By Stephen Bark
A first half brace from Priscila Chinchilla helped City to a Glasgow derby win away to Rangers.
The Costa Rican international bagged the only goals of the game at the Rangers Training Centre to put the defending champions five points clear at the top of SWPL1.
City were quickly out the blocks and, inside 90 seconds, Chantelle Swaby’s botched clearance was pounced upon by Hayley Lauder whose cross found Priscila Chinchilla in space in the box. She couldn’t get the shot away first time but wasn’t closed down and her second attempt flew beyond Jenna Fife and in off the post.
Ten minutes later, a high ball aimed towards Megan Foley broke kindly for Ode Fulutudilu who was one-on-one with Fife but she dragged the shot wide.
Fulutudilu then had a chance herself but she couldn’t turn home Julia Molin’s cross as Fife held onto it.
Up the other end, the home side then had their best chance of the first half when Rachel McLauchlan’s cross found Lizzie Arnot in the six yard box but Lee Alexander produced a sensational point-blank save to deny the Rangers forward.
With 10 minutes to half time, Fulutudilu pounced on a loose ball and sent Chinchilla free through the middle and, with Fife advancing, she lobbed the keeper for 2-0.
Rangers did have a couple of attempts to half the deficit before half time but Arnot could find the target after crosses from Nicola Docherty and Brogan Hay.
The home side then started the second half well but couldn’t capitalise on half chances for Sam Kerr and Brianna Westrup.
It took City 20 minutes to create their first chance of the half but Arna Sif Ásgrimsdottír couldn’t turn Hayley Lauder’s free-kick home.
Great work from sub Lauren Davidson after a slip from Swaby saw City win possession back in the Rangers box and when Clare Shine couldn’t get her shot away, she set up Leanne Crichton whose effort was blocked.
With time running out, Sam Kerr tried her luck from distance for the hosts but her effort was saved by Alexander who gathered at the second attempt.
In stoppage time, Zoe Ness did manage to get on the end of an Emma Brownlie free-kick but she couldn’t direct it goalwards as City saw out the match.
On Wednesday, City head to K Park in East Kilbride to face Celtic as first plays second in SWPL1.
Glasgow City: Alexander, Michie, Wyne, Lauder (Crichton 69), Van Wyk, Love, Fulutudilu (Shine 69), Ásgrimsdottír, Molin (Fulton 43), Chinchilla (Colvill 69), Foley (Davidson 60). Subs not used: Toland, Clark.
Rangers: Fife, Docherty, Hay (Brownlie 64), Reilly (Girasoli 90), Ness, McLauchlan, Arnot, Cornet (O’Neil 76), Kerr, Westrup, Swaby. Subs not used: Cunningham, Bourma, Devi, Gemmell.