Gintrai-Universitetas fell 3-5 to Sturm Graz in the 1st Qualifying Round semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Tuesday. The result in Graz puts the Austrian side through to the next stage with a commanding lead after their 2-1 victory last week. The visitors dominated possession at 57 per cent and registered eight shots on target to the hosts' seven.
Khrystyna Pereviznyk opened the scoring for Gintrai-Universitetas in the sixth minute and added three more before the break. She also brought her tally to four by the time the half ended, but Sturm Graz responded with two goals from Lilla Sipos in the 26th and 27th minutes. Two own goals from Makeila Yancey and Alla Herasymchuk in the closing stages of the first half shifted the balance.
Brigitta Pulins found the net three times for the visitors, including a penalty in the 53rd minute. She had already opened the scoring in the third minute and added a second just before half-time. Sturm Graz's attack kept its heads through the yellow cards that came for Sara Pavlovic and Pulins herself, who picked up two cautions in quick succession.
The statistics told a straightforward story. Sturm Graz earned seven corners to the hosts' two and failed to miss from their eight attempts on target. Gintrai-Universitetas had seven shots on target but could not convert them all, and the possession split of 43-57 reflected the away side's control. The match produced five yellow cards in total, none of which led to dismissals.
Substitutions came late in the game for both sides. Gintrai-Universitetas brought on Algimante Mikutaite and justina blazevicute in the 67th minute, while Sturm Graz introduced Lena breznik and Laura Krumbock in the 83rd and 90th minutes respectively. The result means the Austrian club will now await the final draw for the next round.