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Monday, October 13, 2025

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Glasgow City hopes hang in the balance

Glasgow City must overturn a 2-1 deficit in the second leg at Petershill Park next Wednesday if they are to reach the last 16 of the inaugural Women's Europa Cup, following a narrow defeat to HB Køge in Denmark.

The hosts took the lead through Mille Gejl’s stunning 32nd minute strike, only for Amy Anderson to level for City nine minutes later. However, Olivia Garcia’s thunderous second half effort secured a deserved victory for the Danish champions, leaving the Scottish side with work to do in the return leg.

Both teams, currently topping their respective domestic leagues, entered the tie brimming with confidence. Køge, three-time Danish champions, had dispatched Romanian outfit Farul Constanța 6-2 on aggregate, while Glasgow City, 16-time SWPL winners, crushed Athlone Town 6-0 in the previous round. Yet, despite City controlling early possession, they struggled to penetrate Køge’s defence.

Køge’s attacking threat was evident early on, with Scotland goalkeeper Lee Gibson called into action in the 18th minute, producing a superb double save to deny Flora Marta Lacho and former Everton forward Rikke Madsen. The Danish side continued to press, with Madsen volleying just over, Lacho heading straight at Gibson, and American full back Macy Schultz narrowly missing the target.

The breakthrough came when Denmark international Gejl, formerly of Crystal Palace, danced past two defenders and rifled a shot off the far post. City responded before the break, as Hayley Lauder’s free kick deflected into Anderson’s path, allowing the midfielder to stab home from close range.

Køge regained the lead on the hour mark when Garcia capitalised on hesitant defending to unleash a fierce strike from just outside the box. Gibson kept City in the game, tipping a Jereko shot over and watching Garcia’s volley flash wide from the resulting corner.

City pushed for a second equaliser, with goalkeeper Ema Aleksić denying Nicole Kozlova and Sofia Maatta in quick succession. Kozlova, facing her former club, nearly pounced on a fumbled back pass, only to be thwarted by a last-ditch tackle. At the other end, Gibson stood tall to block a Sarah Thygesen effort, ensuring the deficit remained at one goal.

City will need a sharper performance in Glasgow to keep their Europa Cup dreams alive in what promises to be another tightly contested encounter.