By Tony Leighton

Scott's second-half goal made sure of Everton's progress

Everton reached the Women's Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after easing to a 1-1 second-leg draw with Danish side Brondby IF.

The Toffees never approached the heights they reached in a convincing 4-1 first-leg win but were happy to settle for a 5-2 aggregate victory.

Brondby went ahead through an early Sanne Troelsgaard goal but Jill Scott levelled in the second half.

"We won the tie with our performance in the first leg," manager Mo Marley said.

"We were a bit apprehensive in the first half and were a bit lucky to be only one goal down at half-time.

"But we were better in the second half and in the end it was job done.

"To reach the last eight for the first time is unbelievable. It's fairy tale stuff but a great achievement for the club."

Marley's team had to fight back after going behind in the 11th minute, midfielder Troelsgaard driving a low 18 yard shot just inside the far post.

As the home side hit back striker Natasha Dowie had a 15-yard shot saved by Brondby goalkeeper Stina Petersen, then winger Toni Duggan headed a simple chance wide.

In the 40th minute Everton keeper Rachel Brown was lucky to collect only a yellow card for handling the ball outside her area as striker Kur Larsen tried to race past her.

And from the resultant free-kick, taken by Troelsgaard, it took a headed goal-line clearance by midfielder Fara Williams to prevent a second goal for the visitors.

Goal-line stops at the other end then thwarted central defender Fern Whelan and left-back Rachel Unitt in the final minute of the first half.

Midfielder Brooke Chaplen blazed a 12-yard effort over the bar as Everton pressed in the early stages of the second period.

The Merseysiders finally drew level in the 71st minute, midfielder Scott scoring from 30 yards after latching on to a hurried clearance by Petersen.

That restored the home side's three-goal aggregate advantage and effectively killed off the Brondby challenge.

Thirty seconds after the goal substitute Michelle Hinnigan almost doubled the on-the-night lead with a 20-yard drive that cannoned off the near post.

Everton's success came six hours after Arsenal had completed a 4-3 aggregate victory over Spanish side Ray Vallecano.

It meant that, for the first time, England will have two representatives in the quarter-finals of a European competition.

Marley added: "It's brilliant that we've got two clubs in the last eight, and what a final in London it would make if we could both get there.

"Having come this far for the first time though, we're going to be the babies of the competition from this point on.

"We're with the cream of the crop, but whoever we get drawn against in the next round - bring it on!"

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version