Scottish Cup
Sunday, May 28, 2023
Hampden Park

CELTIC... 2
(Flint 64, O’Riordan 67)

RANGERS... 0

Celtic FC Women are the winners of the Scottish Cup for the second season in a row, after overcoming Glasgow rivals Rangers at Hampden Park this afternoon (Sunday).

Second-half goals from Tash Flint and Claire O’Riordan handed the Ghirls a well-deserved 2-0 win and silverware to round off what has been a fantastic season.

With the Women’s Scottish Cup final taking place at the country’s National Stadium for the first time, it was all set for an entertaining spectacle.

Although neither goalkeeper had many saves to make in the opening 45 minutes, it was Celtic who enjoyed the best moments of the half.

In the opening stages, Jacynta came close to catching the Rangers goalkeeper off guard, sending a corner into the box which struck the crossbar.

Moments later, the Celts came close once again from a set piece, as the 21-year-old send another dangerous delivery into the box.

The initial cross was directed back across goal by Tash Flint. Despite Chloe Craig and Amy Gallacher’s best attempts, they couldn’t test the keeper from close range.

The Hoops were causing a lot of trouble for the Rangers backline, as Shen Menglu sent a teasing delivery into the box from the left, which came just inches away from being forced into the back of the net.

Rangers did have their moments in the first half, trying to hit Celtic on the counter-attack. However, the combination of Pamela Tajonar and the Hoops backline were doing well to deal with any threats.

The Celts’ best chance of the first half fell the way of Shen Mengyu just before the break, as the midfielder forced the Rangers central defender into a mistake with her pressure.

Running through on goal, the 21-year-old tried to find the bottom corner, but she could only put her effort wide of the target.

Going into the second-half, the Ghirls' strong performance continued as they went on the hunt for the all-important opening goal of the game.

Jacynta had the first opportunity of the half, as Celtic looked to hit on the counter. The tricky midfielder was played in on goal, but she couldn’t trouble the shot-stopper with her strike which went wide of the target.

With the game still in the balance, Fran Alonso made his first change of the game around 10 minutes into the second half.

Kit Loferski was introduced to the game, and straight away her pace was causing trouble in behind the Rangers defence, winning a series of corners.

The opening goal of the game finally came the Celts’ way, with Tash Flint scoring from close range.

A corner into the box fell the way of Chloe Craig, who tried to get a shot off on goal. Her effort fell the way of Flint inside the penalty area, and the on-loan Leicester City striker made no mistake, finishing the back of the net.

After taking a well-deserved lead, it didn’t take long for Celtic to grab their second goal of the game, this time through Claire O’Riordan.

The Hoops had been causing plenty of danger from set pieces, and the Irish internationalist's goal would come via that same route. The ball into the box found the head of O’Riordan, who sent a looping ball over the Rangers defence and into the net.

Throughout the second half, Pamela Tajonar had very little to do as the Ibrox side attempted to force their way back into proceedings.

Rangers thought they found a way back into the match with around 10 minutes to play, as Laura Berry tucked the ball into the bottom corner past the Celtic keeper.

However, after an intervention from VAR the goal was ruled out for offside and Celtic retained their two-goal lead.

That would ultimately be enough for the Hoops, and Fran Alonso and his side secured silverware at Hampden Park, winning their second Scottish Cup in a row on what was a historic afternoon at the National Stadium.

CELTIC: Tajonar, O’Riordan, Craig, Gallacher (Otto 73), Jacynta (Fergusson 87), Shen, Clark, Hayes, Flint (Goldie 87), Menglu (Bowie 87), McAneny (Loferski 56).
Subs: Logan, Cusack, Barclay, Sharkey

Scottish Cup triumph for Celtic with derby win at Hampden