Modest Brunozzi hails defence

ASD CF Bardolino Verona goalkeeper Carla Brunozzi preferred to praise her defence after the victory against Brøndby IF secured a UEFA Women's Cup semi-final place despite saving two penalties in the shoot-out.

Final four place
Brunozzi's error from a routine cross in last week's first leg looked to have handed a 1-0 initiative to the Danish champions, who reached the semi-finals last year. But after Alessia Tuttino's strike levelled the aggregate score in the return, the 31-year-old went on to became the heroine for Renato Longega's side as they reached the last four for the first time, where they will meet 1. FFC Frankfurt in spring.

'Great achievement'
However Brunozzi instead picked out the performances of her team-mates, saying: "It was a great achievement to keep a clean-sheet especially when Brøndby had four forwards on the pitch in the latter stages of the game. The defence really did a great job."

'Important' saves
Brøndby pushed forward for the remainder of the game in search of a winner but could not find a way past an inspired Brunozzi, whose extra-time save from a deflected Signe Pedersen attempt was particularly memorable. "It's difficult to say which of my saves was the most important," she said. "However keeping out Pedersen's shot in extra-time gave us a lot of confidence, I think we then understood that we could go on and win the tie. Then in the penalty shoot-out I had a feeling that I would save Pedersen's effort, I don't know why. And I did, it was a great feeling."

'Great work'
Longega was in similarly jubilant mood, saying: "We achieved something special and I think everything came on the back of the home defeat. The team was excellent in the way they transformed the bitterness from that defeat into fighting spirit for the return. Everyone gave their very best on the pitch and the victory is the reward for the great work we have put in this year."