Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.35 2022-23

Celtic 2 (Flint 65, O'Riordan 68)
Rangers 0
at Hampden Park
Two goals in a four minute spell during the second half saw Celtic retain the Women's
Scottish Cup with a 2-0 victory over Rangers in the first Final ever to be hosted at Hampden
Park.
This is also the second time that Celtic have won the competition whilst it was
disappointment on the day for Rangers who had reached their first Final since 2010.
Remarkably, this was only the second time in that period that a final did not feature Glasgow
City, the previous occasion being Hivernian’s triumph over Motherwell in 2018.
After going agonisingly close to landing the league title seven days earlier, Fran Alonso's
side made sure of ending the season with silverware and ensured that the three major
trophies in Scotland were shared between the Old Firm clubs and Glasgow City.
The first half was an extremely cagey affair and chances were at a premium at either end
during the opening half hour. Both teams had set pieces in promising positions as well as
playing dangerous balls into the area but without fashioning any chances of note.
Natasha Flint tried her luck with an audacious effort from inside her own half after
spotting Victoria Esson off her line, but the Rangers goalkeeper was able to claim easily.
The best chance of the first half came just before half time when Shen Mengyu stole the
ball off Hannah Davison before making her way into the area, however her effort went
narrowly past the left hand post.
The tightness of the game continued as the second half started with Celtic marginally
looking the sharper going forward whilst Rangers were finding it difficult to make an
impression.
The game exploded into life just after the hour mark, first as Davison provided a
perfectly timed challenge to prevent Kit Loferski from getting through on goal but from the
resulting corner, the ball was played into the box by Jacynta Galabadaarachchi and half
cleared as far as Chloe Craig, whose effort towards goal fell to the feet of Natasha Flint and
the striker took a touch before she slotted the ball into the net from a few yards out.
Before Rangers were able to recover from the setback, they found themselves two
behind following another corner. Jacynta Galabadadaarachchi floated her kick into the area
and it was met at the near post by Claire O’Riordan, who looped a header over Esson and
three Rangers defenders and into the far corner.
Rangers thought they had pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute when substitute Laura
Berry received the ball in the box from Chelsea Cornet and slotted home, however the
15-year-old's celebrations were cut short when a VAR check called the goal offside.
That was Rangers' best opportunity of the game and Celtic remained strong at the back
to close out for victory and put their name on the trophy once again.
Celtic: Pamela Tajonar, Claire O’Riordan, Chloe Craig, Amy Gallacher (sub Taylor Otto
73mins), Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (sub Olivia Fergusson 88mins), Shen Mengyu, Kelly
Clark, Caitlin Hayes, Natasha Flint (sub Clare Goldie 88mins), Shen Menglu (sub Tegan
Bowie 88mins), Maria McAneny (sub Kit Loferski 56mins). Subs not used: Chloe Logan,
Abbie Cusack, Lucy Barclay, Amy Sharkey.
Rangers: Victoria Esson, Rachel McLauchlan, Kathryn Hill, Hannah Davison, Tessel
Middag (sub Laura Berry 73mins), Brogan Hay (sub Jodi McLeary 70’), Kirsty Howat
(sub Megan Bell 85), Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty MacLean, Maddie Nolf, Emma Watson (sub
Lizzie Arnot 70mins). Subs not used: Jenna Fife, Nicola Docherty, Colette Cavanagh,
Samantha Kerr, Mia McAulay.
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk