Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Hampden Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 0

RANGERS… 2
(Cornet 83, Howat 89)

Celtic FC Women slipped to defeat for the first time since January after being eliminated from the Scottish Cup at the semi-final stage on Saturday afternoon.

Two late goals gave Rangers the win at Hampden on a disappointing afternoon for Elena Sadiku’s side.

After facing some early pressure, the Hoops began to grow into the game more as the half went on, getting on the ball a little more.

Trying to utilise Murphy Agnew’s pace, the American was causing trouble at points with long balls in behind, but the Rangers backline did well to deal with that threat.

The Ghirls had to wait for their first two set-pieces of the match towards the end of the half as Lucy Ashworth-Clifford looked to send the ball into the box, but it couldn’t trouble the defence.

Heading into the second half, Elena Sadiku and her coaching staff made a change at the break, introducing Amy Gallacher to the game as she made her return from injury.

And it was a much more positive start to the half for the Celts who kicked off the second 45 minutes in a faster manner.

Making her second consecutive start, Celya Barclais enjoyed a strong performance down the right-hand side and looked to find Agnew with a low cross into the box, but her delivery was just ahead of the American.

It proved to be an end-to-end half of football, and just beyond the hour mark Kelsey Daugherty was forced into her first real save of the afternoon, tipping a shot from distance over the bar.

Just moments later, the best chance of the game for Celtic fell the way of Tash Flint after some good work to win the ball back from Natalie Ross.

A clever pass from Agnew found her strike partner who had a sweet volley towards goal, but she just couldn’t hit the target.

With the game all-square and heading towards the closing stages, it was two late goals that would outdo the Hoops.

Opening the scoring with just seven minutes left, Chelsea Cornet’s header from a corner handed Rangers the lead, before a second goal shortly followed from Kirsty Howat as the Celts went on the hunt for a response.

It was ultimately a disappointing afternoon, who suffered defeat for the first time in 11 games at Hampden Park.

The Ghirls will quickly look to bounce back this coming Wednesday as they welcome Glasgow City to the Excelsior Stadium, with focus going back on retaining top spot in the SWPL.

CELTIC: Daugherty, Barclais (Smith 81), Ross, Craig, Shen, Cavanagh (Gallacher 46), Agnew (Burchill 78), Clark, Hayes, Ashworth-Clifford, Flint.
Subs: Logan, Cummings, Robertson, Smith, Menglu, Goldie, McAneny

Hampden disappointment for the Hoops with semi-final defeat