Women’s Euro WInners Cup loses eight more teams as the tournament tightens
The Women’s Euro WInners Cup lost eight more teams today, leaving another eight with high hopes of wins tomorrow in the quarter-finals.
Match by match, this is waht happened in the Round of 16
CSO Amneville BS vs KU AZS UAM Poznan
Following their successful campaign in the group stages, French side CSO Amneville BS were drawn against KU AZS UAM Poznan from Poland. Amneville, however, went into the game with two previous wins under their belts and therefore were looking to build momentum against a Polish side that had only won one out of their three games.
The French started very strongly, with Gomes putting away a hat-trick within the first period. From that point on, the frustrated Poles were playing catch up and never got back on level terms, despite a spirited flurry of goals in the closing minutes.
Higicontrol Melilla vs CFP Carceres Femenino
The two Spanish sides, Higicontrol Melilla and CFP Carceres, met on the rainy sand today with one thing in mind – a place in the quarter-finals of the Euro Winners Cup. However the game remained goalless for the whole first period and it took Fragoso to break the deadlock in favour of CFP Carceres in the second period, which they lead at the whistle after a flurry goals from both sides.
In the third period, Higicontrol snatched an equaliser to force the game to extra time. The stakes were high and neither side slipped up in terms of conceding and only one option remained to decide the winner. With Higicontrol only able to convert one of their three penalties, Carceres took the victory and move on to the next round.
AIS Playas de San Javier vs Lokrians Beach Club
AIS Playas de San Javier finished their group joint first place, in terms of points, with two other teams. Out of the three, they had superior goal difference and therefore topped the group. Their opponents, Lokrians Beach Club form Italy, topped their group too, in very similar circumstances, so this game had the makings of a close and entertaining contest, and close is how it started.
The first period finished with the Spanish just edging a 2-1 lead. But this small advantage grew and grew into what swiftly become a thrashing. After the three periods of time were up, AIS Playas de San Javier had put ten past their Italian opponents, who hadn’t managed to build on their early goal.
Lady Grembach EE Lodz vs Madrid CFF
With the number of spaces remaining in the competition getting smaller and smaller, the pressure was on for Lady Grembach EE Lodz when they faced a Madrid team who were wanting to make up for some disappointing performances in the group stages, seeing them finish third and just clinch entry into the last 16. As games often do when the stakes are high, this fixture took a while to get going.
The first goal went in late on, when Madrid grabbed the opener in the closing stages of the first period. After gaining momentum the game warmed up and five more goals were scored, leaving us tied at full time. It was an extra time goal from Stodulska that took the points in the end for the Polish side, who go through to the final eight.
WFC Zvezda vs HTC BS Zwolle
Going into this game, both WFC Zvezda (Russia) and HTC BS Zwolle (Netherlands) had had fairly similar tournaments up until this point, in that they both finished as runners-up of their group and on six points. However, WFC Zvezda had won half of their points in extra time meaning that they were yet to be beaten in the competition.
A Gorhskova brace meant that they led going into the second period and seemed to be controlling the game. The scoreline didn’t change during the second period but the third held goal-galore and the Dutch sprung into life and scored two goals, but unfortunately for them, Gorhskova completed her hat-trick assisting her team in bringing their final count to six. A comfortable win in the end for the Russians.
Roses Platja vs Sporting CP
Roses Platja came into the round of 16 stage of the competition with a better group stage record that their Portuguese opponents, Sporting CP. But the group stages were over and now a loss would be fatal for either one of these teams’ Euro Winners Cup ambitions.
Throughout the first period Roses looked the stronger of the two, enjoying a 2-1 advantage, which they went on to increase with two, almost identical, free kicks from Carla and Chivi also bagging herself a brace. Sporting are out of the competition, and Roses proceed to the last eight.
Portsmouth Ladies vs ASD Lady Terracina
Portsmouth Ladies were in unstoppable form heading into this game against ASD Lady Terricina from Italy. Not only had they won all of their games and topped the group, they were averaging over 11 goals a game. Pompey were going to take some stopping.
The first period, however, kicked off slowly, ending with each team having netted just once and it seriously looked like the Brits were running out of ideas. Portsmouth snuck into the lead as the second period came to a close but with only a slender one there was still everything to play for in the third stage. And play Portsmouth did, extending their advantage to a more comfortable 4-2 just in time for the final whistle, which confirmed their place in the final eight.
Beachkick Ladies Berlin vs BSC Havana Shots Aargau
The German team, Beachkick Ladies Berlin, finished joint on points with Lokrians at the top of Group B, but today’s opponents, despite being last year’s defending champions, finished bottom of their group, and were arguably lucky to still be in the competition.
With neither team eager to leave their defence exposed, the match was slow to get off the mark, with the first goal coming from Havana Shots’ Genovesi in the second period. This now put the pressure on the Germans to find a reply. Unfortunately for them it never came and in the dying stages of the game they conceded a second goal, sealing the passage of the reigning champions into the quarter finals for a second year.
For full results, fixtures and standings, click here
