Glasgow City 1-1 Sporting Clube de Portugal
By Gethin Thurlow for Impetus at Petershill Park (13/11/25)
Above: Natalia Wrobel celebrates scoring the opener Photo: Glasgow City FC
A late Sporting volley left Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross feeling “slightly disappointed”, as both teams head to Portugal next week with nothing to separate them in the round of 16 clash. Despite looking dominant all night, City “couldn’t capitalise on all the possession” – although to outplay such a European opponent like that is a huge statement for Scotland’s only top-flight independent team as they march on towards another SWPL title.
The Teams
After a change-filled team was named on the weekend, Glasgow City’s side looked much more familiar lineup, although Emily Whelan was preferred on the wing for SWPL October player of the month Sofia Maatta.
For the visitors it was also a standard lineup, in their usual 5-3-2 shape with both wing backs looking to get forward and help out in attack. It was just the second start of the season for keeper Anna Wellmann, who has only just recovered from an injury that’s kept her out since joining the club from Bayern in the summer.
The Action
The game started as an even, physical affair. Sporting tried to take advantage of the space wide, with their wing backs while Glasgow focused on their possession based build up style. German referee Fabienne Michel allowed quite a lot of contact go early and this seemed to catch the Portuguese side out a little. Lisa Evans and Emily Whelan on the right wing had early success resulting in a corner and some half chances.
Sporting countered attacked in the early stages, with several big switches in the wing giving them some advantageous attacking overloads. Encarnacao and Santiago as a two up front gave Golob and Smit plenty to think about, and the hosts were lucky to escape on two occasions when poor passing around the back allowed the away side in.
After yet another nice move down the right, Whelans cross was cleared, Evans fizzed it back in to Natalia Wrobel in the middle via a touch from Abi Harrison. Wrobel incredibly spun, beating two defenders in the move and duly thrashed the ball into the net, to the cue of delirium at the ‘Peasy’. Glasgow City were leading in the Europa cup round of 16 and it was a well-deserved lead. Despite the scoreline, Sporting stuck to their guns and continued to push for a quick counter attacking goal.
Glasgow were the team in command however, and the next few chances in the first half all fell to them. The visitors back three was very tight in the box – which is where Leanne Ross likes her team to play the ball around a lot and they were cramped a few times, with Kozlova, Harrison and Whelan all struggling to get shots off cleanly. Lee Gibson hadn’t had any saves to do, but that didn’t meant she was rusty at all and just before the break she tipped a powerful Daniela Arques shot over the bar to preserve the Scottish sides lead.
Abi Harrison played a very good 59 minutes, linking up play well and turning provider for the 3 city players behind various times. Nicole Kozlova however, the hero on Sunday had a frustrating night. It was not the first time a European opponent had clearly planned for the Ukrainian’s ability down the left. Fonseca and Cherry were very much focused on Kozlova when she was on the ball, stopping her from cutting inside on her favoured right foot. This led to some seemingly threatening attacks that ended with Kozlova or Forrest being sat on the ball and unable to make a decisive pass.
If there was any frustration in the first 70 minutes for Leanne Ross it would be that her side didn’t give themselves enough efforts on goal considering the overall dominance.
Sporting’s quality could not be denied though, with Encarnacao delightfully volleying a shot across the box and into the far corner – directly from a corner kick, giving Lee Gibson no chance to get near it. This prompted a mad 10-minute period of total Sporting dominance, with city simply unable to clear the ball effectively. Having led most of the game, the hosts could’ve easily found themselves 2 or 3-1 down at this moment, but they did get through it.
With injury time being called, Glasgow City got their mojo back and entered the box a few times, particularly after one outstanding run from Maatta which began in her own half. They could not craft a good enough opportunity however and the game ended 1-1, leaving it all down to next week’s reunion in Lisbon.
Player of the Match Natalia Wrobel
The scorer of such a huge goal, but this is not all the Polish international did. She absolutely dominated the game particularly in that first half, dibbling brilliantly, fighting hard in that physical midfield and bringing out all the qualities needed for a European night. In her own words, the number 10 “put on a good performance”, although most people would agree that undersold her impact.
Often, the other attacking players around Wrobel can get much of the credit for an outstanding team in terms of goalscoring, but she is always in there, plugging away in the middle, making runs into the box, holding off challenges, doing the dirty which keeps the front four ticking along.
Teams: GLASGOW CITY (4-2-3-1): Gibson (c), Evans, Golob, Smit, Muir, Motlhalo, Lauder, Whelan, Wrobel, Kozlova, Harrison Substitites: Forrest (for Harrison 59’), Maatta (for Whelan 85’), Boyes (for Wrobel 90+3’)
Scorer: 1-0 Wrobel 20’
SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL (5-3-2): Wellmann, Fonseca, Cherry, Barron, Haugen, Armengol, Arques, Perez, Bonsegundo, Santiago, Encarnacao Substitutes: Hernandez Gray (for Armengol 73’), Correia (for Bonsegundo 73’), Cancelinha (for Fonseca 84’), Ana Capeta (for Santiago 84’), Fontemanha (for Perez 88’)
Scorer: 1-1 Encarnacao 75’
Referee: Fabienne Michel (GER)
Attendance: 560
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