open the scoring before Naschenweng made sure of the points with a smart finish late on.
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Tears were shed in the post-match huddle as defeat left Northern Ireland rooted to the foot of a tough Group A ahead of Friday’s final pool fixture against hosts England at the same venue.
Boss Kenny Shiels had no complaints with the end result but believes his players are benefiting from playing higher-profile opposition in the women’s game.
“I think 1-0 or 2-0 was about fair,” he said. “They weren’t predominantly better than us but they were in key areas and 2-0 was probably about right.
“Putting it into perspective in where we are and where Austria are in the women’s game, they have one of the best women’s academies in Europe, so it’s a really tough opponent.
“But the players are gaining experience from these tough games and we have another one coming, and none bigger, than England.”
Austria, who boasted 56 percent possession and carved out 20 opportunities, eight of them on target, took the lead in the 19th minute.
Puntigam’s free-kick took a slight deflection and Schiechtl reacted quickest to guide a close range past goalkeeper Jackie Burns who had no chance.
It could have been 2-0 just before the break when Dunst tried her luck from distance, but Burns managed to scramble back to parry the ball onto the bar.
Northern Ireland’s only openings of the first half came when Zinsberger smothered long range efforts from Lauren Wade and Kirsty McGuinness in the 12th and 45th minutes.
Dunst tested Burns again on the hour mark, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder’s half volley squirming through the keeper’s hands but looping narrowly over the bar.
Rachel Furness then headed over the crossbar from a looping Chloe McCarron cross before Austria put the game to bed in the dying minutes.
Abbie Magee misjudged the flight of the ball and Naschenweng capitalised to skip past Sarah McFadden and steer a low shot past the exposed Burns.
It might have been 3-0 in stoppage time but Rebecca Holloway scrambled back to deflect Sarah Puntigam’s shot wide of the target.
Experienced defender McFadden said: "We're just gutted, absolutely gutted. We came out second-half and got at them but we didn't capitalise or get a clear cut chance.
"Austria are a team of superstars but we felt today was the day we were going to get a win at this championship. We're just gutted."
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