Manchester United reached the Women\u2019s Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after easing past Atletico Madrid with a 2-0 second leg win to progress 5-0 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
United, who have now won eight games in a row in all competitions, face Bayern Munich in the next round after brushing Atletico aside with a ruthless performance at Leigh Sports Village.<\/p>\n
Jess Park’s dipping long-range strike just before the break put the tie beyond doubt after Julia Zigiotti Olme’s 28th-minute opener had punished Atletico’s early profligacy.<\/p>\n
Trailing 3-0 on aggregate after the first leg, Atletico made a fast start and should have pulled a goal back early on but central defender Lauren headed over from point-blank range in the first of many missed chances.<\/p>\n
Frustration told late on for Atletico as Xenia Perez was sent off after receiving two bookings in 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
Marc Skinner’s side, missing a number of key players due to injury and illness, were able to navigate their way past Atletico without any problem despite having just four outfield players on the bench.<\/p>\n
All four of those players came on, including 17-year-old debutant Jess Anderson, who had not been part of a matchday squad before this game.<\/p>\n
In their first Champions League run, United march into the quarter-finals and face the German champions over two legs on March 24\/25 and April 1\/2. They join holders Arsenal and Chelsea as one of three WSL clubs in the last eight.<\/p>\n
Skinner: We have a spirit no other team has<\/p>\n
Man Utd head coach Marc Skinner to ESPN:<\/p>\n
“We have made history for the club again. It sets up a mouth-watering tie potentially at Allianz and potentially at Man Utd.<\/p>\n
“Atletico weren’t ruthless enough in the finishing phase. They created spaces but didn’t finish. We were ruthless at both ends and that’s why we go through 5-0.<\/p>\n
“It’s been brutal the last block of games we’ve had loads of knocks and illness. To produce a 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid shows the character.<\/p>\n
“You have to have a special character to play for Man Utd and even tonight Ziggy wasn’t feeling great which is why I took her off at half-time. But to come in and score the goal shows the character.<\/p>\n
“That’s what we have in abundance. We have this spirit that no other team has.”<\/p>\n
Park: We’ve made history again with this special group<\/p>\n
Man Utd goalscorer Jess Park to ESPN:<\/p>\n
“It feels amazing. We’ve made history again with this team and we are going from strength to strength.<\/p>\n
“We want to have fun on the pitch at the highest level and you can see that we are all smiling. This is a special group of girls and I am happy to be part of it.<\/p>\n
“It is going to be a tough game [against Bayern Munich] but we are ready to take it on.”<\/p>\n
More to follow.<\/p>\n