Even Haaland’s no match for Lizzie
Arnot discovers line of beauty to KO Hibs keeper & protect treble pursuit
LIZZIE ARNOT reckons there may be a treble ahead after firing Rangers on their way to a historic League Cup success.
Arnot and Kirsty Howat struck to see off Hibs in the Sky Sports Cup Final at Tynecastle and give Malky Thomson’s side their first ever League Cup.
Arnot, who opened the scoring when she rifled a shot past Hibs keeper Benedicte Haaland and into the top corner just after half-an-hour, reckons it can be the first of three trophies this season.
She said: “Since I have come here and the club has been professional there is a level of expectation and we need to use that as a privilege.
“It has created a winning mentality at the club. With this group of players it’s definitely possible to win the treble and there’s no denying that’s an expectation, so it’s a step in the right direction.”
The only disappointment for the Light Blues women was that they didn’t win a game they dominated by a bigger margin.
Hibs had won the trophy a record seven times but never looked like adding to that, even before Arnot’s left-foot opener.
Rangers held a firm grip throughout but and always looked capable of stepping up another gear if required.
But they did not add to their tally until the latter stages of the second period – and Hibs can’t say they weren’t warned
Howat banged a ferocious effort off the bar after coming on as a substitute before doubling Rangers’ advantage a few minutes later.
She picked up the ball on the edge of the Hibs box and took all time she needed to turn and drill a low effort into the bottom corner.
Sam Kerr forced a decent save from Haaland as Hibs’ heads went down and the Ibrox side looked for more.
They didn’t get any but boss Thomson was delighted with the win.
He said: “When you prepare as well as we do you have to have that air of confidence about you.
“If you look at the goals they are two goals I don’t think Hibs had much chance of defending.
“It would be great to win a treble but what we have to concern ourselves with is how we prepare and what do our daily actions do.
“It’s that detail that we have to keep repeating to get better but we do have to enjoy it.”
Hibs gaffer Dean Gibson urged his players to utilise the pain of yesterday’s defeat to fuel their future ambitions.
He gathered them into a post-match huddle and said: “I wanted them to remember that feeling of being deflated. The next time we get to a final we want to be a bit happier.”