Duisburg make ground

The lead in the Frauen Bundesliga is back down to one point after FCR 2001 Duisburg closed the gap to leaders 1. FFC Frankfurt this weekend.

Duisburg win
Unbeaten Frankfurt defeated Duisburg a week ago to move away from their rivals but the 2005/06 UEFA Women's Cup winners were not in action as opponents FC Bayern München had players in the Under-18 inter-state championship and the game was postponed to 1 May. So Duisburg had the chance to make up ground and did so with a 4-0 win against FFC Heike Rheine, Jennifer Oster scoring on two and 22 minutes, Patricia Hannebeck swiftly adding a third and Simone Laudehr rounding off the win.

Potsdam rise
Bayern remain third, eleven points behind Duisburg, but reigning champions 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam are up to fourth as they overcame Hamburger SV 3-0 with two goals from Bianca Schmidt and one from Isabel Kerschowski. They overtook SG Essen-Schönebeck, who lost 2-1 to SC 07 Bad Neuenahr. VfL Wolfsburg and TSV Crailsheim drew 0-0.

Cup semi-finals
The league resumes in three weeks time, as next Sunday the German Cup semi-finals are played, with Essen facing Duisburg and Frankfurt up against 2. Bundesliga south division leaders 1. FC Saarbrücken. The following week the German international side is in action, as they begin UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ qualifying against the Netherlands on 12 April in Bochum having appointed Michael Fuchs as goalkeeping coach at the recommendation of the man who holds that position for the male squad, Andreas Köpke.