Celtic (1) v FK Vorskla Poltava (0) – It’s UEFA Women’s Champions League Showdown Night | OneFootball

Veteran midfielder Natalie Ross and Celtic FC Women Head Coach Elena Sadiku were both bullish ahead of tonight’s historic encounter against FK Vorskla Poltava in the 2nd leg of Champions League round two to decide whether the Champions of Scotland or Ukraine reach the last 16 group stages of the UWCL…

A win or draw would book a place in the Champions League group stages for the first ever time in the club’s history.

Murphy Agnew scored the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 victory in the 1st leg. Both games are being held at the Albert Bartlett stadium, home of Airdrieonians. Vorskla Poltava currently cannot play their home games in Ukraine due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and the Russia aggressor.

Two home games to seal a place in the Champions League means that Sadiku’s side has never had a better chance of qualification.

When speaking to The Celtic Star at yesterday’s media conference, the Hoops manager was unequivocal that achieving Champions League status would be the biggest achievement in her career. “What we as a team have been sharing together, it has been very special for me for the first time and for me to achieve another big thing for these players, the staff and the club would be special,” Elena told The Celtic Star.

Sadiku continued, “all the people around the club, from Jackie in the kitchen, Archie at reception, it would mean so much to share something successful for everyone around because I feel like now it is my home [Celtic]. I have big love for my players, and I just want them to be successful as much as possible and for me that is what my job is all about.”

Celtic defeated Finish side KUPS and then dispatched Lithuanian side FC Gintra in the 1st round of qualification. Having scored early on in Sunday’s encounter, the Hoops will feel aggrieved that the aggregate score is not greater coming into tonight’s potentially milestone night. In truth the tie should have one put to bed on Sunday with Elena stating that a 5-1 Celtic win would have been a more accurate scoreline.

Hopefully tonight we won’t regret those missed chances and there’s nothing about Vorskla Poltava that suggests Celtic are going to find tonight too challenging. But it’s football and anything can happen.

Midfielder Natalie Ross believes that this pressurised occasion can be a game-changing moment not just for Celtic but for the SWPL, “It is a big game for that and I think sometimes the SWPL is overlooked by the WSL down in England because obviously the investment down there is bigger than what we have got just now, but I think if we achieve something special tomorrow it will show that we are a competitive league.”

Ross, who experienced Champions League football with Hibs early in her distinguished playing career,  added, “there is a lot of talented players in Scotland that get overlooked because of the WSL, and like Elena said we want the top players to play in Scotland. So yeah, it is a big game, and I think it will be great for Celtic.”

Kick off for tonight’s massive match is at 7.15pm with Celtic looking to create more history by becoming the first women Hoops side to reach Europe’s elite club competition. Why not get along to Airdrie and see history being made! It’s going to be an extra special Celtic night!

COYGIG!

Conor Spence

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