UEFA Women’s Champions League: Manchester City Join Chelsea In Last 16; Glasgow City Suffer Heartbreak

Manchester City have joined WSL rivals Chelsea in the last 16 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League following a 6-0 aggregate win over Austrian side St Polten.

City had won the away leg 3-0 ahead of the second leg in England and had an early chance to extend that lead from the penalty spot but Jane Ross had her penalty saved by St. Polten goalkeeper Jasmin Boisits.

The penalty miss however didn’t affect Nick Cushing’s team as Nikita Parris and Jill Scott gave City a 2-0 lead at halftime before Melissa Lawley added a late third for a comprehensive aggregate win.

Another British side in Glasgow City have been eliminated from the competition after they suffered a late heartbreak despite winning 4-1 at home to Kazakhstan side BIIK Kazygurt

Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, the Scottish club conceded another goal after Nigerian forward Chikwendu Ihezuo netted to give his side a 1-0 lead. The home side however bounced back through an Abbi Grant hattrick and a Noelle Murray strike to level the tie at 4-4.

Glasgow City had a perfect opportunity to edge ahead in the tie for the first time but Leanne Ross hit the post with her penalty in the dying stages of the game as her team agonisingly missed out on away goals.

With the aggregate win, Manchester City have now joined Chelsea, who had earlier overcame Bayern Munich on away goals on Wednesday, in the last 16. This means that there are two English sides in the last 16 for the first time since 2013-14.

The draw for the last 16 will be held in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday, October 16.

Speaking after the game, Manchester City Women boss Nick Cushing said:

“I’m really pleased. I thought the first goal would be really important because they are a strong team. Although they didn’t create much against us over the two legs, they press really well and try to force mistakes.

“Once we scored the first goal it settled us down and it gave us control of the game.

“Whoever we draw we’re going to have to put in a performance because their are no weak teams in this competition.” he concluded.

 

Manchester City Women: Roebuck; McManus, Houghton, Beattie, Stokes (Campbell, 71); Walsh, Scott, Stanway (Lawley, 61); Parris (Emslie, 61), Ross, Christiansen.

Subs not used: Hourihan, Morgan.

St Polten: Boisits; Tabotta, Biroova, Babicky, Wienroither; Prohaska, Eder (Sobotka, 16), Klein (Wronski, 65), Enzinger; Vago, Pinther.

Subs not used: Abiral, El-Dahaibiova, Zagor, Zver.

Referee: Monika Mularczyk (POL)

Thursday’s Results:

Man City Women 3-0 St. Pölten-Spratzern (Agg 6-0)

Glasgow City Ladies    4-1 BIIK Kazygurt Women (Agg 4-4)

BIIK Kazygurt Women win on away goals