Sky Sports Cup
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC… 1
(Larisey 12)

SPARTANS… 1
(Mason 92)

Spartans win 4-2 on penalties

Celtic exited the Sky Sports Cup at the quarter-final stage after a penalty shoot-out despite putting in a dominant and spirited performance after being reduced to 10 players inside the first half.

The cup holders had taken an early lead through Clarissa Larisey, but after Jacynta was shown a straight red before the break, the Hoops were forced into some tactical changes.

Despite still controlling the play and creating numerous chances, an injury-time equaliser from Spartans forced extra-time, before the visitors ultimately won 4-2 on penalties.

Celtic enjoyed plenty of chances in the opening stages, with Lucy Ashworth-Clifford going close with an angled strike inside 10 minutes, and the Hoops broke the deadlock after just 12 minutes as Larisey latched on to Jacynta’s through ball in the box to slip it by Rachael Harrison for a well-deserved lead.

Celtic created a host of chances as they went in search of a second goal, with Ashworth-Clifford, Larisey and Kelly Clark all coming close.

But in the 38th minute, Jacynta was sent off, forcing Fran Alonso to make a change at the break.

Substitute Liv Chance came close on a couple of occasions in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and despite continuing to dominate the game, Celtic couldn’t get a second goal.

In the second minute of added time, Spartans managed to grab an equaliser through Louise Mason to put the game into extra-time. The 10 players of Celtic continued to create chances, with Liv Fergusson and Liv Chance coming close, while Tegan Bowie hit the woodwork towards the end of the game.

With the scores still level at 1-1, it was a penalty shoot-out, and it was Spartans who won that 4-2 to progress to the semi-final of the Sky Sports Cup.

CELTIC: Tajonar, O’Riordan (Menglu 109), Clark, Hayes, Ashworth-Clifford (Bowie 75), Robertson, Otto (Shen 75), Craig, Jacynta, Larisey (Fergusson 85), Ross (Chance 45).
Subs: Gallacher, Burchill, Goldie, Marwaha

Penalty shoot-out heartache for Celtic in Sky Sports Cup