Kayleigh van Dooren's Goals Lead Twente to Victory Over Celtic

Kayleigh van Dooren scored two clinical goals to lead Twente to victory against Celtic in their Women’s Champions League debut at New Douglas Park. This marked Celtic’s first loss of the season under manager Elena Sadiku. The Scottish champions began confidently but struggled against Twente’s experience, managing only three shots on target from ten attempts throughout the match.

Twente’s opener came just before halftime when a long ball bypassed Celtic’s defense, prompting goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty to rush out allowing Van Dooren to calmly lob the ball into the net. Celtic not accustomed to falling behind this season, aimed to respond but missed opportunities by Murphy Agnew and Caitlin Hayes prevented them from equalizing.

Kayleigh van Dooren sealed the victory late in the match with a powerful strike leaving Celtic to reflect on what could have been. The match underscored the fine margins that often define high-level football. Despite solid performances from Daugherty and center-back Hayes, a miscommunication led to the first goal showcasing the sharpness required at this elite level.

Missing key players including striker Amy Gallacher and winger Lucy Ashworth-Clifford impacted Celtic’s attacking options, although summer signings like Shannon McGregor, Morgan Cross and Emma Lawton demonstrated their readiness for top competition. Despite the disappointment of missing out on points in what appeared to be their most manageable group fixture, Sadiku remained optimistic.

She praised her team’s effort and the experience gained from competing against seasoned opponents. Midfielder Natalie Ross echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to create chances and emphasizing that playing against top-tier teams would only benefit Celtic in the long run. As they prepare for a challenging encounter with Real Madrid next week, the lessons learned from this match will be invaluable.