City seal Champions League spot with win in the capital

City seal Champions League spot with win in the capital



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Glasgow City sealed Champions League football for another season with a 2-0 win over Hearts at the Oriam this afternoon.

Goals in either half from Hayley Lauder (43) and Peyton Perea (82) sealed the win for the away side, completing a third successive 2-0 win over the Edinburgh side.

Glasgow City boss Eileen Gleeson made just the two changes from last week's win over Spartans, bringing in Erin Clachers and Priscila Chinchilla for Lee Alexander and Perea.

It was the home side who would have the first fight of goal, when Erin Rennie drove an angled shot at Clachers following good build up play from the Jambos.

Shortly afterwards, Ode Fulutudilu would almost hand City an early lead just before when she met Tyler Dodds' terrific cross, but would see her close range flick go frustratingly clear of the bar.

Another great cross from Dodds would present Lauren Davidson would a chance to open the scoring, when she connected wonderfully on the half valley, but Tegan Browning was there to block.

Georgia Hunter would be the Hearts savour on the 19 minute mark when Chinchilla would play in Lauder, who's neat footwork would allow her to fire across goal but, sadly for City, the Hearts defender would clear off the line.

Davidson would go close again when Chinchilla broke free of the Jambos midfield and played the free scoring winger in, but her drive flew wide of Charlotte Parker-Smith left-hand post.

Lauder would be the next to test the Hearts defence would she fired a fierce shot at Parker-Smith, but the 'keeper held firmly.

Neat wing play between Davidson and Agata Filipa would almost see City take lead, with the latter's cross spilled, but no City player could find a touch to tap home.

Sustained pressure would eventually play off for Gleeson's side though, but when the goal did eventually arrive, it was in rather bizarre circumstances.

With the ball loose in the box, Chinchilla would drive at goal, though her shot would take a wicked deflection and slow the ball down just enough for Lauder to tap into a gaping net.

Chincilla almost double the lead seconds later with a magnificent turn and shot, but Parker-Smith's fingertips would deny the Costa Rican from adding a magnificent second.

City continued to knock at the door in the second half, with Lauder going close to a second, but her shot when inches wide of the post after some terrific footwork from Chinchilla.

Substitute Clare Shine almost bagged a goal shortly afterwards after a neat one two with Lauder, but drive well held well.

It was another piece of brilliance from Chinchilla would almost double the lead, but her shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

There was to be no mistake seconds later, however, when substitute Perea grabbed her first ever City goal with a stunning long range drive as the clock ticked down.

And the American almost netted another stunner five minutes from time when she turned and spun, before unleashing a range that went just wide of the top corner.

Chinchilla almost added gloss to the win, but another long drive from the number 21 was tipped over the bar magnificently by Parker-Smith in the Hearts goal.

The win continues to keep the pressure on league leaders Rangers, with the top two set to face off in a title decider in a fortnight.

Hearts: Parker-Smith, Delworth, Hunter, Browning, Kaney, Tweedie, Smith, Williamson (Handley, 64), Rennie (Davies, 76), Begg (McAneny, 45), Cowan.

City: Clachers, Molin, Walsh, Clark, Agata Filipa, Dodds (Shine, 45), Davidson (Foley, 76), Fulton, Chinchilla, Fulutudilu (Perea, 65), Lauder.

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