By Hannah Spreckley
Glasgow City are heading home after suffering a tough 9-1 loss against Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg in the quarter final of the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) today.
The four goals by Pernille Harder guaranteed a place for the German club in the semi-final despite a hard-fought battle by the Scottish champions at the fanless 39,500-capacity Anoeta Stadium.
Despite defeat, Glasgow City made history by scoring their first-ever quarter-final goal, with Lauren Wade grabbing her first for the club in the second half following her arrival earlier this season.
However, it was Wolfsburg that earned their place in the Champions League’s last four.
The first half in San Sebastian, Spain remained goalless for 15 minutes as City held off the two-time tournament winners. The Scottish champions were cheated out of an early chance that saw debutant Krystyna Freda called offside in her own half.
Wolfsburg went ahead when a one-two with Alexandra Popp at the edge of the box allowed Harder to beat Lee Alexander to her left side for the first goal of the game. It was a slight touch from South Africa’s most-capped player and new signing for Glasgow City, Janine Van Wyk, that tipped it away from the hands of the keeper.
The second goal of the game was scored by Norwegian international Ingrid Syrstad Engen in the form of a bullet header off a corner.
It was still all to play for at this point as Wade grabbed a chance in the 38th minute as she boldly attempted to lob the keeper who was creeping off her line, but the shot was off target.
Engen took her second goal just before the half-time whistle after she emphatically slid home a ball in between two Glasgow City defenders.
In the second half, Wolfsburg's Felicitas Rauch scored after Zaneta Wyne made a terrific block to deny Harder her fifth of the day. Unfortunately, own goals from both Leanne Ross and Jenna Clark made it nine.
Wade scored Glasgow City’s only goal of the game in the 64th minute. A long ball from goalkeeper and Scotland international Alexander was flicked on by Freda and put away by Wade with a left-footed strike over the reach of the keeper from a tight angle.
Glasgow’s tremendous journey comes to an end in Spain, but their historic campaign should be applauded. It is the first time the club has competed in the last eight of the UWCL since 2015 after not being able to play for over five months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
On their journey to the final eight, Glasgow City beat Russian side Chertanovo and top Danish club Brondby, while Wolfsburg, who won their fourth league title in a row – the sixth in their history – in the summer along with a fifth straight German Cup, knocked out Mitrovica and FC Twente.