RANGERS’ bid for UEFA Champions League qualification came to an end this evening as Ajax netted a stoppage time spot-kick to deliver a 2-1 victory in the second qualifying round final at Petershill Park.
A second half strike from Nadine Noordam began the scoring, but Rangers appeared to have sent the contest to extra time when Eilidh Austin headed home with just three minutes remaining.
However, there was a late twist in the tail when the Dutch side were awarded a penalty in stoppage time and Sherida Spitse converted.
Leanne Crichton’s side can pride from their performances in the mini-tournament ahead of the ScottishPower Women's Premier League curtain raiser in eight days' time and will also depart this evening in the knowledge they have a UEFA Europa Cup qualifier to look forward to.
From the team which defeated Slavia Praha three nights ago, out went Nicola Docherty and Kirsty Smith in the full-back positions in place of the fresher legs of Fallon Connolly-Jackson and Bailley Collins.
Ajax ran out 2-0 winners over Danish outfit Brondby in the corresponding last four clash, and their effective wing play was evident inside a minute when May Cruft went into the referee’s notebook for a foul midway inside her own half.
Eilidh Austin was the match winner for the Gers at Broadwood in midweek and it was the defender who met Cruft’s corner on 13 minutes at the near post, but she could only glance her header over the crossbar.
Clear-cut opportunities were at a premium in the opening exchanges, evidenced by a speculative 30-yard attempt from Ajax defender Anna Knol which sailed considerably off target.
The Dutch side were enjoying particular success down the right through Mirte van Koppen. A meandering run from the winger left Connolly-Jackson in her slipstream, although her effort from distance was of the wayward variety.
The half-hour passed without either goalkeeper being troubled, with Mijke Roelfsema, up from defence for a corner, seeking to change that when she collected a pass on the corner of the penalty area but only curling her effort into the side netting.
Perhaps the best opportunity of the contest until that point arrived just seconds after the interval when Ajax were able to get Rangers running towards their own goal for the first time in the evening.
It was no surprise the dangerous van Koppen was involved, working a half yard for a crossing opportunity on the right-hand side, but Elisa Van Dijk could only contrive to nod over the crossbar despite being unmarked inside the six-yard area.
Rangers threatened down the opposite end when Brookshire got her head down and burst down the left, fizzing a delivery across the penalty area which arrived at the feet of summer recruit Gry Boe Thrysoe. However, much to the relief of the Dutch side the midfielder didn’t quite make the correct contact.
Jenna Fife had to be alert moments later when Ajax, boasting a considerable height advantage over the Gers, wreaked havoc from a corner. It was initially Katja Snoeijs who headed towards goal, with the ball breaking at a moment’s notice to Xanne Kip but she could only spoon into the grateful hands of the Rangers goalkeeper.
However, the added pressure from the Dutch side in the second period told when they got their noses in front moments later.
A deep cross from the left-hand side was met on the head by Snoeijs, and although Fife got a hand on the forward’s initial effort back across goal on hand was Nadine Noordam to poke home from point-blank range.
Crichton’s side sought an immediate riposte and Laura Berry’s eyes were surely lighting up when space opened up for the Scotland youth international 25 yards from goal, but it was always a tough ask on her weaker left side as her effort sailed straight down the throat of the Ajax goalkeeper.
Rangers were throwing everything at it in the final stages as a delivery from Bailley Collins on the right-hand side almost looped over the goalkeeper and into the net, before Katie Wilkinson fashioned a powerful shot which was deflected out for a corner.
And from the resulting corner, the Gers levelled proceedings with just three minutes of normal time remaining.
Docherty's inswinging delivery was on the money and rising highest was Austin who glanced home from five yards out to cue scenes of celebration in the home end at Petershill.
However, further drama was to follow as, just 60 seconds later, Austin was adjudged to have brought substitute Joelle Smits to the turf inside the penalty area.
The Ajax captain, Sherida Spitse, stepped forward and stroked her spot-kick down the middle to send the Dutch outfit into the next round.
RANGERS: Fife, Connolly-Jackson (Docherty, 62), Austin, Roelfsema (Boyce, 82), Collins, Thrysoe, Cruft (Black, 62), Blake, Berry, Brookshire (Smith, 75), Wilkinson
Subs not used: Ohba, Rarity, Miller, Fellows
AJAX: Liefting, Amber, Kees (Te Brake, 45), Knol, Noordam, Spitse, Snoeijs (Touzani, 79), van Koppen, Thomas (Smits, 60), Kip, Van Dijk (Van Schoonhoven, 60)
Subs not used: van der Vilet, van der Weide, Noordermeer, van Egmond, Verkooijen, Sweers
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