Sarries scupper all hopes for a home tie
quest to earn a home-turf Champions Cup quarter-final was scuppered by streetwise Sarries.
Warriors had already been assured of qualification, thanks to Edinburgh’s stunning triumph over Montpellier.
But boss Dave Rennie demanded much more.
They did produce one of their strongest displays of the campaign. However they couldn’t shake off the two-time holders in a thrilling encounter at Allianz Park.
And it was only in the last 10 minutes that the home side were able to impose themselves in typical fashion.
Glasgow boss Rennie insisted the scoreline did not reflect his side’s display.
He said: “We were right in it until the last few minutes – a different bounce of the ball here or there and it might have been different.
“It has been a tremendous achievement for us to reach the knockout stages and we don’t want to stop here.”
Now Rennie’s men will have to wait until results from today’s remaining two pool games to find out who they will square up to next.
Due to the competition’s seeding system for the knockout rounds, it could be Saracens yet again at the same venue.
Lions and England star Maro Itoje declared: “I am very proud of this win – but at no stage was it easy. Glasgow are a top side.
“They played an exciting and expansive brand of rugby out there and they tackled hard the whole game. They will give ANY team in the tournament a tough time – including us if we face them again.
“I regard them as a real threat.” The hosts had begun at maximum pace and Ali Price was forced to back-track to concede a scrum on his own line following a wayward lineout throw by Grant Stewart. A high tackle by Chris Fusaro then handed Saracens a penalty – which was easily chipped over by Ben Spencer, deputising as marksman for the injured Owen Farrell.
And the scrum-half followed up almost immediately with the opening try, exploiting shocking defending by Glasgow.
Spencer added the extras himself to ominously open up a 10-point gap.
Glasgow shook off the jitters brilliantly to set up touchdown for Tommy Seymour after slick handling by Sam Johnson and Stuart Hogg.
And the home fans were stunned again two minutes later.
Rob Harley half-blocked a clearance kick and it fell perfectly for Price to grab it and scuttle over from 20 metres.
Adam Hastings converted to snatch the lead.
The hosts’ response was immediate and lethal as Vincent Koch finished off a rolling maul – Spencer again finding the target.
It was frantic stuff, and back came Glasgow to send skipper Ryan Wilson crashing over with Hastings making it a seven-pointer.
Hastings then rescued the Warriors by cleverly knocking the ball out of the grasp of George Krus just an inch short of the line. But from the next scrum, Billy Vunipola bulldozed over for the score.
Glasgow reappeared for the second half with Adam Ashe on for Jonny Gray.
And Wilson was replaced by Matt Smith within seven minutes of the restart – Chris Fusaro taking the captaincy role.
Worryingly for Warriors, they began to give away breakdown penalties at regular intervals.
And they were fortunate not to fall further behind before entering the final quarter.
The hosts were controlling possession and territory and they sealed Glasgow’s fate 10 minutes from time when man of the match Maro Itoje galloped through.
Alex Lozowski’s strike was pinpoint.
And Will Skelton’s stoppage-time effort put a cruel complexion on the scoreline for the Warriors.
Boss Rennie will be absent for next weekend’s return to Pro14 action against the Ospreys at Scotstoun as he returns to his native New Zealand for his son’s wedding.
Assistant Kenny Murray will take temporary charge as the Warriors aim to boost their bid to reach the play-offs.