Slavia Prague Women and Brøndby shared a 1:1 draw at the end of extra time before Brøndby won 4-3 on penalties in the UEFA Women's Champions League second qualifying round finals on Friday. M. Bischoff gave the hosts the lead in the 52nd minute, but T. Szewieczkova equalised for the visitors in the 88th. And here's the thing — the match was decided not in open play but from the spot after 120 minutes of nothing to separate them.
Slavia started brighter, pressing high and winning 16 corners to Brøndby's eight. M. Bischoff broke the deadlock after a sustained period of pressure, her finish finding the net from close range. To be fair, Brøndby weathered the storm and showed composure in transition, though their shots on target matched Slavia's at five apiece.
The turning point came late. Slavia had substituted L. Jelinkova for the first time in the 46th minute, looking to keep their intensity up. Brøndby responded with three changes around the hour mark — D. Vesela, K. Cvrckova, and E. Pelkowski all entered the action for the hosts, while H. Andersson and T. Lindwall came on for the visitors. By then the game had settled into a rhythm of cautious builds.
T. Szewieczkova's equaliser shifted momentum. Slavia pushed for a winner, but Brøndby's defence held firm. The visitors had three yellow cards to Slavia's one, a sign of the physical contest that had developed. Both sides made further changes — L. Halttunen and E. Nejmann among them — before the final whistle.
Extra time added drama but no goals. The penalty shootout revealed nerves on both sides. I. Briede missed for Brøndby, but the rest converted. Slavia's A. Rodgers scored the decisive spot-kick, but Brøndby had already secured their progression with four successful attempts.
Slavia lost 1:2 to Rangers Women in their last outing on 5 August, while Brøndby had been held to a 1:1 draw by Nordsjælland on 1 August. The result means Brøndby advance at Slavia's expense in the qualifying stages.