Women's Champions League Report: Wexford Youths Women's FC 1-3 BIIK-Kazygurt

Despite a superb second-half showing, Continental Tyres Women's National League champions Wexford Youths Women's FC fell to a 3-1 defeat to Kazakhstan side BIIK-Kazygurt in their opening UEFA Champions League qualifying round tie in Ferrycarrig Park on Tuesday evening. 

A first-half blitz from BIIK-Kazygurt saw them lead 3-0 at the break, but a brilliant second-half performance from Wexford Youths, which saw Claire O’Riordan score and the team have a goal harshly disallowed by the referee, will give manager Gary hunt plenty to work from for the remaining matches on Thursday and Sunday.

BIIK-Kazygurt were quickest out of the block and had an early lead with Gulnara Gabelia firing home from close range past Youths keeper Tamara Furlong.

Youths centre-back Jessica Gleeson had to be alert to the danger shortly preventing Gabelia from making it 2-0. Youths midfielder Emma Hansberry’s drilled corner saw keeper Oksana Zheleznyak spilling, but no Wexford Youths player could take advantage and the ball was cleared.

The Kazakhstan side doubled their lead through Charity Adule. Build-up play from Yulia Myasnikova and Gabelia set up Adule and she made no mistake firing past Youths keeper Tamara Furlong to make it 2-0.

Furlong kept the Youths in the game with a great save on the half-hour mark to deny Gabelia, but as half-time approached the Youths fell further behind. Alina Litvinenko got possession on the left wing, and her cross into the box evaded keeper Furlong and dropped under the crossbar for 3-0. Defender Dwyer went close for the Youths in stoppage time but she couldn’t keep her strike under Zheleznyak’a crossbar.

Gary Hunt’s teamtalk worked and the Youths started the second-half brightly. Nicola Sinnott and Linda Douglas linked up well down the right with Douglas’ cross causing problems, but after a scramble in the BIIK-Kazygurt penalty box, the ball was cleared.

After some good early second-half pressure, the Youths deservedly got back into the game. BIIK-Kazygurt keeper Zheleznyak failed to hold a long-range free kick, and Youths striker Claire O’Riordan was on hand to fire home and delight the strong home crowd.

Delahunty went close minutes later with an overhead kick from inside the penalty area but keeper Zheleznyak was equal to the effort and saved. At the other end, keeper Furlong kept the Youths in the game with a superb low save from Ihezuo.

The Youths continued to press and had a goal very harshly disallowed when the match referee adjudged the keeper to have been fouled, before Zheleznyak was forced into a brilliant one-handed save from Emma Hansberry’s long-range effort.

Dwyer kept the Youths in with a chance with 12 minutes to go. Litvinenko played a nice through ball for Gabelia who rounded keeper Furlong, but Dwyer got back to make a vital goal-line clearance.

Gary Hunt’s side continued to press but couldn’t find a second goal to give them a chance of a comeback. Despite the defeat, an excellent second-half performance will leave the Youths with plenty of hope for their remaining two homes.

BIIK-Kazygurt: Oksana Zheleznyak; Darya Kravets (Yekaterina Babshuk 81), Kristina Mashkova, Yekaterina Krasyukova (Josephine Ngandi Ngandi 90+3), Yulia Myasnikova; Charity Adule, Annette Jacky Messomo, Alina Litvinenko; Gulnara Gabelia, Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo.

Wexford Youths: Tamara Furlong, Nicola Sinnott, Lauren Dwyer, Jessica Gleeson, Orlaith Condon (Amy Walsh 38); Linda Douglas, Kylie Murphy, Emma Hansberry, Aisling Frawley; Maria Delahunty; Claire O’Riordan.

Referee: Florence Guillemin.