Women's Champions League: Glasgow City win 2-0 at Somatio Barcelona
- Published
Hayley Lauder opened the scoring after just three minutes
Glasgow City turned in one of their finest performances in Europe to take a first-leg lead against Cypriots Somatio Barcelona in the first 32 of the Women's Champions League.
Hayley Lauder gave them the perfect start after three minutes and Leanne Crichton headed a deserved second late on.
Both sides had their captain sent off after two bookings - Somatio's Rita Akaffou saw red in the first half, Leanne Ross in the second.
The sides meet again on 27 September.
And Glasgow will go into the second leg at Petershill Park clear favourites to progress to the last 16 for the first time since 2014.
City dominated despite the baking heat with Abbi Grant and Kirsty Howat both thumping the woodwork and Howat also having a goal harshly ruled out.
City take control of tie
Scott Booth's side are not a team used to losing. They have a 100% record domestically this season outside of games against Hibernian and have been reigining Scottish champions for 11 years.
So defeats linger longer than others. And last year's knockout exit to Kazygurt of Kazakhstan has not been forgotten. A 3-0 loss away from home was overturned in Glasgow, but they went out on away goals.
Three minutes in and they did what they did not do away from home 12 months ago - they scored. Grant met a corner at the edge of the box and drove it towards the back post where Lauder stuck a foot out to turn it in.
City mostly had to defend but they did it well, and still created the better chances. Howat converted a Ross cross but was flagged offside. Grant then cracked a shot off the bar.
Once home captain Akaffou was sent off the onus went to the visitors. Howat hit the post as a host of chances were created.
Even after Ross was sent off in bizarre fashion - picking up a second booking for taking a free-kick too quickly - City still dominated. Nicola Docherty's free-kick was tipped over before Howat rounded the goalkeeper but could not get enough purchase on her effort.
Glasgow's reward arrived when Crichton peeled off her marker and buried Docherty's cross into the top corner.
Scotland coach Shelley Kerr was impressed by Glasgow City's win
Indiscipline costs hosts
Somatio Barcelona, only three years old, have quickly established themselves as the top side in Cyprus.
The early goal was a huge blow but they recovered with spells of dominance in the first half. At times they had a front three - Ivory Coast international Rebecca Elloh was particularly hard to pin down because of her electric pace.
But then skipper Akaffou, already on a yellow card, needlessly knocked over Howat before raising her hands to Grant, leaving her side a player short before the half-time whistle.
They had quality in their side, but not the discipline. They let frustration get the better of them, giving away needless free-kicks. Krystyna Freda cracked the crossbar with a shot but even then there was a lack of patience up front from the hosts.
The 2-0 deficit leaves them with it all to do in Glasgow against a City team so used to winning.
'We handled them really well' - reaction
Glasgow City manager Scott Booth: "We got what we deserved. We worked really hard as a group to make sure we knew the opposition. The players took that on board really, really well.
"The way the game went with the physicality and competitiveness, I've got to give the girls all the credit because they worked incredibly hard in hot conditions.
"They've got really physical, athletic, quick players that can score goals and open up teams. At times they caused us problems but on the whole we handled them really, really well."
Somatio Barcelona: James-Buhigas, Ioannou, Coulibaly, Hayes, Ebere, Solomou, Akaffou, Aristodimou, Violari, Freda, Elloh. Subs: Christou, Vrachimi, Pitsillou, Zampa, Evripdou, Georgiou, Trutsi.
Glasgow City: Alexander, Ross, Girasoli, Docherty, Lauder, Love, Crichton, Kerr, Ivanusa, Howat, Grant. Subs: Clachers, McGlinchey, Stewart, Clark, Kulis, McLintock, Foley.