by Olaf Goldbecker
Traditionally the first leg of the knockout stage has very few surprises. The quality differences between the teams is usually too big, only a few strong match-ups are drawn. In one of those, Tyresö from Sweden had to face France’s Paris St Germain. Christen Press was the game winner for the Swedes as she scored both goals in a 2-1 win. Still, the margin is small before heading into the rematch next week.
Also the second Swedish team, LdB FC Malmö, had bad luck with the draw as they face Norwegian champion Lilleström SK. Therese Sjögran, Manon Melis and Ramona Bachmann cared for a good 3-1 road win, Emilie Haavi scored the equalizer in between. The matches which probably had the third and fourth highest quality on paper, featured the two Danish teams. Brondby had to travel to Barcelona and returned with a scoreless draw. Fortuna Hjorring’s journey led to UPC Tavagnacco in Italy. Evertyhing seemed to be on track for the northern Danes when Florentina Spanu and Janni Arnth scored a 2-0 lead, but the Italians turned it around. Elisa Camporese, Alessia Tuttino and substitute Maria Zuliani cared for a 3-2 win, which still gives Hjorring solid chances to advance.
Defending champion VfL Wolfsburg had an easy march in Pärnu (Estonia), 14-0 was the final score. Lina Magull (4), Conny Pohlers and Martina Müller (3 each) put themselves high up in the striker list. Runners up Olympique Lyon did not have an easy draw at Twente Enschede but solved it in a sovereign way. Louisa Necib, Saki Kumagai, Laetitia Tonazzi and Lotta Schelin cared for a 4-0 scoreline.
“American club” Apollon Limassol that features Michelle Betos, Nikki Krzysik, Tina DiMartino, Joanna Lohman, Lianne Sanderson, Sinead Farrelly and Jasmyne Spencer disappointed in a 1-2 loss v Austrian runner-ups SV Neulengbach.
All scores:
MTK Budapest (Hungary) v Turbine Potsdam (Germany) 0-5
Apollon Limassol (Cyprus) v SV Neulengbach (Austria) 1-2
Konak Belediyesi (Turkey) v Unia Racziborcz (Poland) 2-1
Lilleström SK (Norway) v LdB FC Malmö (Sweden) 1-3
SSHVSM Kairat (Kazakhstan) v Arsenal LFC (England) 1-7
Spartak Subotica (Serbia) v Rossyanka (Russia) 2-4
Pärnu (Estonia) v VfL Wolfsburg (Germany) 0-14
PK 35 Vantaa (Finland) v Birmingham City (England) 0-3
Thor/KA (Iceland) v FC Zorkyi (Russia) 1-2
Standard Liege (Belgium) v Glasgow City (Scotland) 2-2
SV Spratzern (Austria) v Torres Calcio (Italy) 2-2
FC Zurich (Switzerland) v Sparta Prague (Czech Rep) 2-1
FC Barcelona (Spain) v Brondby IF (Denmark) 0-0
FC Twente Enschede (Netherlands) v Olympique Lyon (France) 0-4
Tyresö FF (Sweden) v Paris St Germain (France) 2-1
UPC Tavagnacco (Italy) v Fortuna Hjorring (Denmark) 3-2