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Celtic clinch Scottish Cup final after extra‑time thriller

BBC Sport Football •
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Celtic edged Glasgow City in a tense Scottish Cup semi‑final that stretched into extra time, securing a 4‑3 win. After a 1‑1 stalemate at 90 minutes, the hosts netted twice in the added 30 minutes to claim their first final berth since 2021.

Saoirse Noonan opened the scoring with a first‑half header, but Linda Motlhalo answered seven minutes before the end of regulation with a powerful strike that forced extra time. Amy Gallacher then added a pinpoint goal early in extra to restore Celtic's advantage, while Glasgow's Shannon McGregor netted in added time before Emily Grey's late consolation.

The win leaves Celtic poised to face either Rangers or Montrose in the final, while Glasgow City must regroup after a four‑point SWPL deficit behind Hearts. Leanne Ross' side saw their hopes of a domestic treble dashed, yet the match showcased the growing competitiveness of Scottish women's football and the fine margins that separate triumph from heartbreak.

Celtic's victory underscores their resilience after a 2024 loss to City in August, and their back‑to‑back Scottish Cup titles in 2022 and 2023 highlight a period of dominance. Glasgow City's SWPL Cup win earlier this season had set high expectations, but the extra‑time drama proved that cup competitions can swing on a single moment.