Hibs Ladies collected their second trophy of the season after a dramatic penalty shootout win against league winners Glasgow City reports TIM OLIVER.
Hibernian 1-1 Glasgow City (aet – Hibs win 6-5 on penalties)
Hibernian secured the double after beating Glasgow City 6-5 on penalties after a thrilling SSE Scottish Cup Final ended in 1-1 after 120 minutes. On the balance of the 120 minutes, Hibs deserved the win however the longer the game went on, the more dangerous Glasgow City looked.
It was the Edinburgh side that controlled the first half, with a more direct style of play (in a 4-1-4-1 formation, making it hard for City to get behind them and then attacking on the break) and will have been frustrated only to have the 1-0 lead at half-time, thanks to Lisa Robertson’s header.
City improved in the second half – with Sarah Crilly replacing Hayley Rosen – allowing Hayley Lauder a chance to play a more central role – and it was Lauder who equalised through a wonderfully struck curling effort from the edge of the box. Both sides looked for the winner in normal time and Hibs thought they had scored with the very last kick of the game but Rachel McLauchlan couldn’t just quite force the ball over the line.
There were chances at each end in extra-time but neither side could make a further breakthrough and so it was penalty kicks that was the decide the destination of the trophy in the final between the two sides this season.
Hibernian’s Robertson missed the very first spot-kick, and it looked like that could be critical until City’s fourth spot-kick was magnificently saved by Jenna Fife. The shoot-out went into sudden death, with neither side looking like they would miss until City’s Sam Kerr was the unlucky player to shoot over the crossbar – sending the Hibs’ team and fans into jubilation.
Post Match Reaction:
“The whole time all I could think about was winning the game. The players were talking about it, it wasn’t the case of let’s hold on to it, we were gutted not to win it in 90, we were gutted not to win it in 120.” Hibs Manager Chris Roberts.
”I’ll be thanking her every time I see her!” Lisa Robertson on Hibs keeper Jenna Fife’s crucial save, after Robertson missed the first kick in the shoot-out.
Teams:
Hibernian: Fife; Williamson (Small 72), Murray, Hunter, Smith; Brownlie; McLauchlan (Michie 120), Graham, Robertson, Arnot; Harrison (Ewens 89)
Subs not Used: Leishman, Russell, Notely, Jefferies.
Goal: Robertson 23.
Booked: Robertson.
Glasgow City: Fay; Ross (Kerr 84), McMurchie, McCarthy (McCulloch 77), Docherty; Cuthbert, Love, Rosen (Crilly HT); Brown, Shine, Lauder.
Subs not Used: Boyce, Keenan, Brogan Hay, Clachers.
Goal: Lauder 68
Booked: Love
Attendance: 857
Player of the Match: Rachel McLauchlan (Hibernian)
