Group 2: Toulouse edge out Lazio

Goal difference proved decisive in UEFA Women's Cup Group 2 as a final-day 9-0 victory helped Toulouse FC of France edge out Italian hosts S.S. Lazio Femminile.

Maugeais winner
Toulouse, semi-finalists last season, were given a tough opening test in Rome by 1. FC Femina Budapest of Hungary, and had to wait until the fifth minute of added time for Gaëlle Maugeais to secure a dramatic win.

Debutants score five
Lazio, making their competition debut, found things more comfortable against Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, securing a 5-0 win. Forwards Patrizia Panico, Teresina Lina Marsico and Tatiana Zorri made it 3-0 by half-time, the margin increased after the break by another from Marsico and a goal for Adele Frollani.

Top two draw
Budapast began the second round of fixtures with a 4-0 win against Haifa, but the other game was the group highlight, as Lazio took on Toulouse. However, neither side was able to win, as Lilas Traïkia's opener just after the hour for Toulouse was cancelled out on 67 minutes by Marsico's equaliser.

Goal difference at stake
With the last set of fixtures played simultaneously, Lazio and Toulouse knew that victory might not be enough Lazio began with a four-goal edge over the French team, and also outdid Toulouse's performance against Budapest, beating the Hungarian outfit 5-2.

Joy for Toulouse
However, Lazio were to regret those two conceded goals as Toulouse pipped them to the quarter-finals with a 9-0 win against Haifa, to give them a margin of two goals over the Rome team and a last-eight tie against 2001/02 finalists Umeå IK of Sweden.