Two goals each from Kayla McCoy and Ana Vitoria plus an own goal from Esson means the Gers have everything to play for as they head into the second leg of Round 2 at the Benfica Campus next Wednesday.
It was another historic moment made by the women’s side this evening under the floodlights at Ibrox as the squad continued their UWCL journey against the Campeonato Nacional Feminino Champions for their first home match of their European campaign.
Victoria Esson started in goal, with a back four of Nicola Docherty, Lisa Martinez, Tessel Middag and Rachel McLauchlan.
Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty Maclean, and Sam Kerr were in midfield with Brogan Hay and Jenny Danielsson supporting striker Kayla McCoy.
As expected for a match of such importance, both sides started with pace and momentum as the Gers looked to gain the advantage early on, but it was Filipa Patao’s side who created the first real threat of the match just under the five-minute mark.
After some neat build-up play, Marta Cintra whipped a quick ball across the face of the Rangers goal, but no red shirts were able to link up with her delivery.
As the minutes marched on, the hosts seemed to settle into a rhythm and began to chip away at the Benfica backline to edge closer towards the goal.
In what was an early indication of what was to come from the youngster, Hay did well to dance her way past several defenders to the right of the visitor’s box, but the Benfica defence did well to intercept before she could drive closer to Rute Costa between the posts.
The visitors were quick to react to this threat and after some lovely wide play, it was again Cintra who sent in another dangerous-looking strike towards the Rangers goal, but it struck the post.
With 24 minutes on the clock, Rangers made history and secured the much-anticipated first Champions League goal to break the deadlock. After a great passage of play down the right side, Hay floated in a sensational cross after gliding past the Benfica defenders to perfectly link up with McCoy. The versatile striker bulleted a thunderous header past Rute Costa to give Thomson’s side the well-deserved lead in front of the erupting home support.
The Gers immediately looked to build on this advantage as they looked hungry to add to their early tally before the end of the first half. However, Benfica were able to quickly close the gap after Ana Vitoria sent the ball into the back of the net for her side. After an interception within the Rangers half, Patao’s squad were able to play a lovely one-two before Vitoria sent in a close-ranged effort past Esson at the near post.
The Gers looked to rectify this quickly and continued to build positive build-up play within the Benfica box, with both Middag and Danielsson making Costa block and collected their efforts.
As the two side’s returned for the second half, Rangers seemed far more settled as the second half progressed.
The team continued to push into the Benfica final third and break down the backline, but the visiting defence did well to intercept and clear the threats created by the home side.
At the other end, Benfica were threatening again with the attacking front three pressuring the Rangers defence. Vitoria was then able to deliver her second of the evening after she netted a lovely volley into the Rangers net. The striker found some space within the Rangers box to get an effort away and Esson was unable to get an arm to it.
The Light Blues reacted quickly to this, and unsurprisingly, it was McCoy who put the Gers level once more. The striker continued to be a thorn amongst the Benfica backline with Docherty lobbing a superb ball from within the Rangers half to an on-running McCoy into the opposition's box. The Ger took a deft first touch to create some space past the two defenders and fired a low strike across the face of the goal and into the back of the net.
With ten minutes left on the clock, the visitors secured their third of the night. After a clearance from within the Rangers box from a Benfica corner, Esson’s collection of the ball was mistimed and agonisingly ruled as over the goal line from the linesman.
Rangers looked eager to find the leveller in the final minutes of the match. Substitute Kirsty Howat did well to find a pocket of space on the edge of the opposition’s box and sent a powerful effort across the face of goal, but it rolled just wide of the front post to end the score 3-2 as they head into next week’s second leg in Portugal.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Martinez, Middag, McLauchlan, Cornet, Maclean (Watson, 70), Kerr, Hay (Orschmann, 73), Danielsson (Arnot, 60), McCoy (Howat, 73).
Unused Subs: Fife, Inman, Austin, McLeary, Gray, Cavanagh.
BENFICA: R. Costa, Seica, Farla (Negrao, 90), Cintra (Silva, 81), Vitoria (Raysla, 46), Alves, C. Costa, Norton, Lacasse, Pauleta, Ferreira Silva.
Unused Subs: Talbert, Vilao, Silva, Correia, Nogueira.
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