Glasgow City v HB Koge - report1 day ago7 min read6 comments

In a display of footballing theater that would have made the Camp Nou faithful rise in unison, Glasgow City authored one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent women's football history, scoring twice in stoppage time to vanquish HB Køge 5-3 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate, thereby punching their ticket into the inaugural Women's Europa Cup's last 16. The Scottish champions, facing a slender first-leg deficit against the Danish league leaders, saw their hopes seemingly extinguished after a mere three minutes when Mille Gejl, reprising her first-leg heroics, opened the scoring for the visitors with a clinical low drive—a moment of déjà vu that threatened to derail the comeback before it began.Yet, unlike their more tentative showing in Denmark, City responded with the ferocity and tactical precision of a prime Barcelona side, pinging the ball with an urgency that sliced through Køge's structure. Within six minutes, they were level, as captain Amy Muir, orchestrating play with the vision of a midfield general, released Nicole Kozlova down the left, the former Køge player delivering a low cross that was ruthlessly dispatched by strike partner Abby Harrison.The match then transformed into a relentless, end-to-end battle worthy of any elite European night; after a couple of vital saves from goalkeeper Lee Gibson denied the Danes, City drew level on aggregate when Emily Whelan powered a header home from Muir's pinpoint cross to the back post. The pendulum, however, swung violently back just two minutes later, as the veteran Nadia Nadim—a player with the big-game pedigree of her Manchester City days—cut in from the left and unleashed a looping, right-footed drive that sailed over Gibson, a stark reminder of the quality coursing through this tie.Glasgow's resilience, a hallmark of champions, shone through once more as Harrison's aerial challenge from a Lisa Evans corner forced an Emma Pelkowski own goal, putting City ahead on the night but still trailing on aggregate. Then, with just six minutes of normal time remaining, a cruel twist: Sarah Thygesen pounced on an Emma Brownlie error to slot home what appeared to be the killer blow for Køge, a moment that felt like a dagger to the heart of Petershill Park.But in a redemption arc fit for cinema, Brownlie rose magnificently to meet another Evans corner in added time, leveling the aggregate score and setting the stage for a grandstand finish. Just as the specter of extra time loomed, substitute Lisa Forrest, with the composure of a seasoned veteran, guided a Sofia Maatta cross over the stranded goalkeeper, triggering scenes of unbridled joy and cementing a victory that was more than just a result—it was a statement. This triumph, securing a place alongside giants like Inter Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt in Friday's draw, is not merely a progression; it is a testament to the indefatigable spirit Leanne Ross is instilling in her squad, a spirit that echoes the greatest comebacks in football lore and proves that in this game, as in life, it is never over until the final whistle truly blows.