Umeå lead rush to quarter-finals

Frankfurt relief
While 2008 runners-up Umeå, semi-finalists Lyon and Bardolino and quarter-finalists Arsenal all won their opening games on Thursday, Frankfurt were beaten 1-0 by Russia's Zvezda-2005 so needed a good result against Norwegian Group B1 hosts Røa IL. Even though Meike Weber and India Trotter had joined Frankfurt's long injury list, Birgit Prinz put them ahead on 20 minutes and Sarah Schatton added two more goals before the break, with Marie Knutsen making it 3-1 with a second-half consolation. Røa, who beat Glasgow City LFC 6-1 on Thursday, are third behind Frankfurt on head-to-head record after Zvezda defeated the Scottish champions 1-0 with an 88th-minute goal from their hero against Frankfurt, Hanna Kostraba, to move three points clear. Competition debutants Zvezda only need a point against Røa on Tuesday to move through, while Frankfurt are certain of progress if they defeat Glasgow.

Duo through
While both qualifying places are up for grabs in that section, all that remains in the other groups played today is to decide who will finish first or second. In Group B2, hosts Umeå moved on to six points with a 6-0 win against Kazakhstan's Alma KTZH. All the goals came before the break, two Marta strikes sandwiching a Ramona Bachmann hat-trick and Johanna Rasmussen scoring the sixth. That took them through with Bardolino, who earlier had seen off Valur Reykjavík 3-2 to also move on to six points. Alice Parisi gave the Italian side an early lead and Venusia Paliotti made it two before Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir pulled one back from the penalty spot close to half-time. With 16 minutes left, Bardolino substitute Cristiana Girelli found the target, and although Vidarsdóttir took her competition tally to eleven for the season, Valur could not get the equaliser they needed.

Lyon progress
Umeå lead Bardolino on goal difference ahead of their Tuesday meeting, and in Group B3 hosts Lyon similarly lead Arsenal – with the winners of their pool meeting the Group B2 runners-up and vice versa in the quarter-finals. Lyon defeated FC Zürich Frauen 7-1 at Stade de Gerland. Sandrine Brétigny struck on two minutes for Lyon and Katia Cilene Teixeira Da Sil claimed the second before scoring again after Carmen Imhasly had pulled one back. After the break, Lotta Schelin was on target twice, Katia completed her hat-trick and Camille Abily made it seven.

Arsenal advance
Arsenal gained a 6-0 win against Austria's SV Neulengbach having got off to a good start with goals from Julie Fleeting and Kim Little before the break. Karen Carney added two more before Yvonne Tracy and Gemma Davison completed the scoring and Arsenal will now aim to avenge last season's quarter-final defeat by Lyon that ended their reign as champions. Group B4 continues in Ukraine on Sunday with FCR 2001 Duisburg and Brøndby IF having won their Friday openers. Duisburg play UD Levante and Brøndby meet Naftochimik.