Domestic wins boost European hopefuls
Monday, November 9, 2009
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The round of 16 concludes this week and it proved a winning weekend for the contenders including Umeå IK securing their berth for next season, Røa IL completing the Norwegian double and a fine Arsenal LFC comeback.
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The UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 concludes this week and it proved a winning weekend for the European hopefuls in domestic action.
German treble
All three German contenders face tough second legs on Wednesday but will go into the games on the back of wins. Reigning European champions FCR 2001 Duisburg remain top after a 3-1 victory at VfL Wolfsburg while two points behind, German titleholders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam beat Tennis Borussia Berlin 3-1. FC Bayern München moved up to fourth as they won 3-0 at SC Freiburg.
Umeå relief
Duisburg will go to Linköpings FC with their tie at 1-1 and although the Swedish side lost 2-0 at KIF Örebro in their last league game, the Damallsvenskan title was already secure. More important was Umeå IK's 5-1 defeat of Piteå IF as it clinched second place and a berth in UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying next season. Bayern, meanwhile, will welcome Montpellier Hérault SC level at 0-0. The French side overcame AS Montigny-le-Bretonneux 5-2 in domestic action but still are four points behind Olympique Lyonnais, who defeated FCF Juvisy 6-1.
Røa lift cup
Lyon are involved in the only Thursday fixture, 1-0 up against Danish leaders Fortuna Hjørring, who saw off Team Viborg 6-0 to stay four points clear of Brøndby IF, 4-0 winners against KoldingQ 4-0 and also trailing Potsdam by a single goal. In Norway, Røa IL completed the domestic double with a 1-0 Norwegian Cup final defeat of Team Strømmen FK (who featured Bente Nordby in goal in a one-off comeback from retirement). The result was a boost for Røa as they travel to Zvezda-2005 of Russia with the tie goalless. Zvezda and WFC Rossiyanka, trailing Umeå 1-0, have completed their season.
Arsenal comeback
Arsenal LFC looked set to lose their 100 per cent record in England when they fell two down to Chelsea LFC but a Jennifer Beattie hat-trick completed on 90 minutes sealed a 3-2 win. Opponents AC Sparta Praha, who will travel to Arsenal 3-0 down, dropped their first points with a 1-1 draw against FK Teplice. ASD Torres Calcio are 4-1 up before their home leg against SV Neulengbach, and the Italian side won 4-0 at ACF Torino while the Austrian leaders scored five without reply at USG Ardagger/Neustadtl. For details of this week's second legs click here.
