We have a real opportunity

30 September 2011

We have a real opportunity

After conceding a late penalty Bristol Academy will travel to Voronezh next week knowing the tie is very much still in the balance.

After a slow start the Academy went on to create a number of scoring opportunities in the first period and after Jess Fishlock opened the scoring just after t the hour it looked as though the Academy would see out the match.However with seven minutes remaining a goal line scramble after a corner resulted in a penalty being awarded and Bristol’s Jemma rose seeing red for hand ball on the goal line. Italian International Pamela Conti stepped up to put the penalty away and give Voronezh an important away goal.

“We played a good game tonight and I am very proud of the players. We knew before the game to get the result we needed to take to Russia every player would have to work incredibly hard and you could see in the last ten minutes when we were down to ten the character of the players shining through to not concede and not be beaten. All the players stood up to be counted tonight and were and the team effort was what pleased me most we looked a real compact unit and were always a real threat when we moved into their defensive third.

“It took us a bit of time to get into the game and you could see some of the players were nervous early on but once we settled we became a vey compact unit and created some great opportunities to score. I felt we should have come in ahead at half time with the way we had played but we got the goal and when we scored I felt with the determination and organisation we had we wouldn’t concede and it took a scrappy corner for them to win their penalty. After the equaliser we had to show great character to make sure we didn’t concede again and put us in a good position going into the second leg.”

It is a quick turnaround for the Academy now as they face Voronezh again in the second leg on Wednesday. The team will spend some time recovering before they meet up again on Sunday to travel to Heathrow then fly to Voronezh via Moscow.

“We have given ourselves a real opportunity to achieve something special next week and that was the objective tonight. The group will leave the ground tonight knowing we can expect another massive challenge but also safe in the knowledge that we have shown enough tonight to be confident we can go to Russia and get the result we need. Voronezh know we will create chances and have an incredible counter attack potential, this gives us the belief we can go there knowing if we keep a clean sheet we have great potential to score the goals we need to take us through.

“The motivation is certainly there, the crowd gave the players that tonight. The crowd were absolutely incredible, the noise when we scored shook the ground and all night they gave the players that extra edge on a night where we needed it. When we travel next week we will keep that support in our hearts and use it as the inspiration to achieve something special. This club don’t want this journey to end and we will be fighting hard in Russia to give our supporters another Champions League night in Bristol.”

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