Glasgow City’s hopes of reaching the Women’s Champions League group stage are all but over after being blown away by Norwegian champions SK Brann.
Brann made a flying start at Petershill and took the lead after just five minutes when Rakel Engesvik was played in behind the City defence, before rounding goalkeeper Lee Gibson and slotting home.
Justine Kielland looped a wonderful shot over Gibson eight minutes later to put City firmly on the back foot, before Engesvik took advantage of more slack defending to sweep in Brann’s third goal before the break.
City did compose themselves after the interval and had better control, but Brann always looked more threatening and put the tie beyond doubt four minutes from time when Marit Lund’s sweetly struck drive found the bottom corner.
Leanne Ross’ side, twice quarter-finalists in the competition, have the slim hope of a second-leg revival in Norway next Wednesday to cling to, but in truth they were outclassed and would need a miracle turnaround to salvage progress to the group stage.
The Scottish champions will have huge regret about their own performance, particularly defensively as three of the goals came from unconvincing clearances from their penalty area.
A switch to a 3-5-2 and the introduction of experienced midfielder Hayley Lauder changed things in City’s favour after the break and led to some chances.
Charlotte Wardlaw’s shot dropped just wide of a post after a deflection and Kenzie Weir headed straight at Aurora Mikalsen when unmarked in the box as City produced plenty more crosses into the penalty area.
But Brann continued to look menacing on the break and missed two wonderful chances before Lund’s crisp drive punished another weak defensive header and set the Norwegian side on course for the next round.
Glasgow City’s Hayley Lauder on BBC Alba: “First half, nowhere near good enough for this Glasgow City team. We were so far off it.
“I think second half we got a bit more about us and tried to challenge higher up the pitch and I think we did that.
“Obviously their goal at the end, maybe we were pushing a bit more than what we could have been at that point in the game. It’s hugely disappointing for me.”
SK Fire manager Martin Ho on BBC Alba: “The first half I thought we were very good with the intensity we played at with the ball. Second half we were well off where we wanted to be.
“Credit to Leanne [Ross] for changing their system and opening us up a bit but after 10 or 15 minutes we got to grips with that and then the second half was probably just transitional for both teams.
“It’s half time, the way we look [at the tie]. If we can score four in this one, they can score four in the next leg.”
Line-ups
Glasgow City
Formation 4-3-3
29Gibson
27Oscarsson20Weir18Moore3Muir
22Wardlaw7Fulton10Motlhalo
24Forrest9Lovera14Davidson
29Gibson27OscarssonSubstituted forFoleyat 82’minutes20Weir18MooreBooked at 90mins3Muir22Wardlaw7Fulton10Motlhalo24ForrestSubstituted forLauderat 45’minutes9Lovera14DavidsonSubstitutes2Warrington4Lauder8Larkin11Whelan15Gambone16Kozak17Sullivan19Colvill23Foley25Clachers
Fire Women
Formation 3-5-2
1Mikalsen
30 Tynnilä15 Østenstad5 Stenevik
9 Eikeland 8 Haugland 28 Kielland 14 Nygård 19 Bratberg Lund
24Crummer7Engesvik
1Mikalsen30Tynnilä15Østenstad5Stenevik9EikelandBooked at 59mins8HauglandSubstituted forSvendheimat 89’minutes28Kielland14NygårdSubstituted forBrochmannat 58’minutes19Bratberg Lund24CrummerBooked at 70minsSubstituted forRenmarkat 89’minutes7EngesvikSubstituted forEide Lieat 73’minutesSubstituted tes6Aune11Renmark18Eide Lie21Stavenes23Svendheim99Brochmann
Referee: Monika Mularczyk
Attendance:865
2023-10-11 20:37:39
#Glasgow #City #Brann #Norwegian #champions #strong #Leanne #Ross #side
