Wrexham bow out of Women's Champions League qualifying

Wrexham bow out of Women's Champions League qualifyingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wrexham won the Adran Premier for the first time in 2025-26ByGeorge Rees-JulianBBC Sport WalesPublished3 minutes agoWrexham's debut European campaign came to an end after a 4-1 defeat against Latvian side Riga FC in the Women's Champions League qualifying second round.The Adran Premier champions had led 1-0 until the 50th minute after Lili Jones scored her second European goal to give them an early lead at the Racecourse.But Latvian title holders Riga turned the first qualifying round final in their favour with quickfire goals from Minami Oi and Kumba Brima after the restart.Laura Kallase and Shiori Kato added further goals as the dominant Latvian champions ensured progression to the second round.It was Wrexham, who beat Armenian champions FC Pyunik 4-2 in their Champions League debut on Wednesday, that started brightest.Jones, scorer of Wrexham's second in the semi-final, reacted quickest to Riga's half-clearance and volleyed the hosts ahead in the ninth minute.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Riga FC's Kumba Brima scored twice as they beat Glentoran on WednesdayRiga were a threat down the wings after falling behind against the run of play and nearly levelled when Nikola Preijere fizzed past the post.Yet, it was Wrexham that went closest to a second first-half goal as Faye Knox and Natasha Thomas nearly extended their lead before the break.Riga's wide-area threat did pay off soon after the restart when Japanese midfielder Oi ventured forward and beat Maria Francis-Jones to head home.The turnaround was complete four minutes later. Sierra Leone's Brima rolled through the onrushing legs of Liz Craven.Riga won all 24 of their league games in 2025, and that quality shone through as teenage substitute Kallase and Kato added a third and fourth goal respectively.Related topicsWrexhamWomen's FootballCymru PremierFootballMore on...