Banyana Banyana’s Linda Motlhalo and Bongeka Gamede’s journey in the UEFA Europa Women’s Cup continues – this after they helped their respective teams into the second qualifying rounds of the competition.
Two-time Women’s Champions League quarter-finalists, Glasgow City from Scotland progressed to this stage after defeating Ireland’s Athlone Town 3-0 twice.
Motlhalo’s side has now been drawn against HB Koge of Denmark, with the first leg scheduled for Wednesday, 8 October away, while the home tie will be played a week later (15/16 October).
”We need to make sure that we go to Denmark and give a good account of ourselves, something I know this group has the ability to do, making sure we’ve got something to fight for when we come back and play the second leg in front of what I’m sure will be a buzzing home crowd,” Glasgow City coach, Leanne Ross told her club’s website.
Gamede’s Danish side Nordsjaelland will face Lithuania’s FC Gintra in the next phase of the competition – the club that once had several South Africans on their books: Jermaine Seoposenwe, Leandra Smeda, Nothando Vilakazi and more recently, the Shamase twins – Thubelihle and S’phumelele.
The Danes will be away in the first leg (7 October) with the reverse fixture penciled in for 15 October.
Nordsjaelland defeated Finland’s KuPS Kuopio in two legs to register an emphatic and dominant 8-2 aggregate triumph. The Danes won 1-3 and 5-1.
The overall winners in the second round of qualifying will progress to the two-legged Round of 16, which will be played in November.
Chuene Morifi’s journey in the competition, however, ended abruptly when her Turkish side ABB Fomget lost 2-3 on penalties to SFK 2000 Sarajevo from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first penalty shootout of the tournament. Both sides were tied at 3-all after extra time in the second leg, while the first leg ended in a goalless draw.
Women’s Europa Cup first qualifying round results:
Second legs
(agg: 0-6)
(agg: 2-8)
ABB Fomget 3-3 SFK 2000 Sarajevo
(aet, agg: 3-3, Sarajevo win 3-2 on penalties)
BIIK-Shymkent 1-3 GC Frauenfussball
(agg: 1-5)
(agg: 0-4)
(agg: 2-6)
(agg: 0-4)
Spartak Subotica 3-0 Partizani
(agg: 8-0)
(agg: 14-0)
(agg: 4-3)
Hibernian 0-1 Inter (agg: 1-5)
UEFA Women’s Europa Cup Time-table:
| 2nd qualifying round | 1st Leg: 7/8 Oct 25 | 2nd Leg: 15/16 Oct 25 | |
| Round of 16 | 1st Leg: 11/12 Nov 25 | 2nd Leg: 19/20 Nov 25 | |
| Quarterfinals | 1st Leg: 11/12 Feb 26 | 2nd Leg: 18/19 Feb 26 | |
| Semi-finals | 1st Leg: 24/25 March 26 | 2nd Leg: 1/2 March 26 | |
| Final | 1st Leg: 25/26 April 26 | 2nd Leg: 2/3 May 26 | |
By Matlhomola Morake
