Zvezda aiming to break new ground
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Article summary
Russian sides have fallen in the UEFA Women's Cup quarter-finals on five occasions but Zvezda-2005 could put an end to that run on Thursday as they take a 4-2 first-leg lead into their meeting with Brøndby IF in Kazan.
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Kazan shift
In five previous seasons a team from Russia has been in the last eight but none went into the second leg ahead. Zvezda do and take a healthy lead back to Russia, if not home as the return is being played at the base of Russian men's champions FC Rubin Kazan because their own Perm stadium 600km away does not comply with UEFA regulations. "Kazan is not Perm, where we have our own fans, our own stadium, and where we're especially strong," coach Alexander Grigoryan said. "That's why we tried to get a positive result in Copenhagen."
Optimism
Not only did Zvezda achieve that, but they did so without suspended defender Valentina Savchenkova, who returns to the fray for the second meeting. "We were clearly the better team in the first leg," Grigoryan said. "I knew a lot about Brøndby. They play the same football as in 2005, when I faced them with LADA Toliatti [losing 1-0]. They haven't changed their style at all. They are an average European side with a winning mentality. I can't call them a top-class team. There are no strong individuals, unlike in our side, for example."
Injury doubts
The Danish champions, who have won two of their previous four UEFA Women's Cup quarter-finals, may beg to differ but they are below full strength, as midfielder Cathrine Paaske Sørensen admits. "Mia Olsen cannot play and there are doubts about a couple of other players, including myself. Our squad is pretty vulnerable to injury this season," the Danish international told uefa.com.
Reasons for hope
Paaske Sørensen is not writing off their chances, though "We still believe," she said. "We simply have to, anything is possible in football! Of course, it will be difficult, having to win by three away from home. It is annoying that we conceded so many at home, not least considering the fact that the Russian team were probably the easiest opponents we could get in the quarter-finals. However, an early goal may help a lot, even if it didn't in the first leg. Furthermore, Zvezda may underestimate us a little having won the first leg by two goals, and that may add to our chances."