Fortuna Hjørring and Hajduk Split share points in Champions League qualifier
Fortuna Hjørring drew 1-1 with Hajduk Split in the semi-final of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Tuesday. The result keeps both sides alive in the competition after their initial meeting earlier this month, when Fortuna won 2-0. And here's the thing — this time the visitors had their moments too.
Fortuna took the lead in the 70th minute through Josefine Valvik Laursen, who picked up two bookings in five minutes earlier in the tie. The goal came after a period where neither side could find a real rhythm. By then, Hajduk had already made changes, bringing on Gia Kalas and Laura Vlastelica for Barbara Zivkovic and an unnamed player in the 57th minute.
Hajduk responded well. Ivana Vlajcevic equalised in the 83rd minute, finishing a move that caught Fortuna sleeping at the back. The Danes never got going after that, and things got worse when Lumi Kostmayer received a red card in the 86th minute. To be fair, Hajduk had been patient and waited for their chance.
The statistics tell a flat story. Both teams had 50 per cent possession and one shot on target each. Fortuna earned three corners to Hajduk's one, but neither side created enough to test the keepers properly. The yellow cards went to three Hajduk players — Iva Bukac, Barbara Zivkovic and Ana Markovic — while Fortuna stayed clean until the dismissal.
Fortuna's recent form suggests they should have won this one. They beat Copenhagen 4-1 and AGF 3-0 before that loss to AGF Aarhus 2-1. Hajduk had pulled off a win against Murak but lost heavily to Austria Vienna. By then, this draw felt like a rescue for the visitors.