Terland hat-trick fires Man Utd into Women's Champions League

Norway striker Elisabeth Terland scored a hat-trick as Manchester United hammered Brann 3-0 on Thursday to reach the main draw of the Women's Champions League for the first time.

The English side had trailed 1-0 after the first leg of the final qualifying round last week in Norway, but Terland's treble against her compatriots secured a 3-1 aggregate win and United's spot in the inaugural 18-team league phase.

"We are history makers," said United coach Marc Skinner.

"I said to the players at the end, we've got to go in there and not just make up the numbers, we have to go and really be excited by the opportunity to play against Europe's best teams."

Last year's quarterfinalists Real Madrid eased past four-time winners Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 on aggregate.

Former semifinalists Paris FC beat Austria Vienna 2-0 after drawing 0-0 last week in the French capital while Atletico Madrid edged Hacken 3-2 over two legs.

The draw for the main phase of the competition takes place later on Friday. The first round of games in the new-look league stage begin on October 7.

Two more teams will compete in this year's competition proper under a revised format that replaces the old group stage, aligning itself more closely with the men's version.

ARSENAL TO FACE LYON IN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Holders Arsenal will take on eight-time winners Lyon, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the new-look league phase in this season's Women's Champions League.

Arsenal are one of three English sides in the draw with Chelsea and newcomers Manchester United.

The Gunners, who beat Barcelona 1-0 in last season's final, will also play Benfica, Twente and OH Leuven in the 18-team league phase, in which all clubs play six matches – three at home and three away.

The top four in the standings qualify directly for the quarterfinals, while the teams finishing fifth to 12th will advance to a knockout play-off round.

The first round of games in the league stage will be played on 7-8 October.

Under the revised format that replaces the old group stage, aligning the competition more closely with the men's version, two more teams take part in the single-league phase.