RANGERS progressed to the next round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a 4-0 victory over PAOK in Greece this afternoon.
It was Gers second European victory of the week following Thursday’s 3-1 win over Ferencvaros as they emerged winners of the Round 1 mini-tournament.
Second-half goals from Nicola Docherty, Hannah Davison, Lizzie Arnot and an own goal ensured a win in today’s final and a place in the Round 2 draw on September 1.
Malky Thomson made two changes to his side from Thursday evening’s victory over Ferencvaros with Kirsty Maclean and Brogan Hay coming into the starting line-up with Dina Orschmann on the bench and captain Kathryn Hill missing out on the matchday squad through injury.
Rangers lined-up at the Katerini Municipal Stadium with Victoria Esson in goal and a back four of Nicola Docherty, Hannah Davison, Tessel Middag and Rachel McLauchlan.
17-year-old Kirsty Maclean made her first Champions League start and was joined in midfield by Chelsea Cornet and Sam Kerr, while Brogan Hay and Jenny Danielsson supported striker Kayla McCoy.
Temperatures in Katerini were hitting over 30 degrees celsius as the teams kicked-off in a bid for a place in the second round of the competition.
It was a strong start from Rangers as they put pressure on the hosts within the first minute of the match. Kayla McCoy went on a great run down the left before releasing a shot at goal from a tight angle. The goalkeeper was unable to keep hold of the strike and Brogan Hay was close to picking up the loose ball but Maria Mitkou was able to clear the danger for PAOK.
In their first chance of the game, the Greek champions came incredibly close to opening to scoring. Maria Mitkou played a ball to send Esse Akida through on goal, she looped it over Victoria Esson but her effort bounced off the crossbar to deny PAOK a breakthrough.
The home side were beginning to put pressure on Rangers as a series of corners gave the Light Blues some defending to do. The first was taken by captain Thomai Vardali and was punched clear by Victoria Esson before the ball was returned into the box by Maria Mitkou but that was cleared by Tessel Middag and out for another corner. Thomai Vardali again delivered the next corner but it hit off the post.
With under 10 minutes to the break, Rangers were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position at the corner of the box as Sam Kerr was brought down by Nikoleta Kalesi, with the PAOK midfielder booked for the foul.
The ball was whipped in by Chelsea Cornet in search of Kayla McCoy, the Gers striker was brave to challenge the keeper, taking a knock in the process, as the ball went out for a Rangers corner.
As a tight first-half came to a close, neither side were able to find a breakthrough as referee Alina Peşu blew the whistle for half-time.
Rangers looked bright again at the start of the second-half as Tessel Middag’s long-range effort forced the goalkeeper into a save as she touched it over the bar and over for a Gers corner.
The corner was swung into the box by Jenny Danielsson in search of Chelsea Cornet but it was cleared by PAOK. However, Rangers continued the pressure as Nicola Docherty picked up the ball and looked to lift it back into the danger area with Kayla McCoy and Brogan Hay in dangerous positions.
Docherty’s ball took a bounce in the box which lifted it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to give Rangers the lead. Before the hour mark, Malky Thomson’s side had a two goal advantage. Chelsea Cornet’s free-kick was swung into the box and centre-back Hannah Davidson did well to break free from the PAOK defence and guide a strong header into the back of the net for her first Rangers goal.
Gers made their first change of the match with 25 minutes remaining as Lizzie Arnot was introduced in place of Brogan Hay.
The Light Blues were in control of this Round 1 final and had a three goal advantage shortly after. Lizzie Arnot delivered a great ball into the box from a corner and the PAOK defence were unable to deal with it as defender Maria Papaioannou turned it into her own net.
Into the final 10 minutes, it was 4-0 to Rangers. Substitutes Kirsty Howat and Lizzie Arnot combined with Howat delivering a ball from the right which was spilled by the goalkeeper and Arnot was on hand to guide it into the back of the net. Dina Orschmann came close to adding to the scoring in the final stages of the match but she was agonisingly wide of the post.
It was a dominant European performance as Malky Thomson’s side now look forward to a Round Two, which features a home and away leg next month.
Gers are back in Scottish Premiership action on Wednesday as they host Hearts at Rangers Training Centre.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Davison, Middag, McLauchlan, Maclean (McLeary, 82), Cornet, Kerr (Orschmann, 82), , Danielsson (Watson, 73) , Hay (Arnot, 67), McCoy (Howat, 73).
Subs: Fife, Martinez, McLeary, Austin, Orschmann, Cavanagh, Gray, Inman.
PAOK: Chatzicharistou, Giannaka, Papaioannou, Doiranli, Mitkou, Gornela, Akida (Pedersen, 76), Chalatsogianni, Vardali, Kalesi (Basouri, 59), Vlassopoulos
Subs: Gartner, Bourtouni, Makra, Sidiropoulou, Štokan, Giovani, Katsanou, Mavridou- Karapatsa, Savvidou, Bouzinou.
Referee: Alina Peşu
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