Birmingham City Ladies got a 26th minute goal from Remi Allen and held on for a 1-0 victory over Arsenal Ladies in the only UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinal between clubs from the same country. Allen scored as the result of a strong, patient build up the right side, blasting home a volley off a cross by Chelsea Weston.
The tie will conclude Sunday afternoon at The Hive where Birmingham will be looking to add an away goal that will force Arsenal to win by a margin of at least two goals.
Much of Monday’s match was played in the midfield. The sides were credited with a joint 14 shots–9 for Birmingham, 5 for Arsenal. The visitors did not get a single shot on goal making for a relatively easy clean sheet for Rebecca Spencer.
The all-English quarterfinal was the only close match of the opening legs. Tyreso and Potsdam will play 2nd legs only because they have to. Tyreso leads Nuelengbach 8-0 after hat tricks by both Marta and Christen Press. Potsdam won by 8-0 in their away leg at Torres CF. Holders Wolfsburg topped Barcelona 3-0 with that one heading to Spain.
The Nuelengbach-Tyreso match is Saturday with the other three on Sunday.
