Wrexham celebrated their Women’s Champions League debut with an exhilarating 4-2 victory in opposition to FC Pyunik within the first qualifying spherical semi-final on the Racecourse.
Jenny Sugarman’s aspect will face Riga of Estonia – who earlier beat Glentoran 4-1 – in Saturday’s first qualifying spherical remaining.
Wrexham had been making their European debut after successful the Adran Premier for the primary time of their historical past final season.
Their victory was the primary time a workforce from Wales had received a recreation within the Champions League since Cardiff Met within the 2019-20 season.
The Armenian champions took the lead after 12 minutes when Susanna Badalya made probably the most of a poor clearance from the Wrexham keeper Liz Craven to fireside house from outdoors the penalty field.
The response from Wrexham was immediate, a powerful run from Faye Knox down the left and her cross was met completely by Katie Barker and the objective settled the house aspect’s nerves.
Barker, the previous Newcastle United striker, got here near scoring a second objective however her effort was saved by the Pyunik goalkeeper Amber Lockwood.
Wrexham took the lead 5 minutes after the break when Lili Jones’ proper footed shot from the sting of the penalty space took a slight deflection and sailed into the highest nook.
That objective gave the house aspect the boldness to go and search for the third objective, which ultimately got here on 62 minutes.
Lockwood fumbled Lili Jones’ shot and Ava Suckley pounced to faucet house from shut vary.
However Pyunik stored themselves within the recreation when Luiza Ghazaryan’s highly effective shot gave Craven no probability.
Wrexham winger Knox then missed an excellent probability to attain Wrexham’s fourth objective however new signing Natasha Thomas sealed a historic victory within the dying levels and she or he additionally struck the bar in added time.
