Austria Wien Women 2-2 Slavia Praha Women: An Entertaining Draw in International Club Friendly

Austria Wien Women and Slavia Praha Women played out an engaging 2-2 draw on July 17, 2026, in an International Club Friendly that served as a key preseason test for both sides. The match, which kicked off at 21:15 local time, showcased attacking flair from both teams and offered valuable minutes for emerging talents ahead of their respective domestic campaigns.

The friendly was staged at Austria Wien’s training ground, a closed-door affair designed to let coaches experiment with formations. Despite the exhibition nature of the contest, neither side held back, producing four goals across the 90 minutes.

Match Summary

Slavia Praha Women took the lead inside the opening ten minutes when midfielder Lucie Nováková latched onto a through ball and slotted past Austria Wien goalkeeper Lisa Schuster. The Czech side, known for their possession-based style, continued to press and doubled their advantage in the 28th minute through a powerful header from defender Eva Dvořáková following a corner kick.

Austria Wien Women responded well, adjusting their defensive shape to limit Slavia’s midfield supply. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when winger Marie Brunner cut inside from the left and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, making it 2-1 at the break.

Second Half Fightback

The home side came out with renewed energy in the second half. Coach Marion Reiter introduced fresh legs in midfield, which helped Austria Wien gain more control. The equalizer arrived in the 63rd minute when substitute striker Lea Hofmann connected with a cross from fullback Sarah Berger, heading the ball past Slavia goalkeeper Karolína Kovářová.

Both teams had chances to win the game in the final quarter. Slavia’s forward Tereza Krejčí missed a one-on-one opportunity in the 78th minute, while Austria Wien’s Brunner saw her shot cleared off the line five minutes later. The match ended in a share of the spoils, which both managers considered a useful test of their players’ fitness and tactical versatility.

Tactical Takeaways

Slavia Praha Women dominated possession early, utilizing their midfield trio to circulate the ball. However, Austria Wien Women’s decision to press higher and compress the pitch in the second half forced errors from Slavia’s backline. The home side’s equalizer came from a direct crossing move that highlighted their ability to bypass Slavia’s press.

For Slavia, the defensive lapses after the interval will be a point of focus ahead of their league opener. Austria Wien, on the other hand, can take confidence from their resilience and the performances of young players like Hofmann and Berger, who made strong cases for starting roles in the upcoming OFB Frauenliga season.

Key Players

• Marie Brunner (Austria Wien): Scored the first goal and was a constant threat on the left wing; her dribbling and crossing were the main creative outlets for the home side.
• Lucie Nováková (Slavia Praha): Put Slavia ahead early with a calm finish and orchestrated much of her team’s best attacking moves before being substituted in the 70th minute.
• Lea Hofmann (Austria Wien): The substitute striker made a decisive impact with her headed equalizer, showcasing her aerial prowess.

Preseason Context

For Austria Wien Women, this friendly forms part of a series of training matches designed to sharpen match fitness before the start of the Austrian league in August. Slavia Praha Women, champions of the Czech Women's First League in the previous season, used the game to test combinations ahead of their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying campaign. The draw gave both sides positive takeaways as they continue their preparations.