Celtic FC Women made history tonight as they entered the Champions League qualifying stage in Trondheim for the first time. Fran Alonso’s side faced an opponent in Levante who had finished third in the Spanish top flight behind the traditional big hitters Real Madrid and Barcelona. As such this was just about as tough as it gets for a maiden Champions League voyage for the Hoops. And so it proved as a brave Celtic side fell to a brave 2-1 defeat to an impressive Spanish opponent.
The players who started tonight were always going to claim that impressive piece in the rich history of the club and those entrusted with the task by Fran Alonso were:
Chloe Logan, Chloe Warrington, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Craig, Jodie Bartle, Kelly Clark (Captain), Sarah Teegarden, Izzy Atkinson, María Ólafsdóttir Grosand, Charlie Wellings and Rachel Donaldson.
Whilst on the bench Alonso went with Johnston, Shorts, Jacynta, Shen, Toland, Pollard, Bowie, R McAllister, P McAllister, Burchill and McGovern as those to be called on to make an impact as and when required.
It certainly looked a side picked for defensive strength allied to plenty pace in attack to hit on the break and so it proved in a wind and rain swept Koteng Park.
In truth both sides looked fairly even in the opening exchanges however the Spanish side soon gained the upper hand over both possession and chances created. Redondo in particular would have been hard pressed to choose at who frustrated the Levante forward more, her own profligacy in front of goal when afforded gilt edged chances or Chloe Logan who appeared to be her first half nemesis whenever Redondo did manage to get a strike on target.
Redondo had already missed three excellent opportunities before Logan pulled off a world class save from the striker to deny her a goal her overall play probably deserved. Meanwhile Chloe Logan, who hadn’t actually had a shot on target to deal with until she routinely saved from a 22-yard effort from Guerrero, was soon called into action when Jodie Bartle conceded a penalty with a challenge that was both naïve and late in equal measure, however Logan was a hero as she pulled off a wonderful save down to her left to deny Toletti an opening goal with no-one more relieved than Bartle.
Our captain @kellyclark_94 speaking after her team’s first ever match in the Champions League 🍀 #History | #LEVCEL | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/nxeCMazPY9
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) August 18, 2021
Celtic had chances in the first half, all on the break with Atkinson finishing weakly when supplied by Charlie Wellings as Celtic’s pressing game paid off, again when Gros broke free on the counter but was eventually put off by the recovering Levante defence and ended up putting the ball wide and finally by Sarah Teegarden with a half chance from a header late in the opening 45 minutes.
In the end however Celtic went in at the break a goal behind. The impressive Tonetti sweeping the ball home superbly after a bit of pinball on the edge of Celtic’s 18-yard box saw the ball break somewhat unluckily to Tonetti and even the inspired Logan couldn’t keep that one out.
Any hope Celtic were going to have in the second half was now likely to come from the fact the Spanish opposition had yet to play a competitive game to date and there was the possibility they could tire. Yet Celtic who had battled superbly and tried valiantly to execute Fran Alonso’s counter attacking game plan were sure to find their own reserves tested despite having two competitive games under their belt.
Sadly, for Celtic the task was to go from difficult to nigh on impossible when Levante doubled their lead five minutes into the second half as an excellent Toletti delivery was finished first time by Redondo with a goal that wasn’t unexpected but was perhaps a little overdue. It was however harsh on Celtic who started the second half with as much effort and endeavour as they’d exhibited early in the first half.
A huge thank you to the Celtic fans in attendance to witness history tonight, your backing was fantastic and see you Saturday 💚 pic.twitter.com/VMLihXjVY5
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) August 18, 2021
Yet backed by the cheers of the Brattbakk Bhoys Trondheim Celtic supporters club, allied to a passionate Celtic coaching staff that saw Fran Alonso both warned and subsequently booked for his touchline protestations, Celtic gained an upper hand that they held until the end of the game.
First of all, Rachel McGovern’s pressing of the Levante defence paid off and the striker was very unlucky to see her shot from distance go wide and Caitlin Hayes gave us all a sign of things to come when her header from a free kick was ultimately easily saved.
Hayes then became Celtic’s first ever Champions league goalscorer as she hit a free kick from just inside the Levante half. The ball appeared to be caught in the wind and it bounced to Celtic’s advantage to confuse a Levante goalkeeper who despite getting a hand to it couldn’t keep the ball out.
Could the increase in passion both on and off the field from Celtic conjure up an equaliser? Well, if it wasn’t going to be the passion it could have been a Celtic side who both showed a superior fitness and a physical edge over their opponents or it may have been from a series of set pieces from tired fouls conceded by a weakening opponent that could have made the difference.
In the end however despite both Kelly Clark and Caitlin Hayes having fine headed opportunities from free kicks into the box, Celtic couldn’t find the leveller and the final whistle on Celtic’s Champions League campaign ended with an Izzy Atkinson free kick from 20 yards flying agonisingly off target.
This was a game Celtic may have lost on the night but in terms of pride, attitude and desire they were more than a match for an opponent who at one stage looked like they may run over the top of them. Instead in the end it was Levante hanging on by their fingernails as Celtic’s incessant pressure saw the Spaniards resort to time wasting and the concession of niggly fouls to break the Celts momentum.
Never say die Celts narrowly lose out in tough Champions League debut⬇️https://t.co/c7sDh2o73T
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) August 19, 2021
Every single Celtic player gave their all and despite a 2-1 reverse they can all hold their head high tonight. A special mention must go to Chloe Logan for a player of the match performance in goal, but despite a tough night in Trondheim every Celt gave a performance fitting of Champions League football.
You get the feeling this is just the beginning for Fran Alonso and his Celtic side as a European team. Lessons will be learned from tonight and Celtic will come back stronger. Celtic may not have supplied a win in Norway tonight but they certainly didn’t let anyone down.
Niall J
