Match reportLFC Women narrowly beaten by Atletico Madrid Femenino in AMOS Women's French Cup

The Reds were beaten by Marta Cardona's 51st-minute goal at Stade Michel Bendichou to conclude their participation in the pre-season tournament in Colomiers.

Missy Bo Kearns had scored from the penalty spot late on in the first half to cancel out an opener from Ainhoa Moraza.

Charlie Chadwick came closest in what was a tight and even opening half-hour of the contest. The youngster was played in by Sofie Lundgaard and forced Lola Gallardo into a fourth-minute save with her shot from a tight angle.

Atletico did, however, go on to break the deadlock when Moraza dispossessed Lundgaard in Liverpool's defensive third and proceeded to smartly chip the ball over Rachael Laws. Lundgaard was withdrawn soon after due to a knock she suffered earlier on.

Moraza was involved in the Reds' equaliser four minutes before half-time as she was adjudged to have handled Ceri Holland's flick off a Kearns cross into the penalty area. Kearns duly stepped up to take responsibility from the spot and sent Gallardo the wrong way.

PHOTOS

By Alexandre Chac

But not long into the second period, Atletico's lead was restored following a charge forward by Rasheedat Ajibade. The attacker made her way into the box and squared for Cardona, who clinically drilled a finish past Laws.

Liverpool had their own encouraging breakaway shortly afterwards that ended with Natasha Flint firing straight at the goalkeeper.

Holland fired just over from the edge of the box and then Niamh Fahey had a close-range header saved, as Matt Beard's side were left frustrated at not being able to find another leveller and take the clash to a penalty shootout.

TEAM

LFC Women: Laws, Parry, Bonner, Clark (Fisk, 46), Fahey, Hinds (Koivisto, 46), Nagano (Höbinger, 46), Kearns (Taylor, 67), Lundgaard (Holland, 39), Chadwick (Enderby, 46), Daniels (Flint, 46).

Unused sub: Doran.

REACTION

Matt Beard

"We're still finding our feet, it is only our third [pre-season] game. I felt there were some good moments. I was really disappointed with the second [Atletico] goal, more so than the first, just because [it's a] counter-attack – we know Atletico are good on the counter – but positionally we were poor on that goal. Over 90 minutes we need to convert some of the chances we created, we got in some good areas and we didn't execute the chances that we created. But there are plenty of positives we can take from this tournament."