After spending much of this season focused on league and European competition, Celtic FC Women’s focus shifted to cup play on Sunday as they took on Glasgow City in the Sky Sports Cup quarterfinals. And the Ghirls defeated their city rivals on penalties, making for an incredibly thrilling evening of play.
The Hoops’ hero in goal was Kelsey Daugherty, who saved two penalty kicks before Natalie Ross scored the game-winning goal. After the game, Celtic manager Elena Sadiku told Celtic TV that she was proud of the team for their perseverance over the course of more than two hours of play.
She said: “Right now, I’m just feeling buzzing! I just feel like all the girls put in a team effort tonight.
“Obviously we know that we can probably play better sometimes. But how we fight as a team, and the chances we create, even if we don’t play the best football.
‘We always fight for each other, and I’m just so proud of them all.’
“Credit to Glasgow City, they are a great team. But I think the statement tonight was, it doesn’t matter what kind of busy schedule we have, we know that we have our eyes on the goals.
“Those are being as successful as possible. With how the team showed up tonight, and how they execute the game plan was great.
“Coming into the second half, with the energy they had, I think we dominated, so obviously I’m very, very proud.”
After booking their place in the last four of the competition, the Celts now have a semi-final to look forward to in January.
Facing one of either Aberdeen, Hibernian or Rangers, the chance to reach the final awaits Sadiku and her squad.
Although she insisted her squad should enjoy the moment of victory on Sunday, attention quickly switches back to action on Wednesday evening as they Hoops take on Chelsea in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
“That is why I’m so proud because of how the whole group fight, how they try and how they are there for each other,” she said.
“There is nothing else that I wish from them. So, I’m just really happy for them that we are able to get through and play in the semi-final.
Now our job is to make sure our game plan is set for Wednesday night’s game.’
“We need to enjoy this great moment together, take this with us and then we need to bring it into the Chelsea game.”
Read more news on
sportchannel.co.uk
Leave a Reply