Last season’s SWPL Cup holders were surprise quarter-final victims in the competition, as Spartans claimed a dramatic victory on penalties against Celtic to reach the semi-finals.
The four matches all took place last Sunday and Celtic looked to be in full control after they took the lead inside 12 minutes in a tie they were certainly favourites for.
The Hoops, playing at home, and who currently sit atop the SWPL 1 table on goal difference, were rarely troubled throughout the match and continued to dominate but couldn’t find a way to put another goal past the experienced Rachel Harrison in the Spartan goal.
As the game continued, the only other real talking point was Jacynta’s straight red card late in the first half. There appeared to be an off-the-ball incident right in front of the referee which warranted this sending off.
Spartans struggled to make much of the numerical advantage for a good long while, but it did eventually pay dividends when long-serving midfielder Louise Mason struck in the 92nd minute.
That took the game into extra-time and with no other goals for either team, it headed to penalties, where Spartans prevailed with a 4-2 victory to shock the holders and reach the next round.
After that impressive win, Spartans now face the similarly daunting task of overcoming the other half of the Old Firm in the semi-finals on November 6, as Rangers breezed past Motherwell to reach the final four.
Although, having knocked out Celtic, whose to say they can’t despatch another professional side? They’re win is certainly encouraging for the other non-pro sides competing at the top of the Scottish women’s game, like Aberdeen, for example.
It’s worth remembering reigning SWPL 1 champions Rangers are the only team left in the competition to have never won the trophy. Spartans won the SWPL Cup once in 2006/2007.
The other two teams left in the competition are Glasgow City, who will now face Hibernian, a crunch tie that has been a big one in this competition over the years. Glasgow City boast six final wins, while Hibs are the most decorated side in the League Cup with seven league cup trophies.
City put nine past Glasgow Women, meanwhile, Hibs could “only” manage the eight as they thumped the only remaining SWPL 2 side, Kilmarnock.
Man City ditch white shorts for women’s team due to period anxiety in positive step
Manchester City have ditched white shorts for their women’s team, as the conversation over the performance anxiety it brings while players are on their periods continues to be discussed.
Although it means the women’s side’s kit is now different from the men’s, it is a positive step and they’re not the first team to make such a decision as of late as West Brom, Stoke and Scottish Championship side Livingston (away kit) have also moved away from wearing white shorts.
Man City wore burgundy shorts with their home kit, instead of white for the first time, during their 6-0 FA Women’s League Cup win over Blackburn Rovers, and will continue doing so for the rest of the season.
In the other midweek FA Women’s League Cup games, group A was once again decided on penalties, as Everton and Durham picked up bonus points.
Everton earned their bonus point after they came back from a goal behind to win 4-2 on spot-kicks against Aston Villa, meanwhile, Manchester United gave up a 1-0 lead to then lose out in the same manner to Championship side Durham.
In the other group, Liverpool, who are yet to score in open play in WSL this season, hit league-strugglers Leicester for four without reply.
The group matches continue next month.
Chelsea and Arsenal keep up impressive European form
The Uefa Women’s Champions League continued this week, as the top teams across Europe – including English sides Chelsea and Arsenal – are tested in a gruelling window of fixtures.
Chelsea seem to be thriving in the condensed period of action as they won their sixth game in a row in all competitions, after losing their opening FAWSL fixture against Liverpool.
They faced KS Vllaznia from Albania at Kingsmeadow and it was a night Sam Kerr once again took centre stage. Her four goals within 60 minutes made her the first player in history to score that many at this stage in the competition, and it was enough to tally up half the goals on the night.
Pernille Harder bagged a hat-trick of her own in the 8-0 win, while Katerina Svitkova was also on target as she marked the occasion with her first Chelsea goal after she joined in the summer from West Ham.
The emphatic win sends Chelsea comfortably out in front on six points in group A, after Real Madrid and PSG drew 0-0 in Spain, which could be a key result come the end of the group stage.
Arsenal’s turn came the following night as they hosted Swiss champions FC Zurich at the Emirates in their first home game of the group stage after their 5-1 thrashing of holders Lyon last week.
Only four Arsenal players that started in Sunday’s trip to Liverpool were named again on Thursday night’s starting XI. Introducing this freshness was a shrewd move, as the newcomers made a significant impact.
Jordan Nobbs got on the end of a Steph Catley delivery from the left to give Arsenal an early lead before before left forward, Lina Hurtig, scored either side of half-time to make for a 3-1 win and successful night at the Emirates.
Lyon were the earlier kick-off on the same night, drawing 1-1 with Juventus in Turin.
The result means Arsenal also secure pole position in Group C – for now.
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