Rangers 0-2 Glasgow City: Chinchilla brace puts Gers to the sword

Priscila Chinchilla doubles up as Glasgow City take huge step towards Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) title with victory at Rangers.

CUMBERNAULD, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 17: Clare Shine in action for Glasgow City during a Scottish Women's Premier League match between Glasgow City and Celtic, on October 18, 2020, in Cumbernauld, Scotland (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Glasgow City made a huge stride towards their 14th league title in a row with a commanding 2-0 win over Rangers in the SWPL at the Rangers Training Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Two first half strikes from forward Priscila Chinchilla (2, 35) cemented the win for the away side to move them five points clear at the top of the league.

Scott Booth made four changes from last week’s win over Spartans, bringing Hayley Lauder, Zaneta Wyne, Megan Foley and Lee Alexander into his starting eleven. Rangers boss Malky Thomson made only one change to the side that beat Motherwell 6-0 last week, as he restored Jenna Fife to the starting line-up.

The game exploded into life with less than two minutes on the clock, as the reigning champions opened the scoring through hotshot Chincilla. The midfielder was found by an excellent ball from Lauder, before angling her right-footed drive off the inside of the post and into the Rangers net.

City should have been further ahead on 11 minutes when the superb Ode Fulutudilu beat the offside trap before dragging her shot agonisingly wide of Fife’s post, with the table toppers dominating the opening spells of the game.

The Blue Belles should have been level against the run of play shortly afterwards, however, goalkeeper Lee Alexander was brave as she came out to smother the ball at the feet of Sam Kerr just as the midfielder looked set to round the Scotland number one and tap home.

Glasgow City had heir goalkeeper to thank again moments later, with Alexander blocking Lizzie Arnot’s goal bound effort on the line following great work from Rachel McLauchlan down the right hand side.

Chinchilla could have added a second for City on 25 minutes, aiming a half volley inches wide of the post as the first period continued at frantic pace.

The diminutive forward did grab her second of the game moments later, however, when she latched onto Fulutudilu’s through ball and, despite huge calls for offside, fired beyond Fife who couldn’t get enough on the shot to keep it out.

A nasty looking head injury forced City defender Julia Molin off moments before the end of the first period, as she exited the field of play following an awful looking collision with Rangers’ Brogan Hay.

Thomson’s side rallied early in the second half, with Kerr continuing to probe and came close when player of the month nominee Hay’s cross-shot clipped the inside of the post. With the game fizzling out, Rangers grew further frustrated as the half wore on, with Glasgow City’s superb back line continuing to keep the opposition forward line at arms length.

The result means Fran Alonso’s Celtic, who defeated Motherwell earlier in the day, move level on points with their Old Firm counterparts, and welcome Glasgow City this coming Wednesday in a game that could see Booth and his City side take a massive leap towards an astonishing 14th title in a row.

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