Taking European strides towards the very top of the Women's game, Manchester City played host to Fortuna Hjorring last night in a quarter-final showdown that saw them reach two semi-finals in five days, making history in the process.
Having reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday, the momentum was with Manchester City's women as they headed into this tie though the short turnaround time to find their feet would have naturally added a healthy dose of pressure. To their advantage, a 0-1 win on Danish soil in the first leg of this Champions League double header meant they squad opened up this fixture with the upper hand as well as the home support - of which a strong crowd was out on show. 
A cagey affair that had each team pressing, it was just before the interval when City made their move despite the Danish keeper Maria Christensen proving an efficient force between the sticks. Lucy Bronze was most alert when a cross came calling and she duly headed City into the lead and extended the aggregate score. The ever dangerous Carli Lloyd was a presence throughout and indeed had opportunities to do further damage to the scoreline but in the end, the single goal was enough to send Man City on their way through to the semi-final for a feast of a fixture with reigning champs, Lyon. 
What's more, a record attendance (including an onlooking Pep Guardiola) in Manchester makes for great reading as the eyes on the Women's game grow. Long may it continue and onwards up the table of elite teams as Man City are lead the charge on a European adventure that could well culminate with a final in Cardiff.
Photography by Ross Cooke for SoccerBible
