Nigeria forward Ariyo fires KuPS ahead from long range
Noonan pounces on goalkeeping error to head equalise
Two Noonan strikes in extra-time put Celtic into final
Hosts Gintra and Agarista Anenii Noi meet in Wednesday's second semi-final
Celtic await winners in Saturday's final
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Celtic go racing towards the KuPs goal before Amy Gallacher is taken out by a yellow shirt.
Mathilde Carstens is on the free-kick, she finds the head of Caitlin Hayes who gets her effort goalwards and forces the KuPs keeper into a great save!
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Back under way for the second-half, can Celtic turn things around?
HT: KuPs 1-0 Celtic
This is the last season of the current Women's Champions League format, with a single 18-team league to be introduced from next season, along with a second tier competition - like the Europa League in the men's game.
But for now teams have been split into three or four team mini-tournaments with all the matches played at one venue.
If Celtic progress they must take on either FC Gintra of Lithuania or Moldovan side Agarista CSF.
Round two is then a two-legged tie against a single opponent, with the winner progressing to the 16-team group stage.
HT: KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Just a wee reminder of how this whole tournament works while we wait for the second half.
An underwhelming first half from the Scottish champions.
It's certainly not out of sight for Elena Sadiku's side but lots of work to do in the second half to make up.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
That's a massive chance to grab an equaliser!
Hana Kerner does the hard bit, gets herself into the perfect position but sends her shot wide of the post.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Emma Santamaki's ball goes right out for a Celtic goal-kick.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
A brief stoppage in play as Tao Stark receives some treatment.
Once this is dealt with KuPs will have a free-kick.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Another Celtic corner is comfortably dealt with by the Lithuanian side.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
A great diving save from Kelsey Daugherty denies KuPs a second!
Celtic having to weather a bit of a storm here.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Another cross into the box from Celtic, this one goes all the way out the other side for a throw in.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
KuPs win a throw in just inside Celtic's half but the visitors win possession.
Once again though Murphy Agnew's cross is caught safely by the KuPs keeper.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Celtic are really struggling to break down the KuPs defence at the moment.
Yet another cross into the box is caught by the keeper.
KuPs 1-0 Celtic
Looking to make up for that error, Carstens picks the ball up in the middle of the park and after a decent bit of play Lucy Ashworth-Clifford has the chance to fire a shot away and it goes out for a corner.
It's headed away by the KuPs defence though.
Roosa Ariyo
A mistake at the back gives the hosts the opener.
Mathilde Carstens loses out in the middle of the park and gifts the ball to KuPs.
Celtic can't get the bodies back in time and Roosa Ariyo sends her strike beyond Kelsey Daugherty into the bottom corner.
KuPs 0-0 Celtic
It's Celtic's turn to send in a corner now.
Lucy Ashworth-Clifford plays it to Mathilde Carstens on the edge of the box but they can't find an opening.
KuPs 0-0 Celtic
Ana Paula Silva Santos tries a shot from outside the box but it's easily gathered by Kelsey Daugherty.
KuPs 0-0 Celtic
Murphy Agnew tries to loft a cross into the box but Arpiainen collects and KuPs go racing up the other end.
Kelly Clark, under pressure, tries to play it back to her keeper but sends it out for a corner.
KuPs 0-0 Celtic
KuPs go racing up the other end but once again the shot is way over the bar.
KuPs 0-0 Celtic
Celtic win themselves a free-kick about 30-yards from the KuPs goal but Arpiainen catches easily.
Saoirse Noonan joined Celtic from Durham this summer
Saoirse Noonan's hat-trick inspired Celtic as they came from behind to beat KuPS of Finland after extra-time and reach their mini-tournament final at the first stage of Women's Champions League qualifying.
Roosa Ariyo fired the Kansallinen Liiga champions ahead after 18 minutes in Lithuania, but substitute forward Noonan headed the equaliser after the break before slotting two more in added time.
Celtic will face either hosts Gintra or Anenii Noi of Moldova, who play later on Wednesday at Siauliai Central Stadium, in Saturday's final.
As first-time Scottish champions, 74th-placed Celtic headed to Lithuania as the lowest-ranked of the four sides - 20 adrift of Gintra, 10 places below KuPS and two behind Anenii Noi.
They had also been held to a surprise goalless draw at home by Hibernian on Friday as they fell two points behind Rangers five games into the new Scottish Women's Premier League season.
KuPS, who lie second behind HJK Helsinki midway through their own domestic season, started the sharper side and Finland-born Nigerian striker Ariyo pounced after a slack pass in midfield to fire low past goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty after 18 minutes for her sixth goal in five games.
Celtic's Hana Kerner fired wide just before the break, but Daugherty had to produce two fine saves before the Scottish champions got back into the game.
Goalkeeper Ellan Arpiainen saved superbly from Caitlin Hayes but soon after failed to hold the defender's cross and it fell kindly for Noonan to nod in from close range just after the hour mark.
Celtic were by now the side in the ascendency, but the Finns resisted doggedly until Kit Loferski held off a challenge and laid it into the path of summer signing Noonan to slot the Scots into the lead.
The Republic of Ireland forward then pounced on a wayward pass at the edge of the area to poke home her sixth goal of the campaign as KuPS suffered their first defeat - other than three at the hands of HJK - in 22 outings this season.
Now only Gintra or Anenii Noi stand between Celtic and a two-legged round-two tie to decide who reaches the 16-team group stage.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 22 | 16 |
|
| 2 | SL Benfica | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 9 |
|
| 3 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
|
| 4 | Rosengård | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 23 | -20 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympique Lyonnais | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 5 | 20 | 14 |
|
| 2 | Brann | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 13 |
|
| 3 | Slavia Prague | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | -10 | 5 |
|
| 4 | St. Pölten | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 14 | -12 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSG | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
|
| 2 | Ajax | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 10 |
|
| 3 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
|
| 4 | Roma | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 5 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 14 |
|
| 2 | Häcken | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
|
| 3 | Paris FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 7 |
|
| 4 | Real Madrid | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 1 |
|
Manager: Valtteri Kumpuniemi
Manager: Elena Sadiku
Manager: Valtteri Kumpuniemi
Manager: Elena Sadiku
UEFA Women's Champions League
Skip to form guideAll competitions
Skip back to season so far
