Scottish Women's Football

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Montrose and Aberdeen face off on Sunday both vying for three points which could prove vital come the end of the season.

The pair avoided the three-team relegation last season, with Montrose securing their safety on the final day of the league campaign and their quest for SWPL safety has started anew.

It's been a tricky start for Scott Booth's Aberdeen side who have lost both of their opening games, albeit they limited last season's runners-up Glasgow City to a narrow 1-0 victory last weekend.

The Dons are likely to have goalkeeper Katie Cox, on loan from treble winners Chelsea, between the sticks at the weekend and she'll be keen to impress.

After a tough 6-1 defeat on the opening day, Craig Feroz's side bounced back with a convincing 4-1 victory over top-six hopefuls Motherwell last weekend which moved Montrose up to fifth.

Keep an eye on summer signing Kaela McDonald-Nguah who scored a brace last weekend and set up Montrose's only goal against Rangers the previous week.

A win for the Links Park club would keep them in the top half of the table while a win for the Dons would get them on the board.

How to follow on BBC

Rangers v Motherwell will be live on the BBC Sport Scotland website and app where you will also find match reports from all five matches.

Sportscene SWPL highlights will be on the BBC Scotland on Monday night at 19:30 BST.

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Kathleen McGovern's hat-trick ensured that Hibernian overcame Apollon Limassol in Cyprus to progress to the first round of qualifying for the inaugural Uefa Women's Europa Cup.

They join Glasgow City in qualifying, with the first legs played on 10/11 September and the second legs a week later.

The new competition represents the second tier of European competition in women's football and, after two rounds of qualifying, will take the format of a straight knock-out with a home and away leg.

After exiting Champions League qualifying due to the 2-1 loss to Fortuna Hjorring earlier in the week, Hibs went through thanks to new Scotland cap McGovern, who scored a stunning strike from distance and then nodded in two headers.

Glasgow City, meanwhile, dropped into Women's Europa Cup qualifying after their 2-0 loss to Austria Vienna.

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American centre-back Grace Courter has completed a "dream" move to Celtic on a two-year deal.

The 22-year-old arrives from Boston College in the US NCAA Division One where she played alongside recent Celtic signing Aislin Streicek.

"It feels amazing to have signed for Celtic and I just can't wait to get started," said Courter.

"The girls have been super welcoming. I'm just really excited to be fully immersed in the Celtic community as a whole.

"It's been a dream for a few years now, and I can't wait to show everybody what I've got."

Head coach Elena Sadiku said "commanding" defender Courter will bring "real composure to our backline".

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Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "We've come here, in terms of preparation, I thought we were absolutely spot on in terms of what we saw from our opponent and what we expected.

"We've gone in, carried out the game plan really well, been defensively solid in the first half and then second half looked to step higher and come and really take the game to them.

"But in saying that, we're playing against a difficult opponent.

"The goals that we've lost, they're the most disappointing aspect in terms of the nature of them.

"But a spirited performance and a lot of positives that we can take now going forward.

"The players are hurt, the staff are hurting right now in terms of the preparation that we put in and what we saw from the team tonight.

"So I guess in time that will feel like a positive that we still have European football, but I think in terms of what we've given out there tonight, we wanted a lot more."

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Glasgow City will drop into the Europa Cup competition after their Champions League qualification dream ended with a 2-0 defeat against Austria Wien.

An early second-half free-kick from Katharina Schietchtl put the Austrian side ahead, before Maria Olsen added a second in injury time.

Wien struck the crossbar as the first half drew to a close through Lena Triendl after Nicole Kozlova couldn't be found with a cross from Lisa Forrest in a venture forward for City.

Leanne Ross' side now enter the first qualifying round of the newly-created Europa Cup and will find out their opponents when the draw takes place at noon on Sunday, 31 August.

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Midfielder Ellis Notley insists Hibs are ready for the challenge of Champions League football as they prepare to face Fortuna Hjorring on Wednesday.

The Edinburgh club, who won their first SWPL title in 18 years last season, start qualification in the second round with a one-off mini tournament in Paphos, Cyprus.

Hibs face Danish side Fortuna in the semi-finals - live on the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer - with the winners progressing to take on either Apollon or Young Boys in the final for a place in round three.

"We're all looking forward to the match, we've had a good few days out here preparing for the game, we're all excited for it," said Notley.

"You work so hard throughout the season and we got ourselves into this position by winning the league and we want to push on as a team.

"We want to compete with the best teams in Europe, this is the next step to do that, it doesn't get much bigger than Champions League football.

"You obviously don't know as much about your opposition. In the league, we know a lot of the players, a lot of the teams, the managers.

"There's a little bit of the unknown going into these matches. We've done our own prep and our own analysis on Fortuna and we'll hopefully take that into it.

"We're expecting a well-organised team, a tough team to break down and play against, a physical battle.

"We need to focus on ourselves, focus on how we'll play because we know that the quality that we have throughout the team, we've shown that we can compete at the highest level in Scotland and we hope we can do that on this stage.

"We want to be as successful as we can be, and we've seen the men do it so hopefully we can replicate that and hopefully go one better."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rachael Johnstone (Hearts): Couldn't do much about the goals her side conceded. Made some big saves before Rangers went 2-1 up. Produced a vital stop right at the end to keep the score at 2-2 and a good draw for Hearts on the road.

Lizzie Waldie (Hearts): Strong at the back, but has the confidence and ability to venture forward to good effect. Did really well to set up the all-important equaliser.

Eilidh Austin (Rangers): The 20-year-old was played out of position due to defensive injuries but coped well.

Aislin Streicek (Celtic): Canadian full-back impressed on her first start for her new club. A clean sheet and an assist for Celtic's fifth goal against Hamilton. Showed an intent to get forward too, and almost got on the scoresheet early on.

Lizzie Arnot (Rangers): Came on in the 70th minute and had a hand in both goals. Her delivery from the free-kick for the second was inch perfect. An impressive contribution from the bench as she helped turn around her side's fortunes.

Eilidh Shore (Hearts): Organised well from midfield, but also full of energy. She caused problems for Rangers, and kept composed when the ball fell to her to score a late but deserved equaliser.

Olufolasade Adamolekun (Hearts): Not only finished brilliantly to give the visitors the lead at Ibrox, but started the move with a determined drive forward. Her pace and strength is a real threat for Hearts.

Tiree Burchill (Hibs): Scored two quickfire and timely goals to make the first-half breakthrough against Partick thistle. The two very different finishes, one a real poacher's effort and the other a low drive from just outside the area.

Saoirse Noonan (Celtic): Netted the opener to settle Celtic and set the tone. Also on hand to set up two goals. Always a danger and always on the attack.

Katie Wilkinson (Rangers): A hat-trick on the opening day followed by two goals within two minutes. The striker is always in the right place at the right time, and these were two important goals for Rangers as they fought back against Hearts.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah (Montrose): Two goals and two assists in an excellent afternoon's work. Already proving a key player for Montrose with her ability to make and score goals.

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Partick Thistle head coach David Elliot: "Disappointment is the big word I'd use. I don't we deserved to lose five because they put in so much effort.

"Decision making wasn't the best in the final third, but we'll learn. We could have maybe managed the game a wee bit better.

"Loads of good passing moves. I'd like to have more of it in the final third, but things are improving and we'll keep working."

Hibernian coach Joelle Murray: "Delighted for the girls. Goals and a clean sheet is what we're always looking for.

"Once we got the first goal, we gained momentum and belief. It was a really professional, dominant performance.

"It's nice to see the fruits of our labour on matchday."

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Aberdeen manager Scott Booth: "We worked incredibly hard. I think we could have been a little bit better in possession, but we had a couple of really good chances to score late on and to take something from the game.

"We need to be clinical in games, especially against the regular top five teams, because we know that we're only going to get a limited number of chances.

"I thought everyone that was involved today worked really, really hard. And that's what we know we need to do as a bare minimum."

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "A bit of a frustrating performance across the board, but we controlled the tempo of the game.

"Aberdeen are going to make it difficult for teams coming here. Three points was the objective and we got it, so we go home happy.

"It was nice to see Abi get off the mark today and hopefully she can add to her tally in the weeks to come."

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Celtic boss Elena Sadiku: "Really happy with the attacking play in terms of how many chances we created.

"Five goals, a clean sheet and a first win at home so I'm really happy but I still think there are things to improve for the upcoming match against Partick Thistle.

"I think looking at the goalscorers and the different types of goals we scored is always very pleasing as a coach, because it shows we can score in different ways.

"But I think we should probably have had more goals to be honest and that's what I take from the game as something that needs to be improved."

Hamilton manager Robert Watson: "They must have about 300 times our budget, but for the first 25 minutes we played really well and had a bit of a threat on the counter.

"The second and third goals before half-time make it very hard, but these games won't define our season.

"We could have adapted to situations a bit better, but it isn't hugely surprising to lose the game."

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Rangers manager Leanne Crichton: "Ultimately we trailed for a huge part of the game but I thought the response, the application and everything that we did in the second half was brilliant.

"When you go and turnaround the scoreline and you get your noses in front the frustration from our part is that we have just been unable to control the game for probably the next five minutes or so.

"Ultimately their equaliser is a second phase from a set-piece which again you can be really frustrated at, but credit to Hearts for going and chasing it and getting themselves back level.

"But for us we will feel disappointed tonight that we have not managed to take all three points."

Hearts manager Eva Olid: "For me we lost two points because first half we dominated totally.

"When we were losing 2-1 we went to press high and still we wanted to score the goal. A lot of positives, but we're not happy because only one point.

"Playing as we play first half - if we do that for 90 minutes, we win the game. I know really good things are coming."

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Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton has made her first signing in "dynamic and technically gifted" South Korea midfielder Kim Shin Ji on a season-long loan from Roma.

The 21-year-old moved to the Serie A side at the start of the year from GB Uiduk University in her homeland on a deal until 2027.

Kim Shin Ji becomes the third arrival at Rangers this summer, following the permanent signings of Fallon Connolly-Jackson and Alice Griffiths, and could make her debut in Sunday's SWPL game against Hearts.

"She's a dynamic, technically gifted player with good experience at a high level even at such a young age and we believe she'll bring real quality and creativity to the squad," head coach Crichton said.

"It highlights the calibre of player we are targeting and we're confident she'll make a big impact on the team both on and off the pitch.

"We're excited to see what she can bring to the club this season."

Shin Ji says she is "truly happy" to be joining Rangers, adding: "This season, I will focus on winning every single match with the goal of lifting trophies."

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Glasgow City's newest recruit Mebae Tanaka will bring "even more quality and depth" to their squad, says head coach Leanne Ross.

Winger Tanaka, who has signed a two-year deal, is City's sixth summer signing and their first-ever Japanese player.

The 29-year-old made 19 appearances last season in the A-League with New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix, scoring once, and has also played in Japan, South Korea and Australia.

"I'm really happy to bring Mebae to Glasgow City," said head coach Ross.

"She is a player with very good technical abilities, and she will bring even more quality and depth to an already strong squad.

"She has gained a lot of professional experience from her time in Japan, South Korea and New Zealand which will be incredibly valuable in this environment."