Glasgow City 2-1 Celtic: Alonso 'never expected' goalkeeper blow
Celtic had to play defender Kelly Clark in goals for 78 minutes after injury set-back
Celtic being forced to play without a goalkeeper for 78 minutes was one of “three key moments” that cost his side believes Fran Alonso as they lost 2-1 to Glasgow City to all but end their Champions League qualifying hopes.
Defender Kelly Clark had to go in goals after Anna Vincenti’s injury at Petershill Park on Sunday, with no other fit goalkeepers in the squad.
City led when Priscilla Chinchilla scored after Alonso felt his side should have had a free-kick in the build up, and Clare Shine opened up a two-goal lead before Charlie Welling’s second-half counter.
“I cannot blame the players, I thought their attitude was perfect,” Celtic head coach Alonso told Anyone’s Game.
“Considering the wind and the dimensions of the pitch, I thought we played okay football. I think we played better than our opponents but of course they won the game and that’s the most important thing.”
Celtic are now 10 points behind second-place Rangers, who have two games in hand over Alonso’s side. City have played the same number of games but are a point further away.
The Parkhead side already had goalkeeper issues with Chloe Logan and Rachael Johnstone out.
“We always joke about that [Clark playing in goal], but we knew if something happened she would go,” said Alonso.
“I never expected her to go in goal, especially not against Glasgow City.”
The second key moment came when Glasgow City took the lead just before the half-hour mark through Chincilla, and the Celtic manager believes a failure award a free-kick to Celtic in the build-up had an impact on the final result.
“For me it’s a very, very clear free-kick,” he said. “The whole team was complaining that it was crystal clear, then they score from it.”
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