Frankfurt made to work

There was relief but also frustration for 1. FFC Frankfurt as they began their bid for an unprecedented third UEFA Women's Cup success by winning second qualifying round Group B3 in Belgium.

Late goals
Frankfurt had a scare on Matchday 1, as they trailed Valur Reykjavík with nine minutes left before Birgit Prinz equalised and Petra Wimbersky managed two last-gasp goals to secure a 3-1 win. Two days later they fell behind again to Everton LFC, and although Prinz equalised in the 28th minute, it was not until injury time that Conny Pohlers put Frankfurt ahead. Results elsewhere meant that when the German champions kicked off against hosts FCL Rapide Wezemaal, they were already through. That was just as well, as Frankfurt again fell behind and this time could only equalise as Pohlers headed in a Prinz cross for a 1-1 draw. "We were not able to find a way through our opponents' tight defence," striker Kerstin Garefrekes said. "Of course, we will have to improve our game if we want to achieve our goals."

Avoiding Umeå
Still, first place meant Frankfurt avoided a quarter-final with fellow double European champions Umeå IK and will instead meet the runners-up in the Swedish side's group, Russia's WFC Rossiyanka, over two legs next month. "Winning the group was the first important step in achieving our target, which is reaching the final," Frankfurt general manager Siegfried Dietrich said. "Now we are looking forward to two top-class quarter-final matches with the decisive return leg in front of our own supporters. The Russians we are facing now are surely easier to play than two-timer winners Umeå with their megastar Marta."