Arsenal and Brøndby lead five through
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
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Old hands Arsenal LFC and Brøndby IF came through what looked the two tightest round of 16 ties while holders Olympique Lyonnais, 1. FFC Frankfurt and FC Rossiyanka also advanced.
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Arsenal LFC and Brøndby IF both made light of what looked tough UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 second legs to go through alongside holders Olympique Lyonnais, three-time winners 1. FFC Frankfurt and FC Rossiyanka.
The remaining three ties conclude on Thursday with Göteborg FC 1-0 up at home to Fortuna Hjørring, FC Malmö having a 3-1 advantage against visitors SV Neulengbach and two-time winners 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam defending a 10-0 lead at Glasgow City LFC. The quarter-final draw is on 17 November and the games on 14/15 and 21/22 March.
Arsenal LFC 5–1 Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (agg: 6-2)
Arsenal became the first team to reach ten UEFA women's club quarter-finals after eliminating Vallecano at this stage for the second year running. The Gunners struck on 16 minutes when Katie Chapman played Ellen White in on the right and she crossed for Jayne Ludlow. Ten minutes into the second half Kim Little made it 2-0, Ludlow squaring for a tap-in.
Rachel Yankey effectively sealed matters for the 2007 champions two minutes later when she chased a kick from goalkeeper Emma Byrne and chipped Alicia. The England winger had a fourth ruled out for offside but soon made the next for Jordan Nobbs to slide in. Natalia pulled one back from distance but substitute Danielle Carter's solo effort restored Arsenal's cushion, which remained intact despite the visitors twice hitting the bar in added time.
ASD Torres CF 1-3 Brøndby IF (agg: 2-5)
This seemed the tightest tie after Brøndby's narrow 2-1 win last week and on 20 minutes Silvia Fuselli gave Torres an away-goals lead as she nodded in Sandy Iannella's cross. Julie Rydahl Bukh renewed the two-time semi-finalists' overall advantage seven minutes later when she was sent through by Nanna Christiansen and rounded goalkeeper Arianna Criscione before scoring from a tight angle. Midway through the second half Lise Munk curled a shot into the far corner and with 11 minutes Aivi Luik made certain that Brøndby would end a run of two straight round of 16 exits to reach their sixth European quarter-final.
Paris Saint-Germain FC 2-1 1. FFC Frankfurt (agg: 2-4)
Any hopes PSG had of overturning the 3-0 deficit from their loss in Germany faded in the second minute when Fatmire Bajramaj set up Ana Maria Crnogorčević to wriggle free in the box and produce a fine left-footed finish on her first European start, leaving the home side needing five goals. However, as the half wore on, PSG improved and just before the break Kenza Dali's cross was headed down by Ella Masar for fellow American Alexandra Long to smash in. With 16 minutes left another Long header gave PSG victory on the night, deflecting in off Saki Kumagai following Laure Boulleau's curling cross to clinch a creditable ending to their competition debut.
FC Rossiyanka 3-3 FC Energiya Voronezh (agg: 7-3)
Energiya regained pride in the all-Russian tie but after last week's 4-0 away win Rossiyanka knew their four-year wait to return to the quarter-finals was over. Cristiane and Elena Morozova increased the league leaders' advantage in the first ten minutes and the Brazilian struck again late in the half after Emueje Ogbiagbevha had pulled one back. However, former Rossiyanka pair Elena Terekhova and Elena Danilova scored in the second half and home goalkeeper Elvira Todua did well to keep out Danilova and Verónica Boquete to deny Voronezh a consolation victory.
Olympique Lyonnais 6-0 AC Sparta Praha (agg: 12-0)
Lyon have got to at least the semis for the last four seasons and the defending champions continue to look good for a third straight final after matching their first-leg triumph. Lara Dickenmann struck within three minutes at Stade de Gerland with a delightful chip over goalkeeper Lenka Gazdíková. The introduction of Lotta Schelin during the break helped Lyon find their game, and within five minutes she had a part in two Camille Abily goals and not long after scored herself. Louisa Necib and Laura Georges added further strikes.