![\"Glasgow](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-23.55.53.png\" "\\"Glasgow")
\nImage credit: Glasgow City<\/p>\n
\nImage credit: Glasgow City<\/p>\n
Glasgow City triumphed 3-0 over visitors Athlone Town in the first qualifying round of their Europa Cup campaign.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It was a miserable night in Glasgow, but torrential rain didn\u2019t deter hometown fans who packed Petershill Park. Fresh from the disappointment of a Champions League knockout, City had everything to prove on their next foray in European football.<\/p>\n Starting XIs<\/p>\n Glasgow City<\/strong><\/p>\n Alexander (C); Muir; Golob; McLaughlin; Forrest; Harrison; Anderson; Evans; Smit; Motlhalo; M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4<\/p>\n Athlone Town<\/strong><\/p>\n Plaschko; Brennan; Shine; Brennan; Mcnally; Waesch; Brady; Molloy; Gibson (C); Slevin; Strickland<\/p>\n City edge out Athlone Town in cagey first half<\/p>\n The visitors couldn\u2019t find form in the first ten, with a dominant home side holding possession but rarely threatening on goal. In the 11th minute, a stray Amy Anderson pass at the back gifted Athlone\u2019s Kelly Brady a clear shot, which forced City skipper Lee Gibson into a save.\u00a0<\/p>\n The brightness didn\u2019t last. In the 14th minute, Finland\u2019s Sofia M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4\u2019s cross found Amy Anderson\u2019s right foot to put Glasgow City in front. Nevertheless, it was a far more even match-up than most would have predicted. Athlone Town showed a healthy amount of gumption away from home, but neither side found real momentum. The star of the show was the torrential rain which didn\u2019t let up from kick-off to half-time whistle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n At the half, the hosts led 1-0.\u00a0<\/p>\n M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4 magic sends City over the line<\/p>\n In the 55th minute, a further M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4 cross sent City 2-0 up through Linda Motlhalo, who slipped it past Megan Plaschko in goal. Just four minutes later, M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4 lined up Lisa Forrest for yet another tap-in to make it 3\u20130.\u00a0<\/p>\n The goals shocked Athlone Town back to life, forcing Gibson into action time and time again, yet no white shirt could threaten on target. A flurry of substitutions around the 70th minute gave new life and a faster pace.\u00a0Yet ultimately, City\u2019s back line and Scotland\u2019s number one keeper kept the game at bay. <\/p>\n The 3-0 lead gives The Original Trailblazers a comfortable buffer as they head into the second leg in Athlone on 17th September.<\/p>\n