Torres realise their potential

ASD Torres Calcio are on the verge of the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals after a 4-1 win at SV Neulengbach and team manager Michele Dettori admitted the margin of their victory in Austria took them by surprise.

Ianella treble
Last season's Italian runners-up went into the round of 16 first leg without key forward Patrizia Panico through suspension but were 3-0 up after 27 minutes, two Sandy Iannella goals sandwiching a Silvia Fuselli effort. Nadine Novotny pulled one back two minutes from half-time but within seconds Ianella had completed her hat-trick and Torres are well-placed to go through to the 20 November draw after Wednesday's return in Sardinia.

Realising potential
Dettori told uefa.com: "We didn't expect such a win but we have the potential within our team to win games well. Our players are in very good shape; we won 4-1 tonight without one of our best players and one of the best strikers in Europe, Patrizia Panico. We also won tonight in very tough conditions; the pitch was very muddy and wet, so I am happy with tonight's performance."

Goalscorers praised
There was praise for the goalscorers. "Ianella is a very good player who has the potential to become a top European player," Dettori said. "She has great technique and vision. The same goes for Fuselli who set up some of the goals tonight and scored one herself." However, there was a warning: "The tie is not yet over as the second leg will be difficult; the Austrians have some very good players."