There was little drama to the women’s UEFA Champions League action Wednesday where four teams advanced to the quarterfinals. None of the four teams who started the day in front on aggregate were ever seriously threatened.
In a battle between former champions Malmo and current champions Wolfsburg, the German side rolled to a 3-1 victory to win the aggregate 5-2. Lena Goessling and Luisa Wensing converted inside the opening half hour to thwart what chance Malmo had. Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir grabbed an away goal for Malmo in the 71st but they could do no more. Martina Muller added the final goal near full time.
Zorky FC loaded up on American players in anticipation of the Champions League, but their run ended Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to Birmingham City. They had lost the home leg 2-0. The hosts put the clamps on almost immediately with a 4th minute goal by Isobel Christiansen and a 9th minute goal from Kirsty Linnett. Zorky actually leveled the match for the day through Maria Ruiz and Sky Blue’s Ashley Nick, but the hosts scored three unanswered in the second half. Kerys Harrop ended the drama followed by another from Linnett and one from Melissa Lawley.
Barcelona had no trouble traveling to Switzerland where they crunched Zurich 3-1 to win the aggregate 6-1. Marta Torrejon was guilty of an own goal that allowed Zurich to bring the tie within a goal, but Ruth Garcia restored the two-goal cushion heading to the half. Marta Corredera and Jelena Cankovic finished the scoring.
Arsenal got something to think about when Suzanne Lappin scored for Glasgow City in the 2nd minute to make it 3-1 on aggregate, but order was restored in the 12th on Rachel Yankey’s goal that sent the English side off and running. Jordan Nobbs and former WPS player Alex Scott added goals to make a 6-2 aggregate victory for Arsenal.
The remaining quarterfinal spots will be determined Thursday.
