By Tony Leighton

Everton strode powerfully into the Women's Champions League knockout stages with 23 unanswered goals in their qualifying group tournament.

The Toffees beat Klaksvik of the Faroe Isles 6-0, Macedonian side ZFK Borec 10-0 and host Lithuanian team Gintra Universitetas 7-0.

Ten players scored goals for Mo Marley's team, with England midfielder Fara Williams one of five to bag three.

Manager Marley said: "We played really well, and as well as scoring lots of goals it was also pleasing to get three clean sheets.

"The opposition wasn't as strong as we'd get in club football back home, but this is our pre-season so I was delighted with our fitness levels and match sharpness.

"It was also nice to share the goals around, that shows the quality of our team work and it's a good sign as we move on in the competition."

The Toffees, last season's Premier League runners-up, will learn the identity of their round of 32 opponents when the draw is made on 19 August.

Premier League champions Arsenal, Uefa Cup winners in 2007, will enter the competition at this stage.

Everton have never reached the last 16 in Europe and Marley said: "It will be a massive challenge against much tougher opposition than we've faced this last week.

"We've let ourselves down a bit in the competition over the last couple of years, so one of our big aims this year is to make much better progress."

While Everton stormed through the group stage Britain's other three contestants were all knocked out, Scottish champions Glasgow City agonisingly so.

They won their first two matches but lost their final outing 4-0 to German side Duisburg to miss out on goal difference by a single goal.

Welsh Premier League champions Swansea City, in their first Euro campaign, lost their first two games but ended with a 2-1 win against Baia Zugdidi of Georgia.

Ireland's Newtownabbey Strikers, hosting the group that included Glasgow, were beaten in all three of their matches.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version