Celtic battled back from two goals down to clinch a 2-2 draw with Rangers in a SWPL thriller that had everything from stunning goals and contentious penalties to touchline tension and late goal drama.
It was tight at Broadwood but a moment of stunning quality from Kirsty Howat broke the deadlock. A short corner routine had Celtic chasing shadows and when the ball fell to the Rangers No.9, she let rip with a powerful volley that burst Kelsey Daugherty’s net. Tess Middag thought she’d doubled the lead shortly after but it was chalked off with Brogan Hay deemed to have been in an offside position and interfering with play.
If that was controversial, however, the second half took things up a gear. The first of two penalties was awarded to Rangers after Emma Lawton was deemed to have handled it in the box. Sky Sports co-commentator Julie Fleeting commented that the contact was outside the box, but that didn’t stop Katie Wilkinson stepping up to convert.
Elena Sadiku was booked in the aftermath to that one for her reaction, but her fury didn’t last long. She was soon losing her hat in celebration after her team fought back from the dead.
Celtic midfielder Lawton made amends almost immediately when she was tripped in the Rangers box. Saoirse Noonan stepped up for this one and stuck it away to set up a blockbuster finale.
And there was to be another late twist and it came from the Hoops’ Celyia Barclais. Caitlyn Hayes’ header was cleared by Kathy Hill but it only went as far as the French defender who hammered one in to spark wild scenes of celebration.
The draw kept things tight at the top of the league with Rangers still on top after their first dropped points of the season. But after eight games played each, Glasgow City sit in second just one point behind on 21, with defending champions Celtic one further back on 20.