Altach took care of business against First Vienna on Saturday evening, running out 4-0 winners in the Bundesliga women's regular season. The result puts them level on points with the visitors at the halfway stage of the tournament, though First Vienna have played an extra fixture. By then you could see where this was heading, given the pattern of both sides in recent weeks.
The breakthrough came in the forty-second minute when P. Mikulica finished off a move to give Altach the lead. L. Wondrejc picked up a yellow card just before the interval, a booking that felt more like a distraction than a tactical foul. To be fair, First Vienna did not travel to make up the numbers, but they certainly did not create enough to trouble the home defence.
N. Ebersold doubled the advantage shortly after the restart, turning in a chance in the fifty-fifth minute. The goal changed the complexion of the game, and First Vienna's response was to try and keep the ball rather than attack. Ebersold added a second in the eighty-ninth minute, a reminder that when you give away space in this league, you pay for it.
P. Mikulica completed the scoring in stoppage time, a late goal that felt like a formality rather than a statement. The coaching staff brought on several changes in the final quarter, including I. Sarac and L. Hocherl, looking to rest players. First Vienna made their own substitutions, but the damage was done and they had to see it out without much urgency.
The result means Altach remain in fifth place with seven points from five games, while First Vienna stay fourth on seven from six. It is a narrow margin, and one more slip could see those positions swap. And here's the thing — matches like this decide who pushes for the top spots, not the big wins against weaker opposition.
