Arsenal Ladies took a giant step towards the Semi-Finals of the Women's Uefa Cup with a 5-0 win at Breidablik on Thursday.
Kelly Smith put Vic Akers' side ahead on the half-hour against the Icelandic champions. Four further goals in 11 second-half minutes would suggest that the Quarter-Final second leg at Boreham Wood FC next Thursday will be little more than a formality.
Arsenal were the stronger side from the start and Breidablik's sporadic attacks were dealt with easily by visiting keeper Emma Byrne. Smith made the crucial breakthrough in the 32nd minute with a left-foot drive after Julie Fleeting had crossed from the right.
Arsenal pushed for a second straight away. Before the interval, Ciara Grant's shot was blocked, Breidablik keeper Thora Helgadottir denied Fleeting and Alex Scott thumped an effort over the bar.
The trend continued after the break. Scott, Smith (twice) and Lianne Sanderson (twice) all went close. In the 66th minute, Smith grabbed her second when she scored from the edge of the area despite the attention of four defenders.
Greata Samuelsdottir replied with a rare effort for Breidablik but the Arsenal's third followed almost immediately when Sanderson volleyed home from a cut-back by Rachel Yankey.
Fleeting expertly hooked home another in the 75th minute from just inside the area. The Scottish international completed the scoring three minutes later at the second attempt.
Breidablik had a couple of efforts as the final whistle approached but Byrne was equal to them.
Julie Fleeting shields the ball
Sanderson holds off her marker
Sanderson celebrates her first goal
Alex Scott fires in a cross
Kelly Smith lets fly
Julie Fleeting nets her first goal
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