Glasgow City qualify for last 32 of Champions League
Glasgow City defender, Rachel Corsie celebrated her 22nd birthday in style today, captaining her team to an historic victory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. A 5-0 victory for City over Klaksvik in Serbia, ensured that City topped Group 5, with three wins out of three and in turn become the first Scottish team ever to reach the last 32, knock out stages of Europe’s most elite club competition.
Goals from Katharina Lindner (2), Leanne Ross, Jo Love and Eilish McSorley, ensured City’s historic day. City topped Group five, winning all three matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding none. They now await their fate in the UEFA draw, but are ensured to get a tough match as will be placed against one of the top 16 seeds in the competition. City’s home leg will be played on either the 28th or 29th of September at Petershill Park, Springburn Glasgow.
City got off to the perfect start scoring in the opening minutes of the game through Katharina Lindner. After some patient build up, Clare Gemmell fired a great pass to Lisa Evans. Evans drove past the defence and cut the ball back from the by-line to Kat Lindner, who hit a well struck shot against the bar. The keeper managed to get a hand on the rebound, but could not prevent the ball bouncing pover the line.
On 8 minutes City were 2-0 up. Eilish McSorley found Lisa Evans, who in turn played in Kat Lindner and the striker took a touch in the box before firing low into the bottom left hand corner.
Leanne Ross made it 3-0, when she shot across goal into the back of the net after her excellent run into the box was found by Captain Rachel Corsie.
City almost scored the goal of the match so far, when Lindner showed superb skill out wide turning the defence inside out before finding Murray in the box, who dribbled past her marker, only to see her shot well saved by the keeper. Moments later however, City did add to their lead when midfielder Jo Love fired home inside the box with her left foot, making it 4-0 for City.
Half time 0-4.
20 minutes after the restart, Eilish McSorley fired a cracker of a shot from 30 yards into the back of the net, after some dominant City possession, putting her side 5-0 up.
Commenting on the historic day, Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black said, “I am delighted we have gone through and to be honest, we thoroughly deserved it. We can now look forward to a really challenging end to the season. I am proud of the players for all of their hard work and dedication and they deserve to play at the highest level in European football.”
16.08.11
