Celtic 0-2 Twente: Historic Ghirls learn harsh European truth

Ethan Barlow reports from the historic opening UWCL tie

Elena Sadiku’s team made Celtic and Scottish history qualifying for this season’s Women’s Champions League but falling to defeat in their competition debut leaves a brutal outlook on the rest of the tournament campaign.

On a historic night for the club, Celtic met Dutch champions Twente, under the lights of a noisy New Douglas Park. Trading Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium for Hamilton’s artificial pitch wasn’t the only major change needed.

Sadiku’s free-flowing football would need to be put on hold despite the opening match looking the most likely for points. The attacking football which brought the Hoops their first title success and helped them through a memorable qualifying campaign would be exposed at the highest level and left the Swede no option but to resort to a more pragmatic, low block approach.

In the first half, Celtic’s defensive solidity and resilience pained Jordan Pot’s side and Natalie Ross’ performance epitomised the Celts’ desire to stay with their opponents. Multiple celebratory tackles from the 35-year-old midfielder encouraged a crowded main stand, as well as ‘The Celtic End’ housing the Green Brigade and Bhoys, to be that little bit louder.

What was a cauldron of atmosphere burst like a balloon when the visitors opened the scoring in the dying minutes of the first period. Lieske Carleer’s brilliant ball over the top found an unmarked Kayleigh van Dooren, who coolly chipped a helpless Kelsey Daugherty, perfectly capturing the quality Celtic were up against.

Celtic would have to endure a second half similar to the first, where being a compact defensive unit was the plan of action despite having to suffer without the ball for large periods. The home team created chances but didn’t have any sustained moments of pressure and Twente’s 72% of possession would eventually break Celtic.

Leonie Vliek’s attacking venture from right back presented van Dooren with her second golden chance of the evening and the midfielder made no mistake cannoning her strike into the roof of the American’s net, with just five minutes left. The home side seemed to give everything across the 90 minutes, but it just wasn’t enough.

Despite a disappointing result, Celtic can hold their heads high based on the performance. It doesn’t get any easier for the champions though, with two ties against Chelsea and Real Madrid to come before their reverse trip to the Netherlands. Qualifying for the competition was a major step in the right direction for the club but it goes to show how far adrift Celtic are to being able to compete with the elite.