Debbi hopes boost in confidence can lead to a final spot
Spartans head coach Debbi Mcculloch says her players have grown in confidence after winning Sky Sports Cup penalty shoot-outs against Hearts and Celtic.
The two outcomes have set up a semi-final against Rangers at Ainslie Park this afternoon. Glasgow City and Hibs meet in the other semi at Petershill Park.
The prize for the two winners is a place in next
month’s final at Tynecastle – which will be the firstever women’s match in Scotland to be covered live on Sky Sports.
“It will be a fantastic occasion for everybody,” Mcculloch said of the December 11 showdown. “But for me our journey in this cup has already been special.
“The two wins, and the manner we’ve won them on penalties, have created memories that will last in our dressing-room for a very long time.”
Both the Hearts and Celtic games finished 1-1 after extra time and Mcculloch said: “When it went to penalties in the quarter-final I felt there was much more confidence.
“When we played Hearts everybody was looking at their toes, whereas against Celtic five or six players stepped up straight away.”
The win over the holders was aided by one of Celtic’s star players, Jacynta, being sent off near the end of the first half, while veteran Spartans goalie Rachel Harrison was in inspired form.
Mcculloch’s side face another huge task against SWPL leaders Rangers, who have yet to concede a goal in their 11 domestic games and have scored 57.
The sides met in the league 13 nights ago – just 72 hours after Spartans’ extended epic against Celtic.
Rangers edged it 2-0 and Mcculloch said: “There were a lot of positives to take. It was two set-pieces Rangers scored from. We limited them in open play and had a couple of chances of our own.
“They are a very well structured and powerful team, but as the Celtic result showed, anything can happen in football.”
Spartans won the League Cup in their previous guise as Edinburgh Ladies in 2006 – and have been beaten finalists under their own name on five occasions.
By contrast, Rangers have never even made it through to the last stage.
Winger Brogan Hay, who was called into the Scotland squad for the
first time on Tuesday for the upcoming friendlies against Panama and Venezuela in Spain, said: “It would be massive for us to make it to the final.”
The second semi is between the two mostsuccessful clubs since the first League Cup in 2002-03.
Hibs edge it with seven wins, including four on the bounce from 2016-19.
City, who beat Celtic 2-1 in the league last Sunday, are six-time winners.