Duisburg secure slender lead over Arsenal

An own goal midway through the second half gave Arsenal LFC a lifeline in their UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final with FCR 2001 Duisburg.

The reigning European champions led at the break through Inka Grings and Marina Hegering doubled the advantage shortly after half-time. Duisburg were on top but in the 66th minute Kim Little's free-kick was turned in by Grings and Arsenal held out, ensuring they remain in full contention for Sunday's home return in Bishop's Stortford.

Grings was nearly on target in the ninth minute when sent clear by Simone Laudehr's long ball only for her lob to bounce onto the crossbar. A dangerous Laudehr cross was then cleared but Arsenal were behind when, from a Grings corner, Femke Maes's shot struck Little's hand. Grings stepped up to convert the penalty.

Arsenal kept Duisburg at bay for the rest of the half but four minutes into the second period Hegering ran onto a low ball from the left and finished from just inside the box. There was a 64th-minute chance for the Gunners when Gemma Davison chased a long ball but her effort was blocked by Linda Bresonik after a desperate sprint between the two.

However, 2006/07 UEFA Women's Cup winners Arsenal soon had an away goal as Little's free-kick from the left floated away from her team-mates towards several Duisburg heads, including Grings, and the ball was turned into her own net.

Now Duisburg needed to push and Maes tried a lob from outside the area but for the second time in the game the crossbar was in the way. With the last action of the game Marina Himmighofen received a loose ball but shot wide from close range.

Duisburg coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg said: "We scored two wonderful goals and everything seemed to go our way. But also we have to say that after the second goal we dropped too deep and did not do enough, we did not go for a third goal which was a mistake. That is something I have to say to the team. After the own goal, Arsenal suddenly were in the game and you could see that one or more of our players were lacking the strength to up the ante once more."

Laura Harvey, in her first European game at the Arsenal helm, added: "We played a much better second half than the first when we were never really in the game. I liked the way we put pressure on them after the interval. I am pleased with the performance of my team tonight, especially in the second half. It was the expected difficult and tight match for both teams and we have got the important away goal we wanted."