Manchester City Women into Champions League semi-finals after 1-0 win over Fortuna Hjorring
Friday 31 March 2017 07:51, UK
Lucy Bronze headed the only goal as Manchester City Women eased into the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Fortuna Hjorring.
With men's boss Pep Guardiola watching at the City Football Academy, England international Bronze netted after 41 minutes to earn City a 2-0 aggregate victory over the Danish champions.
The Women's Super League champions, having become only the third English side to reach the last four of the competition, will now take on holders Lyon for a place in the final in Cardiff.
The result was rarely in doubt, with City not looking like relinquishing the first-leg advantage world player of the year Carli Lloyd secured when the sides met last week.
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They made a positive start with Jill Scott combining well with Jane Ross and forcing Fortuna goalkeeper Maria Christensen to save with her feet.
Lloyd went close after exciting the crowd with a powerful run through the Fortuna defence but the American World Cup-winner dragged her shot across goal.
City's Kosovare Asllani then headed over before Fortuna had their first chance when Camilla Kur Larsen shot straight at Karen Bardsley.
Caroline Rask then had two efforts in quick succession for the visitors but Steph Houghton blocked the first and the second was driven narrowly wide.
Houghton worked the keeper at the other end from a free-kick before Bronze's header looped over Christensen from a Melissa Lawley corner to give City the lead.
That put City in complete command and they cruised in the second half, with Demi Stokes driving wide and Ross shooting over.
With Fortuna offering little in reply, the hosts could afford to ease up but they threatened again in the latter stages as Lawley shot at Christensen and Lloyd forced another save with a header.
