CHELSEA have an unexpectedly good chance to reach the final of the Champions League this afternoon, courtesy of Erin Cuthbert's away goal against holders Lyon last Sunday.
It continued a remarkable season for the 20-year-old, who on Friday was named in the PFA's WSL team of the year.
Both Rose Reilly and Julie Fleeting, the only two women in the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, are ardent admirers of Cuthbert despite – or perhaps because of – their own outstanding careers. All three players hail from Ayrshire and the older two see something of themselves in Cuthbert's skill, passion and determination.
Reilly, of course, won an unofficial World Cup winners' medal with her adopted Italy in 1984, but Fleeting was denied the chance of playing on football's greatest stage. Fittingly, the former striker is an ambassador for the tournament in France and will share the thrill of attending with her husband, Colin, and their three daughters.
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She will do so in the near-certain knowledge that her incredible 116 Scotland goals in just 121 games will never be surpassed. What's even more remarkable is that she achieved this relentless scoring feat in sides which weren't anywhere near the level of the current team, and which never qualified for a major championship despite coming very close in the Euro 2009 play-off against Russia.
What Fleeting does have is a Champions League winners' medal, albeit that in 2007 the tournament was called the Uefa Women's Cup. Her side, Arsenal, beat the Swedish champions Umea 1-0 on aggregate in what was then a two-legged final.
“The first game we were away from home and managed to scrape a win – it was Alex Scott who scored,” Fleeting recalled. “We didn't deserve to leave Sweden a goal up because they were the better team on the day.
“In the second leg Emma Byrne in goal had a great game for us, especially in the last five or 10 minutes when we just hung on with our home crowd behind us. We were relieved to hear final whistle.
“I would be over the moon if Erin could play in the Champions League final because she deserves it. She wants to fight non-stop for every scrap – she will not stop running and she'll tackle anybody to get the ball back.”
READ MORE: Cuthbert hails Love's influence ahead of Euro Under-19 finals
WATCHING Glasgow City demolish Motherwell 8-0 last Sunday, and with Hibernian beating Forfar Farmington by the same margin, two thoughts crossed the mind.
Firstly, and although Celtic would disagree, the top two teams are already on course to do exactly what they have been doing in recent seasons despite losing many of their best players. Namely fight out their own duel for the title.
The second thought was that these one-sided games are poor preparation for Scotland goalkeepers Lee Alexander and Jenna Fife ahead of the World Cup. I can't speak for what happened at Station Park, but Alexander was barely called into action in Springburn.
“It's frustrating – as a goalkeeper you want to be involved as much as possible,” the Scotland No 1 agreed. “You take pride in the saves you make and the clearances.
“I have to make sure Monday to Friday I put extra work in to make sure I'm the same level as everyone else is.”
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Alexander believes that the three current Scotland goalkeepers – Shannon Lynn is the other – are in good hands when away on international duty. Former Hearts, Dundee Utd and St Johnstone keeper Steve Banks is in charge of their routines and Alexander said: “He is really really good.
“He focuses on the small margins which are important to us, and he's opened my eyes to different aspects of goalkeeping. His training is always different and always testing. You come away from it knowing you've worked hard.”
Banks was brought in as the new goalkeeping coach towards the end of the qualifying campaign and so far it looks a very positive move. The recent 1-0 win over Brazil witnessed Alexander having probably her best game at international level.
HUTCHISON Vale, who have lost all five league games this season – scoring no goals and conceding 51 – have forfeited today's SWPL2 game at Kilmarnock. Obvious questions now arise as to whether the Edinburgh club can see the season out.
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