Five-goal Grings drives Duisburg onwards
Monday, February 23, 2009
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Inka Grings' prolific form for UEFA Women's Cup semi-finalists FCR 2001 Duisburg has earned her a recall to the Germany squad, and she celebrated with all five goals in her club's 5-2 defeat of Hamburger SV.
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Inka Grings' prolific form for UEFA Women's Cup semi-finalists FCR 2001 Duisburg has earned her a recall to the Germany squad for Wednesday's match with China after more than three years away – and she celebrated her forthcoming international comeback with all five goals in her club's 5-2 defeat of Hamburger SV at the weekend.
Grings feat
Kim Kulig had given Hamburg a 14th-minute lead before Grings struck twice to put Duisburg in front at the break. Kulig equalised with 21 minutes to go, but that only sparked Grings back into life as she scored three times in the last quarter-hour. The goals moved Grings four clear of VfL Wolfsburg's Martina Müller on 17 in the Frauen-Bundesliga scorers' stakes, a table the Duisburg striker topped for the fourth time in a decade last season.
Title challenge
Duisburg are now second in the league, overtaking 1. FFC Frankfurt thanks to the titleholders' 1-1 draw at FF USV Jena, and are within six points of FC Bayern München with a game in hand after the leaders were held 2-2 at SG Essen-Schönebeck. "Even I don't experience games like this every day," Grings said, while Hamburg coach Achim Feifel, whose side also conceded twice to the forward in their 4-3 home loss to Duisburg in September, rued: "We have to be Inka Grings' favourite opposition in the Bundesliga."
Lyon stroll
Grings and her Duisburg colleagues will face Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women's Cup semi-finals on 28 March and 5 April. Lyon, already clear in the league, were in French Cup last 32 action on Sunday and strolled to a 13-0 win at USF Puy en Velay. Elodie Thomis scored four goals and Katia claim a hat-trick. The other two semi-finalists, Umeå IK and Zvezda-2005, are in close season.
English showdown
Elsewhere in Europe, the two sides with perfect records in England, Arsenal LFC and Everton LFC, will meet in the FA Women's Cup semi-finals on 22 March after respective Sunday wins against Leeds Carnegie LFC and Blackburn Rovers LFC. The other tie will match Sunderland WFC with Chelsea LFC, whose manager Steve Jones resigned on Friday, leaving player Casey Stoney in caretaker charge for yesterday's 3-1 defeat of Lincoln LFC.
