Hingst hails 'dream' win

By Andreas Alf in Potsdam

1. FFC Turbine Potsdam captain Ariane Hingst toasted an "absolutely fantastic" result after the German side cruised to an emphatic UEFA Women's Cup victory against Swedish champions Djurgården/Älvsjö.

Quick-fire lead
Potsdam went into Saturday's game at a sold-out Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion with a 2-0 lead following a comfortable first-leg win in Gothenburg. Within 16 minutes of the kick off, that lead was 5-1 after two goals from Conny Pohlers and a second-minute strike from Petra Wimbersky had made it 3-1 on the day. From then on, victory never looked in doubt.

'Thrilling feeling'
"We did not expect such a clear win," Hingst told uefa.com. "We never even dreamed about this glory. This is simply the most thrilling feeling you can get at club level in our sport. I might not be able to sleep over the next two days. They never gave up and I respect them fully - they are a very good side."

Domestic disappointment
The win was the perfect riposte to a frustrating season for Bernd Schröder's side who were unable to defend their Bundesliga title, finishing third, 14 points adrift of champions 1. FFC Frankfurt. "I'll never forget this moment. We struggled in the domestic league this season but we have won another title for our fans - an even bigger one," Hingst continued.

Party atmosphere
The 8,664 supporters packed inside the stadium certainly appreciated the effort and joined the side in celebration in the last ten minutes of the game as a party atmosphere swept the ground. A Mexican Wave became a fixture in those closing stages, forming a perfect backdrop to events in the Potsdam dugout where Pohlers, who had by now been substituted, was filming the action on her camcorder.

Unforgettable moments
"We had a very hard time to remain focused on the game because everyone just had a huge smile on their face," Hingst said. "I'll never forget those moments." Her coach Schröder might find the closing stages easier to forget, however, as he was not there to see it after leaving the dugout to compose himself in the dressing room.

Impending reunion
The season is not yet over for Hingst, though, who is one of eight Potsdam players in Germany's squad for the 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship, where she expects to meet some of Saturday's opponents. "They [Djurgården/Älvsjö] are a very good side and I'm really looking forward to seeing some of them in two weeks in England," the midfield player said.

Final fixture
But first she has one more game to play for Potsdam - against Frankfurt in the German Cup final on Saturday.