03-08-2025
Athlone boss Colin Fortune ready to make Champions League step up
Athlone Town manager Colin Fortune watched his side claim their second Champions League victory in the space of four days but knows they face a big step up in challenge as they progress to the second qualifying stage of Europe's top competition.
The reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions followed up their 4-0 win against Cardiff City on Wednesday with an equally assured performance against Croatian side Agram, easing to a 3-0 victory.
Maddie Gibson found the net twice before setting up another for midfielder Hannah Waesch in what proved to be a decisive opening half.
Athlone's levels dropped off understandably in the second period, but they were still able to see out the game and take their place in the second qualifying round.
"We played a high intensity game," Fortune told RTÉ Sport afterwards. "From the start we want to get at teams and this was never going to be any different, that's the way we wanted to play and that's the way we did it.
" We scored three goals in the first half and could have had one or two more as well, which probably would've put the icing on the cake.
"But in the second half, it was a different game altogether. They had a lot more possession, and we sat in, which is fine. We knew we were going to do that and even in the second half we had one or two chances to get that fourth goal."
Up next for Athlone is a trip to the Netherlands for their second-round clash with Icelandic champions Breidablik, a side who have plenty of experience in the Champions League group stage. FC Twente are the hosts of this mini competition, which will have a semi-final and then a final. The winners of Athlone-Breidablik will face either FC Twente or Red Star Belgrade with a place in Round 3 qualifying up for grabs.
Unlike Cardiff and Agram, Breidablik play summer soccer meaning that Athlone won't have the advantage of better match fitness and conditioning.
"It's going to be a different contest," Fortune admitted. "You saw that with Cardiff as well during the week, it's very difficult for these teams who are out of season trying to compete with a team that's in season, no matter what the levels are.
"The Icelandic team are going be bang in the middle (of their campaign) and they're a very good side with a lot of Champions League experience.
"We know if we play up to our performance levels, it's going to take a good team to beat us. I've said that a few times. We're well organised and we're in a good position.
"The two games one after the other is very difficult, we're not set up for that yet and the players aren't developed for that yet.
