In a football match that will be etched in the memories of fans forever, Glasgow City pulled off a stunning victory against Koge, securing a spot in the Women's Europa Cup's last 16 with two dramatic goals in stoppage time. This incredible feat followed an eight-goal thriller, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the sport. But here's where it gets controversial: the Danish league leaders, Koge, came into the match with a slight advantage from the first leg. Yet, Glasgow City, with a final score of 5-3 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate, defied the odds and advanced to the next stage.
This victory means that Leanne Ross's Glasgow City joins esteemed teams like Inter Milan, Sporting, and Eintracht Frankfurt in the upcoming draw.
The match started with a setback for City when Koge's Mille Gejl scored early on, mirroring her performance in the first leg. She received a short corner from Rikke Madsen and expertly steered the ball into the net.
However, City responded swiftly, with Amy Muir setting up Nicole Kozlova, whose pass was then converted by Abby Harrison.
City's goalkeeper, Lee Gibson, made crucial saves, keeping the team in the game. Emily Whelan then equalized on aggregate with a powerful header from a cross by Muir.
Koge, however, quickly regained the lead when Nadia Nadim scored with a stunning right-foot drive.
Glasgow City surged ahead again when Harrison and Lisa Evans combined, with the ball deflecting off Emma Pelkowski and into the net.
Then, Sarah Thygesen scored for Koge, seemingly sealing the victory. But this is the part most people miss: Emma Brownlie, after a previous error, redeemed herself by heading in another goal from an Evans corner, leveling the score in added time.
In a final twist, Lisa Forrest headed in a cross from Sofia Maatta, securing a memorable win for Glasgow City.
Glasgow City's Lineup: Gibson, Brownlie, Golob, Smit, Muir, Motlhalo, Lauder, Evans, Whelan, Kozlova, Harrison.
Substitutes: Clachers, Warrington, McLaughlin, Forrest, Lockwood, Wróbel, Anderson, Määttä, Tanaka, Boyes.
Koge's Lineup: Aleksic, Markvardsen, Uhre, Brandt, Schultz, Korhonen, Gejl, Jereko, Lacho, Nadim, Madsen.
Substitutes: Vingum, Moller, Ruedt, Huisman, Pelkowski, Garcia, Thygesen, Oskarsdottir, Simonsen, Callesen, Luplau, Briggs.
Former Scotland and Glasgow City goalkeeper, Gemma Fay, described the match as phenomenal, highlighting the team's resilience and ability to bounce back from mistakes. She emphasized the importance of their reaction to setbacks.
What do you think? Was this one of the greatest nights in European history for Glasgow City? Do you agree with Gemma Fay's assessment of the team's performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
