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UEFA CUP: Brøndby progress with Arsenal

/noticias.info/ Danish champions Brøndby IF pipped Arsenal LFC to first place in UEFA Women's Cup second qualifying round Group B4, but both teams had already secured quarter-final places with victories against LADA Toliatti and KS AZS Wroclaw.

Opening wins
Arsenal began the group with a 3-1 win against Wroclaw, Lainne Sanderson and Rachel McArthur giving them a two-goal lead within 23 minutes. Substitute Jayne Ludlow made it three a quarter-hour from the end before Marta Otrebska's consolation. Hosts Brøndby saw off Russian side Toliatti 2-0 Cathrine Paaske Sørensen scoring on 44 and 61 minutes.

Arsenal through
On Matchday 2 former semi-finalists Arsenal and Brøndby both ensured their progress. Arsenal bounced back from the sending off of Kelly Smith after her second booking on the half-hour and captain Faye White's departure with a suspected broken nose early in the second period to win 1-0 with Ludlow's 77th-minute goal.

Wroclaw denied
Polish club Wroclaw held Brøndby until the 64th minute before Stine Kjær Jensen broke the deadlock. Substitute Anna Jørgensen then struck eight minutes later for the hosts, and although Wroclaw substitute Dominika Wylezek pulled one back from the spot, Kjær Jensen converted a penalty of her own to secure a 3-1 victory.

Brøndby prevail
That second penalty ensured Brøndby needed only a draw against Arsenal to finish top and secure seeding for the quarter-final draw. But they went one better against an Arsenal side without suspended Smith and absent White. Kjær Jensen headed in Julie Bukh Rydahl's 65th-minute cross for the only goal, although Rachel Yankey did force a late save from Brøndby's reserve goalkeeper Anna Olsen, stepping in for injured Tine Cederkvist. The result means Arsenal must face 2002 winners 1. FFC Frankfurt over two legs next month, while Brøndby will play Montpellier HSC.

Happy matchwinner
Kjær Jensen said: "I think our win was well deserved. We had the ball for the majority of the match, and we also produced more scoring opportunities - I think we controlled this game, and it is very important that we have won the group. That was our aim."
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