Rangers and Hearts both came from behind to tee up Saturday Champions League qualifiers with the Ibrox side taking on Ajax and Hearts facing HB Koge this weekend.
Nicola Docherty and Eilidh Austin gave Rangers the win in the opening game of their four-team mini tournament after they had gone behind to a second-half goal from Belle Briede.
They had to play the last six minutes of extra-time a player down after Eva Hendle, on her debut following her loan move from Chelsea, was dismissed after a second yellow.
Having scorned a chance to give Rangers a third goal which would have had them breathing a little easier, she was softly booked for what seemed to be dissent after a bit of pushing.
They now face Ajax, who beat Brondby earlier in the day, on Saturday night with the winner then progressing into the third qualification round – a two-legged play-off – as they seek to book their place in the group stages of the competition for the first time.
It was a fairly even opening period although there were a few moments of consternation for the hosts with one sloppy moment just after the half hour mark as Rangers dithered in their own box threatening to give the visitors a lead.
It was a chance that Slavia failed to take, to Rangers’ relief.
The Ibrox side had carved out a couple of chances of their own in the opening stages with Katie Wilkinson just failed to get on the end of one ball inside the six-yard box.
Rangers had to withstand a period of pressure after the break with Diana Bartovičová clipping the roof of the net as they went in search of the opener.
It was a warning that Rangers failed to take notice of with Mária Mikolajová allowed ample time and space to cut in from the right before picking out Briede who nicked in front of Austin to convert from close range.
Rangers wasted a free-kick from the edge of the box with Wilkinson dummying for Calliste Brookshire with the effort easily cleared by the Slavia defence.
When the leveller came it was from captain Docherty who lashed in a left-footed volley after Wilkinson had met Brookshire’s cross and cushioned a header into her path. Docherty’s delight was clear as she raced away to take the plaudits of her team-mates with Crichton delighted in the dug-out.
Those celebrations were almost cut short immediately when the visitors whacked the post with Klára Cvrčková’s effort coming off the woodwork, to Rangers’ relief.
As the game headed towards extra-time, Rangers could have nicked it with Laura Berry twice passing up glorious chances in the dying stages.
The first time she aimed straight at the legs of Slavia Prague goalkeeper Barbora Votíková after teenager Hendle had played her through before she then followed that up with another right-footed effort straight into the arms of the stopper.
With neither team able to find the breakthrough, the game went into extra-time.
It was an ominous start to added time for Rangers with Brookshire, Rangers’ brightest player, landing awkwardly and having to go off.
It did not detract them from their task. Minutes before the end of the opening half of extra time, Berry fed Wilkinson who played the ball in behind the Prague defence for Austin to latch on with the 20-year-old taking a touch before calmly dispatching her effort.
After going down to ten players, there were some anxious moments in the dying stages with Rangers defending resolutely to go through.
Earlier in the day, Hearts beat FC Gintra to tee up a game against HB Koge on Saturday with the winner then going into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
It was a first competitive game for new Hearts manager Andy Thomson and a first European game for the Tynecastle women’s side.
They had to come from behind after Makeila Michele Yancey had headed the Lithuanian side in front. Second-half goals from Ellen Dolan and Kayla Jardine gave them the win to take them into the next qualification stage.
