In-form four ready for semi-finals

The UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals begin on Sunday with all four contenders looking in good form.

In their first leg, holders Olympique Lyonnais take on the side they beat in last year's final but lost to in the 2010 decider, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, at Stade de Gerland. The same day, 2007 winners Arsenal LFC welcome sole three-time European title holders 1. FFC Frankfurt to Meadow Park, with the return next Saturday, one day before Lyon visit Potsdam. The final is at Munich's Olympiastadion on 17 May.

On Sunday, Lyon, unbeaten and three points behind FCF Juvisy Essonne in the league with a game in hand (with four points for a win), continued their bid to win the French Cup for the first time since 2008 with an 11-1 defeat of second-tier US Compiègne Club Oise. That victory included five goals from Lotta Schelin and a first club strike for Japanese winter signing Ami Otaki.

Potsdam were not in action until Monday and opened up a four-point gap over VfL Wolfsburg at the top of the Frauen Bundesliga with a 3-1 win against FF USV Jena. They had to come from behind, though, Isabel Kerschowski, Genoveva Añonma and Antonia Göransson scoring the goals.

Fourth and seven points behind Potsdam, Frankfurt continued their defence of the German Cup on Sunday, beating FCR 2001 Duisburg 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to reach the final. Kerstin Garefrekes's early goal was cancelled out by Mandy Islacker and Alexandra Popp put Duisburg ahead before Gina Lewandowski levelled for Sven Kahlert's side with ten minutes left.

In the shoot-out, Desirée Schumann, deputising for the injured Nadine Angerer, saved a potential winning penalty from Annike Krahn. In sudden death, after Saskia Bartusiak had scored, the keeper denied Linda Bresonik.

Schumann, whose team meet FC Bayern München in the 12 May final in Cologne, said: "It was the best game of my career. I like penalties because as a goalkeeper you can't lose. I was sure even before the first shot and said to the coach, 'Sven, I'll save two shots.'"

Arsenal kicked off the new FA Women's Super League season the same day with an exciting 3-2 home defeat of likely title rivals Everton. Toni Duggan gave the visitors an early lead and then equalised after Danielle Carter and Jordan Nobbs had scored for Arsenal. However, Katie Chapman won the game on 66 minutes after Everton had been reduced to ten players when Brooke Chaplen was dismissed before the break.

"We know we've got big characters in this team and we know we've got players who can come on and win football matches," manager Laura Harvey told Arsenal's website. "The fact we've been able to get a result today was massive."