Slideshow Photos by Billy Galligan and Ian Anderson
Raheny United suffered a 4-0 defeat to English side Bristol Academy at Richmond Park in their first leg Round of 32 game in the Champions League on Thursday night. A crowd of 1,248 watched the Irish WNL Champions suffer a first defeat of their Euro adventure this season.
Raheny started the game bright with Irish International Siobhan Killeen making a few short runs causing pressure early in the Bristol defence.
As the game progressed, Bristol began to grow in confidence. It was Natasha Harding who broke the deadlock on the night on the 27th minute. Bristol had a number of changes on goal in the closing minutes of the half but it was Harding’s goal that gave the visitors a one nil lead at half time.
Raheny brought on Irish U19 International Clare Shine on the 58th minute for Danielle Sheehy. Shine had an immediate impact introducing a bit of spark to a deflated Raheny side. The home team began to gain more possession in the Bristol half. Harding doubled the visitors lead 78 minutes into the game. Niamh Reid Burke made an impressive save which pushed a shot onto the crossbar but Harding hit the rebound to give Bristol a two nil lead.
Niamh Reid Burke pulled off another great double save on the 86th minute when she denied Harding of a hat trick and Pablos of a rebound. Raheny played the remainder of the game with 10 players when Irish U19 star Katie McCabe left the field visibly distraught with an injury. Moments later a penalty was awarded to Bristol due to a late foul by Pearl Slattery. It was Nicola Watts who stood up to take it and pushed Bristol's lead further when she blasted the ball into the upper right side of the goal.
Bristol hit their final goal of the night on the 91st minute, when a quick ball into the box found Natalia Pablos who powered a header into the Raheny goal. A tough task faces Raheny next Thursday October 16th in Bristol. Follow all live updates and reports here on ExtraTime.ie.
