MANCHESTER CTY WOMEN 1, ATLETICO MADRID FEMENINO 1
Janine Beckie scored a fully deserved early goal for Manchester City but Atletico Madrid’s late away goal gave them a strong advantage in Spain for their second leg match.
It was a blow after an assured, energetic, and precise performance by City who fully deserved their slender lead for much of the game until a single lapse of concentration swung the tie back in favour of the visitors.
Without goalscorers like Ellen White, Georgia Stanway, or Pauline Bremer, City lacked a cutting edge despite looking solid in defence but they paid for one single mistake on the night and Veronica Charlyn Corral capitalised to leave Atletico Madrid in the driving seat for the second leg.
Nick Cushing made just one change from the side that beat Birmingham last weekend with the experienced Demi Stokes coming in for Megan Campbell.
City were under the cosh early with a triple chance going begging for Atletico Madrid from a free kick given away by Gemma Bonner 20 yards out after 6 minutes.
Angela Sosa’s free kick was palmed away by Ellie Roebuck, Elena Linari’s follow up was pushed against the crossbar by the young City keeper and a second follow-up was blazed over the bar from close range by Toni Duggan.
City were not afraid to break the Atletico Madrid press with the odd long ball and snap into tackles and this was unsettling their opponents who tried to press their hosts at every opportunity.
Lauren Hemp forced Sari van Veenendaal into a save but City followed that adventure with a break and unexpected goal for City when Keira Walsh’s through ball ball fell nicely for Janine Beckie and the Canadian scored after 13 minutes.
Manchester City solid at the back but finding it difficult to score
City comfortably dealt with the Atletico press, giving up few chances on their goal even without the ball for spells as both sides tried to pick their way through the opposition with Atletico’s best chance a Sosa corner headed over by Linari over the bar in first half injury time.
Atletico were still a factor in the game though, and Roebuck had to be alert to save from the very quick Ludmila Da Silva after Gemma Bonna had give the ball away with a stray pass after the break.
Duggan shot over the bar as Madrid became increasingly frustrated with City’e energetic pressing – the sight of Aoife Mannion pressingVeronica Charlyn Corral for the ball and pushing her deeper back into the Atletico half underlined the willingness for this City side to press.
Beckie sent a low drive back into the arms of Sari van Veendendaal as their passing options became limited and the City forward intercepted a poor pass out from the back for Atletico.
Jill Scott fell under the slightest after trying to lean on Carmen Menayo, who moved, as City pushed for a second.
But it only took a single lapse in concentration for the visitors to strike, and from a corner Da Silva cut the ball back to Corral who picked her spot inside the back post to level the tie.
The visitors knew they had been in a game and immediately brought on Virginia Torrecilla to shore up their midfield, taking the goalscorer off.
Cushing finally made a late change, with Lee Geum-min coming on for Wullaert with 2 minutes to go, but it was too late to affect the result.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 1, Atletico Madrid Femenino 1
Man City Women 1, Atletico Madrid 0: 13. Janine Beckie scores the opener for City after a through ball by Keira Walsh.
Man City Women 1, Atletico Madrid 1: 80. A cut back from the right by Ludmila Da Silva, close to goal, was tucked away by Corral.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 1, Atletico Madrid Femenino 1
Man City Women: Roebuck, Mannion, Houghton, Bonner, Stokes, Walsh, Scott, Weir, Beckie, Wullaert (Geum-min 88), Hemp
Man City Women Subs: Benameur, Campbell, Toland, Park, Bissell, Fidalgo
Booked: Bonner 4 (trip on Aissatou Tounkara)
Goal: Beckie 13
Atletico Madrid: van Veenendaal, Robles, Aleixandri, Linari, Sosa, Da Silva, Corral (Torrecilla 81), Menayo, Mesageur (Santos 56), Duggan, Tounkara
Atletico Madrid Subs not used: Henseler, Storm, Torrecilla, Ovdiycuck, Marcos, Pena
Booked: Da Silva 66 (trip on Janine Beckie)
Goal: Corral 80
Referee: Ivana Martincic