Their first chance of the opening period came just after the 15-minute mark when Wrobel burst forward but while her effort from distance was wide of the post and didn’t look likely to trouble Sporting Lisbon, it did seem to energise the crowd.
They did not have long to wait for a full charge. It was Wrobel who provided it when she lashed a right-footed effort into the back of the net after Sporting Lisbon had dithered in clearing their lines.
Emily Wheelan’s ball into the box had been partially cleared only for Lisa Evans to head it back in.
Abi Harrison got a touch to lift it on and while the ball bounced and the visitors prevaricated, Wroble turned to sink the ball well beyond the reach of Anna Wellmann.
There were high fives in the touchline from Leanne Ross as she calmly celebrated the goal, Lee Gibson had to be alert to tip over a rasping drive from Daniella Arques from the edge of the box but by and large the visitors did not overly trouble City.
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As expected, they were neat and tidy on the ball without opening the City defence up.
City emerged from the break keen to extend their advantage. Nicole Kozlova whipped in an inviting ball to the back post that Wheelan could not get a clean connection on, a move that came just after the Irish winger had forced a corner from a positive run down the flank.
Sporting Lisbon, currently second in the Portuguese league, were wasteful when they did find themselves in the final third.
City ought to have doubled their advantage when Wrobel slipped the ball into the path of Harrison in the six-yard box. Her effort was blocked and as Wroble rushed to latch onto the rebound, Sporting Lisbon were able to scramble the ball to safety.
Lisa Forrest was introduced to the fray just after the hour mark with the winger drawing a huge cheer from the Petershill crowd; her last minute goal in added time in the previous round against HB Koge was the reason why City found themselves in this tie.
Her first contribution was to take aim from the edge of the box, an effort that came to little but underlined City’s commitment to a second goal ahead of the return leg next Wednesday night.
Still, Gibson was forced into action to deny Ashley Barron after the powerful defender had aimed a header goalwards.
Given the chances City had, it was a sickener then when Lisbon levelled. The glorious execution of the strike would have been little consolation to City, though. Lisa Evans appealed that she had been fouled in the build-up to the goal as Sporting Lisbon won a corner.
From Arques’ delivery, Telma Encarnação netted with an acrobatic left-foot effort that flew past Gibson and left City stunned.
It was the visitors turn to go for it. Lana Golob had to clear off the line after Leonete Correia had come off the bench to get in behind the City defence.
Her ball for Telma Encarnação was scooped off the line by Golob as City found themselves under pressure for the first real time in the game.
It ended honours even, but City will feel there could have been more.
“I am slightly disappointed at losing that goal because we controlled large parts of that game, just never capitalised on the possession that we had and the opportunities that we created,” said City boss Ross post-match.
“If we take one of those chances and go further ahead then I would be more pleased.
“But they are a good team and they were always going to have chances.
“It took a brilliant strike for their striker to go and level the game.
“We knew that they had good technical players and that they had a threat all over the pitch but I think there were a lot of pleasing aspects for us and there is a lot that we can take from that.
“There are things that we know we can improve on.
“They do not concede many goals so it is about exerting control in the game and being ruthless when we do have chances and that is the most disapointing aspect that we created chances and didn’t finish them off.”