Umeå and Duisburg taste defeat

Umeå IK began the new season with a 1-0 Swedish Super Cup defeat by Linköpings FC but they were not the only team in action in next week's UEFA Women's Cup semi-final first legs to have a disappointing weekend.

Landström winner
Hoping to make a winning start to the campaign before they open their Damallsvenskan defence against KIF Örebro DFF on Wednesday and travel to take on Zvezda-2005 in the first leg of their UEFA Women's Cup last-four tie on Sunday, Umeå welcomed Swedish Cup holders Linköping to the Gammliavallen. Jessica Landström struck the only goal after 37 minutes, heading in following good work down the left from new Linköping signing Julie Rydahl Bukh. "It feels incredibly good," said Linköping defender Caroline Seger. "It means a lot to beat Umeå away. It doesn't happen all that often."

Sankala reflects
New Umeå coach Mika Sankala, who took over from Andrée Jeglertz in January, thought his team lacked sharpness. "We had several chances initially," the former GIF Sundsvall men's coach said. "If we'd scored then, the match would have looked different. But you have to score when you get chances. It's difficult to say if it's because of the amount of training we've done lately. We know we have a good team, and this defeat doesn't mean there's reason to be worried about the season ahead. We also know that Linköping are a really strong side. I see them and [LdB FC] Malmö as our greatest challengers this year."

Duisburg fall
While Zvezda are still in the Russian close season, the other UEFA Women's Cup semi-finalists FCR 2001 Duisburg and Olympique Lyonnais were in weekend action. Duisburg had their three-point Frauen-Bundesliga lead wiped out with a 3-0 home loss to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, Anja Mittag scoring twice. Potsdam now only trail Duisburg on goal difference, with FC Bayern München and 1. FFC Frankfurt respectively two and four points adrift, but both have a game in hand on the leading pair.

Lyon win
Lyon had a happier weekend, winning 4-1 at FCF Juvisy, who began the day in second. Montpellier Hérault SC are now Lyon's nearest challengers but eight points adrift of the unbeaten leaders with six games remaining. Lyon welcome Duisburg to the Stade de Gerland on Saturday, while the second leg, as for the other tie, is on 5 April. The final is played over two legs on 16 and 23 May.

Arsenal in final
Meanwhile, 2007 UEFA Women's Cup winners Arsenal LFC, who are aiming to enter the inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League next season, beat main English rivals Everton LFC 3-1 on Sunday in the FA Women's Cup semi-finals. They take on Sunderland LFC at Derby on 4 May in the final.