Celtic beat Glasgow City 3-2 to win the Women’s Scottish Cup

The deposed champions City fought back twice; Jenna Clark and Lauren Davidson calling off strikes by Shen Mengyu and Charlie Wellings.

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Jodie Bartle was sent off before half time, but Celtic prevailed in front of a record crowd of 4,345.

And Atkinson’s late goal secured a cup double for Celtic this season.

It is Celtic’s first win in the competition and adds to the SWPL Cup they won against the same opponents in December.

City, who lost the league title after 14 years of dominance, are ending a trophy-less season for the first time since 2005.

Celtic, who had finished 10 points behind runners-up City in SWPL1, started at a pace that City’s full-backs had trouble managing.

Wellings raced down the right, but was stopped by Lee Alexander on the first big chance of the match.

City responded with a Megan Foley cross that hit the crossbar, but when play returned to the other end, Celtic brought their massive support to life with the opening goal.

Jacynta Galabadaarachchi chose Shen in the box and coldly chose her place high up in the net.

City responded almost immediately when Clark finished off Hayley Lauder’s free kick.

Then two big moments of controversy rocked both sides.

Clarissa Larisey jumped for Foley and was brought down for a Celtic penalty. The referee had tried to continue playing before delaying the play.

Wellings sent Alexander down the wrong path, but his leadership would again be short-lived.

This time Priscila Chinchilla earned a penalty by being knocked down trying to reach a low cross. Bartle received a red card for the offense much to the fury of the Celtic bench, and Davidson scored the penalty.

Fran Alonso’s side had taken the lead twice but were now down to 10 players and largely the underdogs.

And yet it was Celtic who seemed most likely to score.

Galabadaarachchi was a hair’s breadth away from reaching a center with the rival area all to herself. And then an even better opportunity came along.

Wellings burst through the defense and past the goalkeeper, had the net at her mercy, but somehow swelled her shot into the stands.

The action did not stop until the end of the 90 minutes. Clark’s brilliant challenge prevented Wellings from getting a one-on-one with the keeper. City then ran to the counter and Ode Fulutudilu’s effort was deflected over the bar.

With the last kick of regulation time, Atkinson overtook his marker and Alexander had to deny a perforated shot.

As the extra-time minutes ticked by, Atkinson would get another chance and she made it worthwhile, pushing through the City defence, finding space and shooting low to seal an historic win.

‘We fought until the last minute’

Celtic head coach Fran Alonso told BBC Alba:

“I couldn’t be more proud.

“I thought we started the game outstandingly, but obviously the red card changes everything. In the locker room at half-time, we talked about it, we knew we could still do it with each other.”

“This group shows it all the time. We firmly believe in ourselves, we fight until the last minute.”

“Today is a special day, the second trophy of the season. I can not believe it”.

On Bartle’s red card, he added: “Jodie was excited but we said ‘we’ve got you Jodie’, this is what we do. It’s part of the game, what’s done is done.”

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