Celtic kick off SWPL title defence with impressive victory at Paradise | OneFootball

SWPLSaturday, August 10, 2024Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 9(Ashworth-Clifford 25, Noonan 28 & 55, Smith 45+1, Bruna 50, Gallacher 51, S.Carstens 63, McAneny 83 & 87)

DUNDEE UNITED... 0

Celtic FC Women created another piece of history today (Saturday) when they raised the league flag at Paradise in recognition of last season’s title triumph.

It was the first SWPL title in the club’s history, and captain Kelly Clark was joined by football legend and Celtic Ambassador, Rose Reilly, to unfurl the flag.

When the game against Dundee United kicked off, Elena Sadiku’s side produced a display worthy of champions and an indication that they intend to do everything they can to retain the title.

The 9-0 victory at Celtic Park was an indication of the Hoops’ dominance from first minute until last, on a day when several players made their competitive debut for the club.

It was only a matter of time before the first goal of the game came, given Celtic’s dominance in possession and the chances being created, and it duly arrived in the 25th minute.

Lucy Ashworth-Clifford took a short corner, feeding the ball to Signe Carstens and then taking the return before curling an exquisite shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0 and a first Celtic goal for Saoirse Noonan. Again, it was a short corner that the visitors didn’t defend.

This time, the ball found its way to Colette Cavanagh inside the box and she clipped a precise cross that was headed home by the Irish striker from six yards out.

Elena Sadiku’s side continued to create numerous chances, with Cavanagh, Caitlin Hayes, Amy Gallacher and Mathilde Carstens all coming close, the Danish forward denied by a good save from the United keeper.

The third goal, when it came in the first minute of added time, was from a superb Jenny Smith shot just inside the box.

Even after that, there were three other chances, with Colette Cavanagh’s snapshot from 25 yards out, just going narrowly wide.

It took just five minutes of the second half for the Hoops to make it 4-0 and it was a superb debut goal for Bruna Lourenco.

Cavanagh slotted the ball to the Portuguese defender, who took a touch and then unleashed a powerful right-foot shot from 25 yards out that gave the United keeper no chance.

Last season’s top goalscorer, Amy Gallacher, made it 5-0 a minute later when she fired home a Jenny Smith cross from six yards out.

And with just 10 minutes of the second-half gone, Saoirse Noonan netted her second and Celtic’s sixth of the game, connecting with an Ashworth-Clifford corner to the near post, the Irish striker’s effort going in off the bar.

And just after the hour mark, the Hoops made it a magnificent seven with a goal worthy of that description.

Signe Carstens drove forward and then checked on to her left foot before firing the ball home from 25 yards out. It was an impressive goal from the Danish midfielder, who was superb on her competitive debut for the club, along with her sister, Mathilde.

Celtic continued to create chances, and the Dundee United keeper denied them on a number of occasions.

However, goal No.8 came with seven minutes of the match remaining when Maria McAneny headed home a Luana Munoz cross to the back post.

And McAneny made it 9-0 in the 87th minute. Luana played a ball through the inside-left channel for Shannon McGregor and her cutback was finished by McAneny.

Next up for Elena Sadiku’s side is a home match against Glasgow City on Sunday, August 19 at the Albert Bartlett Stadium, Airdrie.

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