A disappointing afternoon in Cyprus as a first half 3 goal deficit was just too much for the Glens to make up and the squad will not now make the group stages ofv the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Chief Coach Kim Turner had a full-strength squad available bar the injured Emma McMaster. So a strong mixture of experience and youth in both the starting lineup and on the bench.
The game got off to the worst possible start as the Glens were 2-0 down within the first half hour. The first came after 15 minutes through a low shot by Sara Makovec that gave Ashleigh McKinnon in the Glens goal no chance. The second game 14 minutes later when Yana Malakhova took a touch and skipped past the keeper to slot it home into an empty net..
That’s how the score remained until half time with very few other opportunities created. The Glens best effort of the half came from last week’s double scorer Aimee Kerr.
The second half started no better for the Glens as Mura further increased their lead 10 minutes in when Noelle Vilcnik converted a penalty after a collision between Glens keeper McKinnon and a Mura forward.
3 minutes later things took a turn for the better when 3 Northern Ireland midfielders combined to reduce the deficit. Demi Vance’s free kick from the left was nodded back across by Nadene Caldwell at the back post for Chloe McCarron to finish. Game on! Vance then cut the lead to one goal by scoring a penalty on 71 minutes awarded as Sofie Keenan was scythed down in the Mura box. This was Demi's fifteenth goal of the season.
With the score still at 3-2 the fourth official signalled for 9 minutes of injury time. But the goal didn’t come and Mura held out for the win.
This result means Glentoran cannot now qualify for the group stages but instead will have a group 3rd place playoff against will play the losers of the other group tie between Apollon Ladies FC (Cyprus) vs Pyunik Women (Armenia).
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Sarah Tweedie, Jess Foy (c), Aimee Neal, Chloe McCarron, Nadene Caldwell, Aimee Kerr, Demi Vance, Jenna McKearney, Emily Wilson Rachel Rogan
Subs: Annie Timoney, Kelly Bailie, Megan Neill, Sofie Keenan (for Neal 43), Ellie Butler, Kelly Crompton (for Kerr 84), Rachel McIntyre and Kascie Weir (for Rogan 54)
