The eight quarterfinal spots in the 2015-2016 UEFA Women’s Champions League were booked on Wednesday and Thursday. Here is a look:
Frankfurt 0, Lillestrom SK 2, aet (2-2 aggregate, 5-4 on penalties): Frankfurt were saved in penalties after a shock 2-0 loss at home leveled the tie and forced extra time. The drama began early when Emma Lundh signaled game on with a goal in the 12th minute. But Sherida Spitse had her 29th minute penalty saved, a moment that stood up until the 70th minute when captain Marita Lund leveled it. Frankfurt managed 31 shots over the two hours but could not get one by Gudbjorg Gunnarsdottir. But the German side made good on all five spot kicks, the winner coming from Mandy Islacker after Spitse amazingly missed again in the final round for Lillestrom.
Paris Saint-Germain 0, Orebro 0 (1-1 aggregate, 1-0 away goals): There were 28 shots taken in the match. Paris Saint-Germanin took them all yet failed to find the back of the net and were left to escape on away goals following a 1-1 draw in the opening leg in Sweden.
Wolfsburg 2, Chelsea 0 (4-1 aggregate): Vanessa Bernauer’s 12th minute goal gave Wolfsburg a cushion on the aggregate and Claire Rafferty’s own goal in the 68th helped finish off England’s participation in this year’s Champions League. Twenty-year old Merle Frohms kept the clean sheet.
Lyon 6, Atletico Madrid 0 (9-1 aggregate): Lyon made short work of the Spanish side with a half dozen goals to blow open the aggregate. Ada Hegerberg and Lotta Schelin both scored twice including the opening pair in the 23rd and 25th minutes respectively. Both would score again in the second half. Saki Kumagai made it 3-0 in first half stoppage time and substitute Elodie Thomis added the other tally.
Barcelona 1, Twente 0 (2-0 aggregate): Olga Garcia’s 25th minute goal held up as the difference on the day as Barcelona carried Spanish hopes into the quarterfinals with a hard-fought victory.
Fortuna 1, Brescia 1 (1-2 aggregate): Sky Blue’s Nadia Nadim leveled the tie in the 58th minute but Daniela Sabatino converted in the 89th minute to ward off extra time and send Brescia to the last eight. Pride keeper Aubrey Bledsode started her fourth straight Champions League affair for Fortuna.
THURSDAY UPDATE:
Zvezda 2005 0, Slavia Praha 0 (1-2 aggregate): A scoreless draw on Thursday ensured that the Czech side advanced to the final eight after a 2-1 win in Leg 1.
Rosengård 5, Verona 1 (8-2 aggregate): Marta scored a hat trick — with all goals coming in the second half — in the second leg as Swedish champions Rosengård rolled into the quarterfinals.
