Cardiff City Women will have to settle for a third-place playoff in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying in Lithuania, after a 2-0 defeat against FC Gintra in the first stage of the competition.
Emma Beynon signed for the Bluebirds in the summer from South Wales rivals Swansea City and had the first effort for Cardiff. She took aim from outside the area, but it went straight into the hands of Gintra goalkeeper Adrianna Schroeder.
However, City were limited in chances after that. A long-range effort by Ruby Diodati hit the post before being palmed away by Cardiff goalkeeper Ceryn Chamberlain.
The City goalkeeper was called into action on several occasions in Lithuania, as the Adran Premier champions struggled to get out of their own half.
Gintra took the lead with 20 minutes on the clock. A clever backheel from Julliet Bassey allowed Seina Kashima a run down the left towards goal. Her shot was blocked by the hand of Hannah Daley in the penalty area, leading to a penalty kick for the Lithuanian side.
It would be Bassey to step up and take it, with the Nigerian making no mistake with the finish, placing a shot into the bottom right corner, just out of the reach of Chamberlain who couldn’t keep it out.
After the goal, Gintra kept pushing to double their lead before the break. A header towards goal was fired onto the bar in an attempted Cardiff clearance in another close effort for the Lithuanians.
Another long-range effort by Gintra, this time from Marija Galkina, was well saved by Chamberlain as the midfielder looked to find the top right corner.
City forward Rhianne Oakley battled well when Cardiff were able to look to counter but couldn’t find that final way through, with chances coming far and few between in the Cardiff frontline.
Chamberlain was called into action again after a low-driven effort from Kashima, which was comfortably held by the City goalkeeper.
A good interception by City skipper Siobhan Walsh denied another run at goal for Kashima, with Cardiff looking much more comfortable at the back in the latter stages of the first half.
Cardiff started the second half brightly, with Oakley finding space down the left to strike at goal but her effort hit the side netting.
However, it would be Gintra who would score a second goal in this UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying, with Bassey bagging her brace.
A run down the centre meant the striker was able to round the ball past Chamberlain and tap into and empty net, putting the Lithuanian side in full control.
Chances kept coming for Gintra. Juliet Sunday hit the bar after a close-range volley before a driving run from Bassey led to a shot which hit the side netting.
Another good save by Chamberlain denied Bassey from a one-on-one opportunity midway through the second half. Shortly after, the City keeper saved well from a Juliet Sunday effort, after the winger got to the byline to strike at goal.
Cardiff kept battling towards the end but did not find a breakthrough, meaning they will face Irish side Shelbourne in the third-place playoff.
Lineups:
FC Gintra XI: Schroeder; Mikutaite, O’Brien, Oronoz, A. Sunday; Galkina, Diodati, Supelyte; J. Sunday (Kubiliute 90), Bassey (Romanovskaja 90), Kashima (Pauletto 65).
Goalscorers: Juliet Bassey 20, 49
Cardiff City XI: Chamberlain; Daley, S. Walsh, Bowen; Cook (Green 60), Beynon, Watkins (Adams 76), Broadhurst (Olden 76), Price; Oakley (Atkins 90), C.Walsh (Collie 60).
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