Athlone Town were sucker-punched by two goals in the space of a minute as Icelandic champions Breidablik prevailed 3-1 in their Women's Champions League Round qualifier 2 semi-final on Wednesday.
The Midlanders cruised through Round 1 earlier this month with convincing wins against Cardiff City and Agram, but this was always going to be a much stiffer test.
So it proved at Sportpark Schreurserve in Enschede, the Netherlands, though ultimately the contest was decided by small margins.
There was nothing between them in a hard-fought opening period.
Athlone went closest in the 16th minute when Kelly Brady unleashed a sweet 25-yard strike that skipped off the astro turf and smacked off the post.
Goalless at the break, it felt like the breakthrough would come through a moment of magic or a mistake. Unfortunately for Athlone, it proved to be the latter.
Just three minutes into the second half, goalkeeper Megan Plaschko - who was otherwise flawless - spilled an Agla María Albertsdottir corner, and Sam Smith prodded home the loose ball from a yard out.
59' GOAL!!!
— Athlone Town AFC (@AthloneTownAFC) August 27, 2025
Maddie Gibson scores direct from a corner for the third time in the Champions League! Athlone are back in it!
Watch live on https://t.co/4A1bCxpnnt#BREATH pic.twitter.com/I3Q8e7az6a
Athlone's response was impressive. Colin Fortune encouraged his side to push right up on Breidablik, and they were rewarded just before the hour mark when Madi Gibson's wicked corner bent over stopper Katherine Devine and found the net, Izzy Groves credited with getting the final touch.
It was on a knife edge after that.
Alexis Strickland had a couple of half chances for Athlone, but their hopes unravelled in the final 15 minutes.
In the 76th minute, the impressive Smith volleyed home a cross from the right; a minute later, former PSG and AC Milan forward Berglind Thorvaldsdottir showed her class with an emphatic 25-yard effort that flew past Plaschko.
That killed the game, as an organised and streetwise Breidablik shut up shop.
However all is not lost for Athlone Town.
They'll play Red Star Belgrade in a third-placed play-off on Saturday (12pm Irish time). If they win that, Town will drop into the Women's Europa Cup, UEFA's newly-formed second-tier European competition.
Breidablik: Katherine Devine; Barbara Sol Gisladottir, Heiodis Lillyardottir, Elín Helena Karlsdottir, Kristin Dis Arnadottir (Lilja Þordis Guojonsdottir 72); Sam Smith (Karitas Tomasdottir 83), Heioa Ragney Vioarsdottir (capt), Andrea Bjarnadottir; Birta Georgsdottir (Hrafnhildur Asa Halldorsdottir 63), Berglind Thorvaldsdottir, Agla Maria Albertsdottir
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Sarah Rice (Shauna Brennan 87), Natalie McNally, , Roisin Molloy, Alexis Strickland (Hazel Donegan 87), Hannah Waesch, Izzy Groves (capt, Kate Slevin 67), Madi Gibson, Kelly Brady
Referee: Anastasia Mylopoulou (Greece)
