Ghirls advance to quarter-finals of Sky Sports Cup with win over Montrose

Sky Sports Cup Sunday, September 29 2024Links Park MONTROSE…0 CELTIC…7 (M. Carstens 18, Noonan 23, 27, Loferski 35, 46, Barclais 77, Cross 87)   Celtic FC Women booked their place in the quarter finals of the Sky Sports Cup on Sunday afternoon, seeing off Montrose at Links Park. It was a dominant performance from the Ghirls, who put in a strong display to run out (insert score) winners over the SWPL side. Following on from a historic night in midweek as Elena Sadiku’s side booked a place in the group stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, it was quickly back to domestic action. Entering the Sky Sports Cup at the Round Two stage, the Hoops make the trip up north to face off against Montrose. Making nine changes to the side from that midweek win over Vorskla Poltava, the squad depth of the Celtic side was on show once more. And that was perfectly displayed with the Hoops’ quick-fire start to the game as Mathilde Carstens kicked off the scoring. Picking up the ball just outside the area, a neat spin from the midfielder gave her space for the strike, finding the bottom corner. Just a matter of weeks on from scoring a hat-trick at Links Park, Saoirse Noonan was back in the side and back amongst the goals. Grabbing her first of the afternoon just five minutes after Carstens had opened the scoring, it was a superb strike from the forward who volleyed the ball into the far top corner of the net. The Ireland internationalist then didn’t have to wait long to score yet another goal, bundling the ball home at the back post just before the half hour mark after a series of efforts inside the area. The goals kept coming for Celtic in the opening 45 as Kit Loferski got in on the act, scoring the first of a brace on 35 minutes. Using her pace to race through on goal, the American got to the ball first ahead of the goalkeeper, dinking the ball into the back of the net. It was an impressive opening half from the Ghirls, who put in a strong display coming off the back of a big European night. And it would get even better at the start of the second half as Loferski grabbed her second of the afternoon just minutes after the restart, producing a tidy finish into the top corner of the net. With their place sealed in the quarterfinals, the Celts could have taken their foot off the gas. However, they continued to put on the pressure, adding to the scoring in the closing stages. Firstly, Celya Barclais was on hand to score her first of the season with a finish at the back post, before summer deadline day signing Morgan Cross would score her first goal for the club, finishing off Maria McAneny’s low cross. It was another positive result at the end of a hectic week for Sadiku and her squad. Next up is a visit to take on Rangers in the first meeting between the sides this season on Thursday evening at Broadwood Stadium. CELTIC: Rodgers, Richardson, Clark, Bruna (Luana 66), Barclais, McAneny, S. Carstens, M. Carstens, Noonan, Loferski (McGregor 70), CrossSubs: Daugherty, Ross, Gallacher, Cavanagh, Hayes, Ashworth-Clifford, LawtonFixturesMontrose Women Vs. Celtic FC Women – Sun, Sep 29th 2024, 13:00