Victory in Eindhoven provides a strong foundation

On Wednesday evening, HB Køge Women were in action in the third and final qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, facing PSV Eindhoven. The first leg was played in the Netherlands, with the home side also considered the bookmakers’ favourites to come away with the victory. The Swans, however, had other ideas.

The match was evenly contested from the start, and it was clear that two strong teams were facing each other. Much of the first half was played between the two penalty areas, with the home side coming closest through a couple of long-range efforts, both of which went over the bar.

For a long time, it looked as though the teams would head into the break goalless, but shortly before half-time, the Swans won a corner. Captain Mille Gejl delivered the ball towards Rikke Marie Madsen on the edge of the box, who headed it back into the area, where Kyra Carusa was able to guide it into the net. That gave HB Køge Women a 1-0 lead as the teams headed into the break shortly afterwards.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first. Two evenly matched teams both looking to play football, but with clear-cut chances at a premium.

The home side did, however, have a big opportunity to equalise after HB Køge lost possession in midfield, allowing PSV to launch a counter-attack. A PSV player broke through and fired a low, powerful effort towards goal, but Alberte Vingum produced an excellent save with her foot to deny the equaliser.

PSV naturally pushed for an equalising goal in the closing stages, but the Swans held firm. HB Køge Women can therefore return home to Køge with a 1-0 victory and a strong position ahead of the return leg on Wednesday, September 2 at 19:00.

Tickets for the return leg are available at hbkogew.eventii.dk.

PSV Eindhoven 0-1 HB Køge Women
0-1 Kyra Carusa (45’)

HB Køge Women starting XI
1. Alberte Vingum
2. Maria Uhre
3. Macy Schultz
7. Kyra Carusa
9. Nadia Nadim
11. Cassandra Korhonen
17. Rikke Marie Madsen
19. Signe Markvardsen
23. Mille Gejl
28. Simone Boye
33. Jereko

HB Køge Women substitutions
Sarah Thygesen for Cassandra Korhonen (69’)
Zuzanna Witek for Nadia Nadim (81’)
Laura Hermann for Mille Gejl (81’)
Emelía Òskarsdóttir for Rikke Marie Madsen (90’)

PSV Eindhoven 0-1 HB Køge Women
UEFA Women’s Champions League, third qualifying round – first leg
Wednesday, August 26, 19:00
TenCate Stadion De Herdgang