Rangers 0-1 Glasgow City
By Gethin Thurlow 29/9/25
Above: Glasgow City celebrate a goal in their last game against Hearts Photo: glasgowcityfc.co.uk
In a tight defensive game, Nicole Kozlova’s late goal meant City leapfrogged opponents Rangers at the top of the SWPL, with six wins from six games.
The Teams
As the two Leanne’s faced each other for the first time, Crichton went with the team she has finally started to settle on since coming in as the new manager. New signing Jess Pegram is a central part of that, as well as Kim Shin-Ji, who was loaned in last month. Pegram was at centre back while Shin-Ji got the start in attacking midfield. Leah Eddie made the bench for the first time all season, giving a boost to a team really struggling with defensive depth.
Leanne Ross was spoilt for choice in attack, and she went for a very aggressive lineup. Abi Harrison has been in brilliant form the last few weeks after signing from Celtic in the summer. She got the nod in the middle, with flexible forwards Nicole Kozlova and Sofia Maatta starting on the wings. Attacking midfielders Linda Motlhalo and Natalia Wrobel completed what was a vicious front five for City.
The Action
This Rangers team has looked susceptible early on throughout the season, and this game was no different. Glasgow City were able to move the ball up to the front three with relative ease, and it was Kozlova on the left that was causing most of the issues. She cutely combined with Harrison on two occasions, but Jenna Fife managed to keep her out both times.
While Glasgow City controlled the ball for the opening period of the game, Rangers still provided a threat on the counter, and Mia McAuley caused the City defence problems, moving past right back Lisa Evans multiple times. However, nothing quite fell to Katie Wilkinson in the middle and the score stayed at 0-0.
The first big chance of the game fell to Harrison, who was played in with a perfectly judged pass from Kozlova. Jenna Fife made a big double save, making herself as wide as possible before jumping back up to make the second save.
Just minutes later, Rangers’ best chance of the half arrived. Mia McAuley was played through one-on-one in similar fashion, and Lee Gibson came flying out to close down the angle, saving well. Lizzie Arnot also had a good chance pushed out for a corner by Gibson.
As the initial pressure from both sides quietened down, it became a very scrappy matchup with both midfields fighting for control. Neither defence could be effectively breached, and chances became rare.
Where there was a City weakness for Rangers to exploit, it was unusually the left side of defence. Captain Amy Muir had a rare off day with the ball at her feet. This is Leanne Ross’s side’s main avenue for playing the ball out from the back, but Muir misplaced some passes, and Rangers pressured that area more and more. McAuley and Shin-Ji were chiefly responsible for this and did a good job to generate turnovers.
This pressing from the hosts took away the out ball from City, and as such Rangers dominated possession in the second half. Despite all of this, they could not break down a solid City defence led by Golob and Smit in the middle.
The minutes ticked down and it felt like a 0-0 draw was the only result achievable. A wide Glasgow City free kick from about 30 yards out didn’t look like it would change that, but they pulled out a genius set-piece routine and Rangers were completely caught out. Lockwood stepped in front of the defence to meet the cross, flicking it over everyone to the back post. Kozlova was patiently waiting there, entirely unmarked, and she made no mistake converting the chance thus securing a massive win for her side.
Player of the Match
Kim Shin-Ji
While she wasn’t on the winning side, the South Korean midfielder was the best player and Rangers probably just edged it overall. She was given freedom to roam anywhere behind Wilkinson and took advantage of all that space. Making good runs forward to spread the defence out, sitting back and controlling the flow of the game and dribbling through the city team were all done by Shin-Ji on Sunday, and she was the flame keeping a quiet Rangers attack alive.
Where this leaves the teams
This is a big blow for Rangers. A draw would’ve been an acceptable result, keeping them two points clear of City having played an extra game. However, the result is crushing. Crichton’s former team now has the chance to put themselves five points clear of their rivals on Wednesday.
Performance wise, this was a solid day for Rangers. The defence looked better than it has for much of the season, and it improves with every game that Pegram and Hill is established as the central defensive pairing.
Goalscoring concerns remain very real however. For a team that scored so freely in 2024/25, Rangers have been outdone this time around by Celtic and Hibernian so far. If the title is going to come down to goal difference, then this is something Leanne Crichton will need to figure out. Perhaps last season’s attack would have scored in this game.
Leanne Ross can be delighted. A perfect start to the season with six wins from six in the league, and with a clearly defined winning method. Stay defensively solid, keep clean sheets and score enough goals to get games over the line. While City did not look incredible throughout the game, you are never going to roll over Rangers.
By hanging in there and getting the job done, Glasgow City proved that they’ve got something about them this year in the crucial title-deciders, much like Hibs of last year.
Speaking of them, it is a titanic matchup on Wednesday night as Glasgow travel to Edinburgh to take on last season’s champions. Win the game, and they will put themselves eight points clear of Hibs and Hearts, and five ahead of the Old Firm rivals.
Teams: RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Fife, Austin, Pegram, Hill, Docherty (c), McLeary, Cruft, McAuley, Shin-Ji, Arnot, Wilkinson. Substitutes: Sabajo (for Austin 62’), Berry (for Arnot 80’).
GLASGOW CITY (4-3-3): Gibson, Evans, Smit, Golob, Muir (c), Motlhalo, Anderson, Wrobel, Maatta, Harrison, Kozlova. Substitutes: Whelan (for Maatta 58’), Forrest (for Harrison 75’), Lockwood (for Wrobel 75’).
Scorer: Kozlova 85’.
Referee: Abbie Hendry.
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