IT was a competition that in the previous season provided enough memories to last a lifetime for Glasgow City’s players. Famous comeback victories over Medyk Konin and Zurich, accentuated by a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play Paris St Germain at the famous Parc des Princes, were the highlights of a whirlwind and landmark Champions League campaign for the SWPL champions who boldly went where no Scottish woman had gone before in continental competition.
That European quarter-final against the French giants may have been less than seven months ago, but the certain je ne sais quoi provided by strutting their stuff in the most romantic city in the world will seem nothing more than a distant recollection this morning after their latest crusade failed to get beyond London. Faced with newly-crowed England champions Chelsea in the last 32 round, equalling, never mind bettering, their previous achievements was always going to be an uphill task and one made all the more harder following last week’s 1-0 first leg defeat in Staines.
As it transpired last night, it was simply too big a mountain to climb as City fell to a 3-0 defeat on the night to full-time opponents who, while not quite of the same class as PSG, did a fine job of stopping domestically-dominant Glasgow from fully asserting themselves.
"It was always going to be difficult if they scored, we knew that," said Scott Booth, the Glasgow manager. "You are playing a bit of cat and mouse because you want to stay in the tie as long as you can but you are concious of what they are capable of doing if you open up too much. When we did have to open up you saw the risks we had to run."
It was a first half that offered little promise of progression for City. Long spells of the match were dictated by their English visitors who attempted to nullify any early eagerness from Booth’s team. The whole period came and went without the home side registering a single shot on target of note as the impressive Denise O’Sullivan had the thankless task of leading the line on her own. At the other end, City goalkeeper Lee Alexander wasn’t overly-tested, but had to be quick off her line on several occasions as they rapid pace of the Chelsea attack saw them bursting beyond the Glasgow defence.
However, it was not a piercing piece of play that would prove their undoing but yet another individual moment of brilliance as was the case in the first leg. While it was Fran Kirby’s 35-yard worldy that gave the Londoners the advantage last Thursday, it was Eniola Aluko – sister of former Rangers man Sone – that would double it. The England internationalist was allowed to dance across the edge of the City box and pick her spot high to Alexander’s left with a stunning finish on 22 minutes.
It was clear change was needed to shake things up and Booth did not hesitate. Firstly Clare Shine was introduced for Erin Cuthbert while Susan Fairlie soon followed at the break for Kerry Montgomery. The shake-up appeared to be working as Shine saw Glasgow’s first sight of goal on 57 minutes. A clever Hayley Lauder lobbed through ball saw the Irish forward dart into the box to send a first time shot goalward, only for Chelsea keeper Hedvig Lindahl to rush out and block.
"We were dominant and in control of the game but it could have been 1-1," admitted Emma Hayes, the Chelsea manager, afterwards. "What I can say is there is a belief in this team that even had that gone in we could have gone down the other end and get another one. It works both ways."
She was right. Within the space of a minute, it was effectively game, set and match Chelsea as Kirby grabbed a second. The England internationalist was afforded a glimpse of goal from the edge of the box and she made no mistake with a wicked shot that swerved heavily to deceive the helpless Alexander.
Four minutes later it was three. A wonderful curling cross from Ji So Yun on the right was inch perfect for Gilly Flaherty, allowing the centre-half to power a header into the middle of the goal from eight yards.
Glasgow’s resistance soon crumbled with the monumental task now facing them, with Aluko soon going close with a weaving run and shot that smacked off the upright before having efforts both saved by Alexander and narrowly going wide.
There was still time for City to get a deserved consolation, however, when their chance came it was agonisingly passed up. Lauder’s ball across goal was missed by Lindahl leaving the goal gaping, but Abbi Grant could not adjust her feet in time and sent the ball spinning agonisingly wide.
GLASGOW CITY: Alexander; Ross, Corsie, McCulloch, Docherty; Grant (McMurchie 78), Cuthbert (Shine 33), Montgomery (Fairlie 46), Love, Lauder; O’Sullivan
SCORERS:
BOOKINGS: DOCHERTY
CHELSEA: Lindahl; Blundell, Flaherty, Fahey, Borges; Chapman (Coombs 68), Ji, Bright; Davison, Kirby (Spence 68), Aluko (Ayane 77)
SCORERS: Aluko 22, Kirby 58, Flaherty 62
BOOKINGS: Chapman, Blundell
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