Win and draw for Germany, Viggósdóttir takes Icelandic record

While Germany ran out 5-1 winners over neighbours Austria in Nuremberg, Glódís Viggósdóttir made history as Iceland’s most capped player. Pernille Harder also scored for Denmark among several good displays by FC Bayern Women players around the world. fcbayern.com rounds up the results from April’s international break.

Six goals in Germany win

Germany had a double header with Austria this month. They controlled the first game in Nuremberg with a team including Franziska Kett, Linda Dallmann and Giulia Gwinn, but lost the latter to a shoulder injury. Barbara Dunst’s Austria set out to frustrate the hosts until Nicole Anyomi opened the scoring from a corner after 17 minutes. Christian Wück’s team stretched their lead to 4-0 in the second half through Vivien Endemann, a Sarah Puntigam own goal and Jule Brand. Chiara D’Angelo got one back for Austria’s first goal of World Cup qualifying. Lea Schüller rounded of the scoreline at 5-1.

The second game in Ried four days later was more of a contrast as it ended goalless. Dunst started the game, while club teammates Dallmann and Kett came on in the second half.

Stanway’s Lionesses beat Edna’s world champions

Two-time defending European champions England hosted world champions Spain at Wembley in a repeat of last summer’s Euros final. Georgia Stanway’s Lionesses again prevailed thanks to Lauren Hemp’s goal in the third minute. Bayern’s Edna Imade came on in the 75th minute but was unable to help Spain turn things around. England’s second game on Saturday took them to Iceland and another familiar encounter for Stanway against club captain Viggósdóttir. 

Viggósdóttir into the record books

That game in Reykjavik saw Viggósdóttir make history with her 146th cap to surpass Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir as Iceland’s record appearance holder. The game itself ended in another 1-0 win for Stanway’s England thanks to Alessia Russo’s first-half goal. The Bayern midfielder started what was also a landmark fixture for the Lionesses as they played their 500th international match.

Iceland had won their previous game at home to Ukraine thanks to Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir’s goal for their first three points of World Cup qualifying.

Edna’s double for Spain

Following their 1-0 loss at Wembley, Spain then faced Ukraine, with Bayern’s Edna opening the scoring in the third minute and doubling the advantage straight after half-time. Maria Méndez, Eva Navarro and Vicky López struck further goals as the world champions won 5-0.

Harder nets in Denmark win

Harder and Stine Ballisager started Denmark’s third game of World Cup qualifying as they visited Sweden. The hosts made the better start and led inside eight minutes through Monica Jusu Bah, but Harder equalised in the 30th minute. Janni Thomsen then grabbed a Danish winner in added time to give them two wins from three before facing Arianna Caruso’s Italy. All three Bayern players featured in that game, which ended goalless in Copenhagen.

Caruso shines in big Italy win

Italy’s preceding fixture took them to Serbia, where they ran out 6-0 winners. Cristiana Girelli opened the scoring before Caruso set up Elisabetta Olivero. Martina Lenzini got a third before the break, after which Caruso made it 4-0 herself. Sofia Cantore and Giada Greggi scored late on.

Padilla Bidas beaten by Ireland

Poland came away from their World Cup qualifying double header against Ireland with nothing. Natalia Padilla Bidas started the first game in Gdansk, which ended in a 3-2 defeat. Emily Murphy and Katie McCabe put the visitors ahead early on, before Tanja Pawollek got a goal back on the stroke of half-time. Marissa Sheva restored the Irish advantage on the hour, with Ewa Pajor’s 78th-minute goal just a consolation for Poland.

Sheva’s goal in Dublin four days later was all that separated the sides in the second game, with Padilla Bidas not featuring.

Three Japan friendlies against the US

Momoko Tanikawa’s Japan squeezed in a triple header of friendlies against the USA. Goals from Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Riko Ueki saw the hosts win the first game 2-1 in San José. Japan came out on top in the second match in Seattle thanks to Maika Hamano. The third and final fixture in Colorado was more clear-cut as the US won 3-0 through second-half goals from Naomi Girma, Lavelle and Kennedy Wesley. Tanikawa played in all three matches, starting the first and last.

Friendly wins for Gilles’ Canada

Canada were in Brazil for three games in the FIFA Series. They opened with a 4-0 win over Zambia thanks to braces apiece for Nichelle Prince and Annabelle Chukwu. The second game against South Korea was a tighter affair as Shin-ji Kim cancelled out Evelyne Viens’ goal. Bayern’s Vanessa Gilles then took centre stage in the second half with two goals from set pieces to earn a 3-1 victory.

Gilles also played in the third game against hosts Brazil but went down to an Aline Gomes goal just after half-time.

Other Bayern involvements

Germany’s U23s played against Belgium and Italy, with Mala Grohs in goal for the 2-1 win over the former. She didn’t feature in the 1-0 victory against Italy.

Bernadette Amani and the Ivory Coast had three wins in April against Mauritania (8-0), Turks and Caicos (15-1) and Pakistan (2-0).

Overview of results for Bayern players:

World Cup qualification 

Poland 2-3 Ireland (Natalia Padilla Bidas)

Germany 5-1 Austria (Giulia Gwinn, Franziska Kett, Linda Dallmann, Ena Mahmutovic, Barbara Dunst, Maria Plattner)

Serbia 0-6 Italy (Arianna Caruso)

Sweden 1-2 Denmark (Pernille Harder, Stine Ballisager)

England 1-0 Spain (Georgia Stanway, Edna Imade)

Iceland 1-0 Ukraine (Glódís Viggósdóttir)

Denmark 0-0 Italy (Pernille Harder, Stine Ballisager, Arianna Caruso)

Ireland 1-0 Poland (Natalia Padilla Bidas)

Spain 5-0 Ukraine (Edna Imade)

Austria 0-0 Germany (Franziska Kett, Linda Dallmann, Ena Mahmutovic, Barbara Dunst, Maria Plattner)

Iceland 0-1 England (Georgia Stanway, Glódís Viggósdóttir)

U23s:

Germany 2-1 Belgium (Mala Grohs)

Germany 1-0 Italy (Mala Grohs)

Friendlies: 

Ivory Coast 8-0 Mauritania (Bernadette Amani)

Canada 4-0 Zambia (Vanessa Gilles)

USA 2-1 Japan (Momoko Tanikawa)

Turks and Caicos 1-15 Ivory Coast (Bernadette Amani)

Canada 3-1 South Korea (Vanessa Gilles)

USA 0-1 Japan (Momoko Tanikawa)

Ivory Coast 2-0 Pakistan (Bernadette Amani)

USA 3-0 Japan (Momoko Tanikawa)

Brazil 1-0 Canada (Vanessa Gilles)

🏟️✨ Bayern host Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in Saturday’s Champions League semi-finals – get your tickets here!