Glentoran Women were narrowly beaten by Slovenian side ZNK Mura in the opening game of their UEFA Women's Champions League tournament in Cyprus.

The Glens trailed by two goals at the break but rallied in the second half when Chloe McCarron and Demi Vance found the net.

ZNK Mura moved in front with around a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock courtesy of Sara Makovec's drilled finish, and doubled their advantage a couple of minutes from the end of the first half through Yana Malakhova after she controlled the ball to knock it past keeper Ashleigh McKinnon.

The Slovenian champions went further ahead on 55 minutes after Noelle Vilcnik converted from the spot but, three minutes after that, Nadene Caldwell headed a Vance free-kick on for McCarron to turn the ball home.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Vance reduced the deficit further still when she slotted home a penalty.

But, despite their best efforts, the Glens couldn't find the elusive equaliser and will go into a play-off for third place in the group against either hosts Apollon Ladies or Armenian's Pyunik.

ZNK Mura: Gavillet, Kolbl, Kos, Rakovec, Vindisar, Sostaric, Kravets, Sivolobova, Makovec, Vilcnik, Malakhova subs Truntic, Sok, Eferl, Jaksic, Cvetkovic, Hrga, Dolinar, Serec

Glentoran Women: McKinnon, McKearney, Foy, Caldwell, Kerr, Vance, Rogan, Wilson, Neal, Tweedie, McCarron subs Jeffery, Scott, Timoney, Keenan, Butler, Weir, McIntyre, Bailie, Neill, Crompton