Lithuanian champions Gintra will head into next week’s return leg with everything still to play after conceding a heartbreaking stoppage-time winner in a 1-2 defeat away to Austrian side Sturm Graz in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Europa Cup first qualifying round tie on Wednesday evening.
Playing at the 17,000-capacity Liebenau Stadium in Graz, Gintra were without injured midfielder Anni Hakasalo but made an encouraging start against their Austrian opponents.
The visitors nearly took the lead within the opening minutes when Khrystyna Pereviznyk raced through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to lift her effort narrowly over the crossbar.
Sturm responded by increasing the pressure, forcing Gintra goalkeeper Alla Herasymchuk into an important save in the 13th minute. Although the Austrian side dominated possession and won a series of early set pieces, it was the Lithuanian champions who struck first. In the 20th minute, Pereviznyk made amends for her earlier miss by beating the Sturm goalkeeper with a superb long-range strike, giving Gintra a valuable 1-0 lead.
Despite spending much of the first half defending, the visitors remained well organised and disciplined, frustrating the hosts while continuing to threaten on the counter-attack. Sturm controlled possession, but Gintra comfortably protected their advantage until the interval.
Head coach introduced Elizabeth Mideva and Julia De Souza at half-time in place of Justina Blaževičiūtė and Gracie Knutzen, as the visitors looked to maintain their defensive solidity.
The pattern of the match remained largely unchanged after the break. Sturm continued to dictate possession, while Gintra defended resolutely. Herasymchuk was again called into action in the 75th minute, producing another excellent save to preserve her side’s lead.
However, the pressure eventually told nine minutes from time. Midfielder Lena Breznik found space outside the penalty area and fired a precise effort from around 16 metres into the net to level the score at 1-1.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Sturm pushed relentlessly for a winner during the closing stages, creating several dangerous opportunities. Herasymchuk continued to keep Gintra in the match with a series of composed interventions, but she could do nothing in the final minute of stoppage time.
Following a corner kick, Breznik rose highest to head home her second goal of the evening, completing the Austrian side’s dramatic comeback and securing a 2-1 first-leg victory.
Despite the late disappointment, the tie remains finely balanced. Gintra will have the opportunity to overturn the one-goal deficit when they host Sturm Graz in the decisive second leg in Šiauliai on 2 September, with a place in the next qualifying round still very much within reach.
Sturm Graz vs Gintra – 2-1 (0-1)
Goals: Breznik 80′ 90+3′ | Pereviznyk 20′
Source: https://www.lff.lt/grace-skaudus-gintros-pralaimejimas-paskutinemis-rungtyniu-akimirkomis/
