Celtic FC Women kept the pressure on Rangers Women with a 2-1 win over reigning SWPL champions Glasgow City. A defeat would have seriously ruined our chances of winning a title, but we are still in a wonderful position to win the first league title in our history. .
We immediately looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but the goals had yet to come despite some clever chances from Tash Flint.
Finally, we discovered the opening goal thanks to Caitlin Hayes, who scored with a header to give the Celts the lead. It was Lucy Ashworth-Clifford who crossed over to the defence, proving once again the quality of the player we have in our hands.
Tha Hayes plays a Celtic song by Chur thoiseach!”Be deagh bhall a-staigh bho Ashworth-Clifford es fhuair Hayes a transparent air.
Ashworth-Clifford found Hayes in the post to give Celtic the ventaja. pic. twitter. com/nQL7we29GH
– BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) March 31, 2024
Celtic FC Women looked for more in the second half as we forced Glasgow City to clear the ball on several occasions. We kept pressing and finally found our second goal of the afternoon, thanks to Flint, the tough scorer. The striker broke through the defence and put the ball into the back of the net.
Tadal! Fhuair Natasha Flint as a loidhne dìon es chur, I am ball a-stech gu oisean a lìon.
Natasha Flint catches the defense and places the ball in the corner of the goal to extend the lead of the Celtic. pic. twitter. com/sMtXaAcsLL
– BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) March 31, 2024
We almost made it three when Amy Gallacher’s first shot forced goalkeeper Lee Gibson to make a brilliant save. And at the other end of the pitch, our defence did well to keep City at bay as did Chloe Craig, who made her 300th appearance for the Hoops today. , made a forged change.
By deagh shabhaileadh bho Lee Gibson airson a’ cumail Glasgow City san geama!
Lee Gibson kept Glasgow City in the game with a salvada. pic. twitter. com/QjTFz5ayrR
– BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) March 31, 2024
As we went into stoppage time, the hosts pulled one back. It wasn’t enough and they couldn’t draw and gave us the 3 points, keeping us firmly in the race for the name.
A well-deserved win for the Ghirls at Petershill Park, and a tough one!
Celtic FC Women manager Elena Sadiku spoke to Celtic TV after the win. He said: “Wonderful team functionality. Great goals from Caitlin and Tash, also a clever chance from Amy, a clever save from the goalkeeper but, overall, I think the functionality of the team. “It’s something I’ll highlight.
“How we defend, how we win our duels, this team has grown a lot before my eyes, and I think others see it too. I’ve said it to the women as well, it’s not just about the starting XI, it’s also about the way we train, it’s the way we play, and for the players who are sitting on the bench as well, this win is something they’ve contributed to. I’m very satisfied and satisfied for all the players because it’s anything we do in combination as a team.
“Sometimes it’s not easy to sit on the bench, but we continue to work hard and prepare in the most productive way imaginable for every game. It’s anything that makes me feel satisfied to see how we fight, how we play football and with what diligence. We can play. It’s anything we can continue to build on.
“It’s annoying to say, but there’s an overall difference from my first two games. The team has grown. We have intelligently accepted and them in what we do. We just need to keep building, keep running hard and keep improving. as a team because at the end of the day I think we can still do more.
“It was a wonderful team performance. That’s something I’m going to emphasize because this team has grown a lot.
Elena Sadiku reacts to this afternoon’s win over Glasgow City #CITCEL | #SWPL | #COYGIG pic. twitter. com/1EdlAgOYaF
– Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) March 31, 2024
Forward and defensive master Caitlin Hayes also spoke after the game. He said: “I think if we’re honest, we dominated from start to finish. There were a couple of periods where we probably let Glasgow City pick up momentum, but overall I think it was a wonderful team performance. It’s not necessarily our most productive footballing endeavour, however, in terms of fighting, preference and penchant for winning the ball back when we give it away and getting back in front, I think it’s an unrivalled moment. If we continue like this, we will be able to achieve what this team dreams of achieving.
“It’s wonderful to give back to the team [with my goal]. Great delivery from Lucy and it was a masterpiece that we had painted on, so David will be very happy that his hard work during the week paid off today. So, like me, “I’m grateful to give the team the leadership and even more grateful to keep it. “
“Two big groups play here [at Petershill Park], but it’s also on a hill, so the wind was against us and in our favor. So, like I said, thank you to the city of Glasgow today, they did well, but we got out. “at the top.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s all about effort and hard work. You see us on a Sunday, but you don’t see from Monday to Friday and it’s all thanks to the girls, we’ve worked hard. We’ve fought each and every week and each and every member of the team pushes the other into the starting lineup. The momentum is with us and we can keep it going during the overseas break.
“We ruled from the beginning to the end, and overall, I think it was a wonderful team performance. “
Caitlin Hayes spoke to @CelticTV after scoring the opener in this afternoon’s win at Petershill #CITCEL | #SWPL | #COYGIG pic. twitter. com/WuFi17Xutj
– Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) March 31, 2024
A win in the Glasgow Derby and now, a win over third-placed Glasgow City. What a way to start the split! If we can maintain that momentum, as Caitlin said, during the overseas hiatus, then we will put ourselves in the most productive position imaginable to take silverware to heaven.
Two games after Celtic’s opener, they have beaten Rangers Women and Glasgow City and those two have yet to face others in the most sensitive part of the division. This can help Celtic significantly.
And you’ll be able to see the Ghirls in action on April 14 when we take on Partick Thistle at Petershill Park. This match will kick off at 5:10 p. m. , and it will certainly be an entertaining affair.
For now, we won’t be counting on Celtic Women in the overseas break, but some of our Ghirls have won call-ups for their country, so stay tuned!
Jessica Elliott
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