Fortuna positive for Göteborg trip

Fortuna Hjørring may have to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 tie at Göteborg FC but the 2003 runners-up have not given up hope.

Jane Törnqvist's early goal last week in Denmark was enough to give Sweden's European debutants the edge in the tie with their home return to come on Thursday. But Leena Khamis, who ploughed a lone furrow up front at times for Fortuna in Hjorring, thinks a more positive approach could turn things in her team's favour.

"I think we could have done more in attack in the first match, and I definitely expect us to be able to put more pressure on Göteborg in the second leg, even though we are playing away this time," Khamis told UEFA.com. "The early substitution we had to make in the first match [when Elise Kellond-Knight was injured] also harmed our rhythm, and that became important to the outcome too. I definitely still believe we can reach the quarter-finals."

Indeed, Damallsvenskan runners-up Göteborg are far from sure the job is done. Experienced midfielder Ingvild Stensland certainly expects to be put under pressure by Fortuna. "They will probably try more things in attack, but I think we can resist that, just like we resisted their attempts in the first match," the Norwegian international said.

Goalscorer Törnqvist, meanwhile, sees an advantage for Göteborg in the surface at their Walhalla base. "At home we will be playing on our artificial turf which we are used to," she said. "We did not feel all that comfortable on the grass pitch in Hjorring."

Despite that, Fortuna defender Janni Arnth remains optimistic. "I do think we still have a chance," the Danish international said. "Obviously, they have a good chance at their own stadium, but if we move forward a bit more than in the first match we definitely still have a chance."