City started as underdogs against one of Europe’s top sides and looked nervous in the opening minutes. Duisburg took the lead through a freak deflection, which Claire Johnstone in the City net did well to get her hand to but could only push it onto the bar and it fell down over the line.
City were then denied a penalty when Ursula Holl (pictured right) in the German goal pulled down City striker Jane Ross at a corner, but the referee waived play away.
German Player of the Year Inka Grings then showed why she is Europe’s top markswoman, with a clinical finish from the edge of the box.
As the half progressed, City began to show their true ability and started to cause the Germans problems, but were unable to capitalise on any chances that fell their way.
The Scottish Champions were then dealt a crucial blow when Grings scored again, on this occasion firing home a header from a Simone Laudehr cross.
In the second period, City looked more like themselves and dominated territorially for the first time in the match. Unfortunately chances came and went as City time and time again went agonisingly close or were denied by Holl.
With eight minutes remaining, City found their bad luck continuing as Femke Maes was brought down in the City box for a soft penalty. Up stepped Laudehr and she coolly fired home to put the 2008-9 UEFA Women's Cup winners 4-0 up.
Needing only one goal to progress as a best runner-up, City pushed again for a goal. But luck was not on their side as a couple of well worked chances went inches wide.
City Manager Peter Caulfield said, “As hard as the result is to take and the fact that we are going out of the competition today, we have to recognise that we were up against an outstanding side and the quality of their team really shone through.
"From our own point of view we were disappointed with the start we made in the game, and I felt we could have kept the ball much better. We have been doing that really well over recent months but perhaps the occasion today and the quality of the opposition hindered our ability to do that.
"We are absolutely delighted with the commitment and effort the players put in second half, when we tried to take the game to Duisburg throughout the whole period and created numerous goal scoring opportunities. However our inability to take them cost us at the end when we conceded a penalty in the dying minutes.
"It is very frustrating to go out by one goal and to have drawn the strongest team in qualification yet again, but we must pick ourselves up and focus on retaining the Scottish Premier League title.”
Photos - Lorraine Hill.
