Glasgow Cup final

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

Rangers… 2

(MacLean 90, Howat, 90+ 8)

Celtic…1

(Gallacher 6)

A last-minute regulation time goal followed by a 98^th and last-minute time-added on penalty to Rangers thwarted a lengthy 1-0 lead held by Celtic for most of the game in this season’s Glasgow Cup final

Amy Gallacher netted as early as the sixth minute for the Hoops and they held on to that lead until the 90^th minute when Rangers equalised just after the referee had added eight extra minutes, and right at the end of that time added on, the ref awarded a penalty to Rangers giving them the ideal opportunity to take the trophy.

The same sides met in last season’s final, the first Glasgow Cup tournament played for by the women, with the Ibrox side winning 2-1 at the Excelsior

This time around, with the Hoops defeating Partick Thistle 4-0 in midweek while Rangers beat Queen’s Park 11-0 in a home semi-final at Broadwood, the stage was set for the two sides to meet again.

The opener arrived in the sixth minute of play when Jenny Smith broke into the box and won a penalty with the ref pointing to the spot and Amy Gallacher took up the spot-kick duty.

Her great-grandfather, the inimitable Patsy, knew a thing or two about appearing and scoring in Glasgow Cup finals over a century ago, and his talented descendent carried on the family tradition as she blasted the ball high into the net to put the Hoops 1-0 in front on Rangers’ home ground.

Gallacher was also involved in the first clear goalscoring opportunity for the Hoops three minutes earlier when Nicola Docherty of Rangers slid to keep the ball going out only leaving the Celt to home in on goal and square for fellow striker, Kit Loferski, but the pass to the American was intercepted at the expense of a corner which came to nothing.

However, Celtic’s continued pressure paid off later with the build-up to the penalty award and, as you would expect in any final never mind a derby version, there was a reaction from the team that’s behind, and, as the half wore on, the Celts had to now absorb a bit of pressure having enjoyed the opening spell of the ball, but defending well as the hosts looked to draw level.

The rest of the half was not without chances created from the Ghirls in green and white, and, in the 28^th minute, Colette Cavanagh tried from long range but the shot went over as the Hoops moved back up the pitch.

Then, four minutes later, a stylish break from the Celts saw Gallacher thread the ball through for Loferski to burst on to.

The American Celt squared it but it was too far ahead of the on-rushing Smith, then, after a stramash in front of the Rangers goal, Tessel Middag sent it out for a corner, but it came to nothing although it was a sign that the Hoops were continuing to build more momentum.

The half finished 1-0 to the Celts thanks to Gallacher’s spot-kick and, as the teams returned to the pitch for the second spell, Clare Goldie replaced Maria McAneny in the Hoops line-up.

And, after that turnaround, there were chances for both sides as they grappled to take control of the second half in a scrappy pre-season test of a final while many other teams are still playing friendlies to come to terms with post-summer lack of match readiness.

In one such opportunity in the 58th minute, Smith fired towards the target from an angle but was unlucky to see the ball skim past the post as the Celts sought to double their lead.

Soon after that we had Fran Alonso’s second substitution window of the match when Celya Barclais and Shen Menglu made way for Natalie Ross and Tiree Burchill as the side was tweaked.

Further changes just over 10 minutes later saw debuts for two new Celts - Amercan, Murphy Agnew and Spaniard, Paula Partido who replaced goalscorer, Gallacher and the hard-working Smith.

The fractured play continued with Celtic pushing to double their lead while the home side searched for an equaliser and, depending on your allegiances, there were groans or cheers when a substantial eight minutes were added on at the end of the regulation 90.

However, as the 90^th minute was reached, Rangers pulled one back to level as Kirsty MacLean netted the equaliser.

In the 95^th minute, Loferski drove into the box and held off the challenge from Rachel McLaughlin, but Jenna Fife in the home goal claimed the ball.

Then came the last-minute drama with a penalty to Rangers which was scored by Kirsty Howat with no time left for the Celts to level the final.

RANGERS: Fife, McLaughlan, MIddag, Docherty, Hay (Rowe 72), Cornet, MacLean, McLeary, Bell (McAulay 72), Howat, Hardy.

Subs: Inman, Austin, Colson, Barry, Clark, Ferguson, Hill.

CELTIC: Trialist, Barclais (Ross 62), Gallacher (Agnew 73), Smith (Partido 73), Cavanagh (Addi 78), Clark, Hayes, Loferski, Menglu (Burchill 62), Luana, McAneny (Goldie 46).

Subs: Johnstone, Cusack, Sharkey.

Late, late drama as Ghirls lose out in tense Glasgow Cup final