Women's Champions League qualifying: Glasgow City and Celtic reach group finals

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Glasgow City beat Shelbourne in Women's Champions League

Glasgow City and Celtic are through to their group finals in Champions League qualifying after victories over Shelbourne and Brondby respectively.

Second-half goals from Brenna Lovera and Lauren Davidson took Scottish champions City safely past their Irish counterparts in Lithuania.

Later, Kelly Clark's strike after the break was enough for Celtic to edge through in Norway.

City meet Ginta next, with Celtic up against Valerenga.

Both opponents will enjoy home advantage on Saturday as the host clubs.

Lithuanians Ginta beat Cardiff City 2-0, while Norwegian group hosts Valerenga enjoyed a 3-1 success against Minsk of Belarus.

Winners of each group progress to a two-leg second-round play-off round for the right to reach the group-stage proper.

Second-half burst downs Shelbourne

City started brightly at Siauliai City Stadium, with winger Linda Motlhalo glancing a header wide before midfielder Kinga Kozak fired against the crossbar and forward Cori Sullivan was unable to finish on the rebound.

Shelbourne striker Noelle Murray fired over before play became bogged down in midfield until City upped the anti in the closing minutes of the first half.

Striker Lovera's curling effort was turned wide superbly by goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan at full stretch.

McQullian then clawed a Lovera header off the line and, when it fell to Linda Motlhalo, the midfielder's shot curled just wide of the far post.

City survived a second-half scare as Christie Gray was played in behind the defence one-on-one with Lee Gibson, but the Scotland goalkeeper beat away the Canadian striker's effort.

Lovera headed straight at McQuillan as City broke up the other end but moments later made amends as she powered into the box, leaving a couple of defenders in her wake, before flicking past the goalkeeper.

Scotland winger Davidson followed suit with a strong run and finish from an acute angle that beat McQuillan at her front post.

City were now in control as Shelbourne, perhaps weakened by several summer departures, rarely threatened a comeback.

Celtic survive close calls

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Kelly Clark played a captain's role in Oslo

Brondby started promisingly in Oslo as Celtic had to scramble the ball off the line after a 10th-minute corner before Kelsey Daugherty also came to her defence's rescue.

The American goalkeeper's fingertips sent a striker from Natalia Wrobel on to a post and fellow midfielder Cecilie Buchberg skied the rebound.

At the other end, goalkeeper Ann Kathrin Dilfer touched over a stunning 25-yard strike from midfielder Jenny Smith.

Fellow midfielder Colette Cavanagh was also one-on-one with Dilfter but fired straight at the German 21-year-old as the sides ended a disappointing first half goalless.

Like City, Celtic improved after the break and captain Clark smashed home from close range following a corner.

The Scotland centre-half had to clear a goalbound shot off the line moments later, but Celtic held on to progress.

What they said

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "I thought we were slow to start. Quite sloppy in the first half, so there was a lot we had to address at half-time.

"But, with the things that we fixed, we looked a lot more secure in possession and had a lot more chances in the second half."

Glasgow City scorer Brenna Lovera: "We made it hard for ourselves in the first half, but we definitely had a kick in the pants at half time and came out and proved what we could do."