Sofia helps lead Seven Star City to an Opening Day Victory in Montrose

Sofia helps lead Seven Star City to an Opening Day Victory in Montrose

Glasgow City kicked off their 2024/25 SWPL campaign with a 7-0 victory over Montrose at a sun-kissed Links Park as Sofia Määttä scored a hat-trick on her first competitive appearance for the club.

Leanne Ross gave starting debuts to five of her summer recruits with Määttä joined by Kimberley Smit, Samantha van Diemen, Katie Lockwood and Nicole Kozlova in the starting eleven while there was a first competitive start for Lisa Evans since her return to the club.

On a day where the sun came out in celebration of a new season dawning City nearly opened the scoring inside the first few seconds but Kozlova couldn't quite reach the cross ball.

City continued to press for an opener but Montrose held firm until the 36th minute when Kozlova picked up a Hayley Lauder pass inside the box before controlling the ball and slotting it neatly into the bottom right hand corner.

That renewed the visitors impetus and they continued to press for a second but found the home side stubborn in defence and a single goal would remain the difference going into the half-time interval.

In the second period though City would start to turn their pressure into goals as Määttä added her first and City's second. Stroking the ball into the corner with Lauder again providing the assist.

Just a minute later another new signing would get in on the act when Dutch defender Samantha van Diemen prodded home a third and City's hot streak would continue as Määttä, a constant threat with her direct running scored a fourth. Curling the ball into the corner of Lauren Perry's goal.

The hard working Kozlova would then get her second after the Ukranian latched onto a Lisa Evans cross ball before Määttä completed her hat-trick when she struck home from the edge of the area once again.

Rammie Noel and Natalia Wróbel would also come on for their City debuts later in the game, but it would be another substitute, captain Jo Love, that would complete the scoring as her powerful header made it seven and ensured City began the season with three points on the road.

Full Time: Montrose 0-7 Glasgow City

Glasgow City: Gibson, Muir (Warrington), Smit, van Diemen, Evans, Määttä, Forsblom (Wróbel), Lauder (Love), Gambone (Noel), Lockwood, Kozlova (Forrest).

Subs not used: Easdon, Foley, Lovera and Whelan.

Scorers: Kozlova (36,71), Määttä (56, 64, 84), van Diemen (57), Love (90).

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