Ten spots up for grabs
Monday, August 13, 2007
Article summary
The last ten second qualifying round places will be filled on Tuesday, with ASD CF Bardolino Verona and Everton LFC among clubs facing decisive games.
Article body
The last ten places in the UEFA Women's Cup second qualifying round will be filled on Tuesday night and in most of the 20 fixtures there is something at stake. Iceland's Valur Reykjavik have wrapped up first qualifying round Group A2, but the other nine pools are up for grabs along with an extra berth for the runners-up with the best record against the teams finishing first and third in their pool.
Bardolino in form
Along those last-day showdowns is the meeting of Spain's Athletic Club BFKEB and Italian champions ASD CF Bardolino Verona in Group A5 in Slovenia. Athletic began by beating hosts ŽNK KRKA Novo Mesto 4-0 and on Saturday struck 16 without replay against Maltese debutants Birkirkara FC, Erika claiming seven goals to take her tournament tally to eight. But it is Bardolino who will only need a draw on Tuesday to move through to a group containing holders Arsenal LFC, one of the top five seeds given byes, as the Verona team had already defeated Birkirkara 16-0 and beat KRKA 5-0 at ther weekend.
'Good game' predicted
Bardolino striker and Italy captain Valentina Boni said: "We started the game a bit slowly, but during the match we found our rhythm and played well. Our opponents were well-prepared physically, but tactically we were better. If we continue like this in the decider against Athletic, it should be a really good game."
Everton in form
In Group A1, Everton LFC are making their competition debut having finished runners-up in England last season behind Arsenal. And with a sprinkling of players set to represent England in the FIFA Women's World Cup, Everton have made a fine start to European football. They overcame Lithuanian hosts Gintra Universitetas on Thursday and two days later beat Glentoran Belfast United 11-0, Amy Kane scoring a hat-trick.
'Excellent football'
A draw against Switzerland's FFC Zuchwil 05 will take Everton through to meet, among others, 1. FFC Frankfurt and Valur, and Toffees manager Mo Marley said: "We played some excellent football. Our passing and movement [on Saturday] was first class. It has been difficult to prepare for this competition because we didn't really know what we could come up against but the attitude of the squad has been fantastic."
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