Group 6: Odense resist challenge

Denmark’s Odense BK successfully achieved their target of reaching the UEFA Women’s Cup quarter-finals, holding off a spirited challenge from Yugoslavia’s ZFK Masinac-Classic Niš with a crucial last-round win in the Group 6 mini-tournament in Odense.

Odense too strong
The two teams were level with two wins each before the final round of matches. However, Odense proved to be too strong in the end, notching up a 3-1 success to ensure further progress. Odense took the lead after five minutes when Jeanette Johansen flicked on a cross from Camilla Mogensen for the onrushing Merete Pedersen who had no trouble slotting the ball home. Fifteen minutes later Pedersen was again on target from a corner to double the lead. Dragana Todorovisc pulled a goal back with an excellent 30-metre effort. But 12 minutes from time Anja Møller sealed the win when she struck a firm shot past the Masinac goalkeeper.

Eleven-goal romp
Masinac got on the right footing with a resounding 11-0 defeat of Luxembourg’s FC Progrès Niedercorn – Dobrila Randelovic, Dragana Todorovic and Ivana Zukovski all scoring twice.

Odense on form
Odense began their programme with a 3-0 win over stubborn Portuguese rivals Gatões FC in a match made difficult by continous rain. Signe Pedersen gave the hosts the lead when she ran on to a back-heel from Kristina Jakobsen. A minute before the break, Julie Hauge Anderson set up Merete Pedersen who scored easily from close range. Møller completed the scoring with a stinging 35-metre drive.

Lucky thirteen
Niedercorn fared even worse in their second match, conceding 13 goals to Odense, for whom Pedersen scored five times. Masinac were also staking their claim to group supremacy at the same time with a convincing 7-1 beating of Gatões.

Consolation for Gatões
Gatões picked up a consolation win in the final round, thrashing Niedercorn 8-0. The gallant but overpowered Luxembourg outfit ended their programme with a goals tally of 0-32.