By Tony Leighton

Linkopings's Tilda Heimersson battles for the ball with Kim Little

Arsenal face a tough task to remain in the Women's Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Linkopings in the last eight first-leg.

Linda Sallstrom put the visitors in front after 16 minutes, but the Gunners equalised through England striker Ellen White 21 minutes into the second half.

Arsenal boss Laura Harvey said: "We were poor in the first half and could have been more than one goal down.

"But we re-grouped at half-time and in the end we might have won it."

Midfielder Steph Houghton had missed an early Arsenal chance before Sallstrom put the visitors in front with a well-struck long-range effort.

Gunners keeper Emma Byrne then had to make saves from Sallstrom, Kathryn Gill and Ingrid Schjelderup as the Swedes looked for a second goal.

Midfielder Katie Chapman forced Linkopings goalkeeper Sophia Lundgren into her first save of the match in the 56th minute.

But 10 minutes later White scored what could be a key goal in Arsenal's pursuit of a semi-final place, the striker drilling home a fine 20-yard drive.

The Swedes will now be favourites to progress into the last four, however, with the prize an appearance in May's final at Fulham's Craven Cottage.

Harvey added: "We'll have to start better in the second leg than we did today, but if we can do that and put them under pressure then we can get the result we want."

The second leg is set for next Wednesday evening, 23 March, at the Kopparvallen stadium in Atvidaberg.

Everton 1-3 Duisburg

Everton's hopes of reaching the last four of the Women's Champions League for the first time were dealt a massive blow as they went down 3-1 to German team Duisburg in the home leg of their quarter-final.

All of the goals came in a 13-minute second-half rush following a dull opening period.

Duisburg went two goals ahead through Kozue Ando and Alexandra Popp, and although Natasha Dowie pulled the Toffees back into the game Popp struck again in the 65th minute to seal a clear-cut victory.

Everton manager Mo Marley said: "We played quite well and didn't deserve to lose by two goals, but we got punished for defensive errors.

"Credit to Duisburg, they forced us into mistakes, but over the 90 minutes we matched one of the best teams in Europe."

Neither side threatened a first-half goal, but seven minutes after the break Ando broke the deadlock with a well-struck 18-yard shot.

Seven minutes later Popp took advantage of a defensive mix-up to shoot the Germans further in front.

Within 60 seconds Everton replied as Dowie headed home a Jody Handley cross.

But Popp then hit a vital third goal for Duisburg, striking in a low 20-yard drive.

As Everton hit back Dowie twice went close and midfielder Fara Williams forced goalkeeper Christina Bellinghoven into a fine 85th-minute save.

Time ran out for the Toffees, however, and Marley admitted that her team have a mountain to climb in the second leg if they are to reach the semi-finals.

Duisburg, European champions in 2009 and beaten semi-finalists last year, will be clear favourites to clinch a place in the last four when the second leg takes place at the German team's PCC Stadion on Wednesday 23 March.

"It's a huge task for us, but the tie's not dead," said Marley

"We'll learn from this first leg and we'll go over there believing we can get the goals we need to go through."

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