French side victorious at Craven Cottage in Women's Champions League Final.
Turbine Potsdam 0-2 Olympique Lyonnais
UEFA Women’s Champions League
The Final
8pm, Thursday 26 May 2011
Craven Cottage, Fulham FC
Olympique Lyonnais became the sixth club to lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League after victory over holders Turbine Potsdam at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.
Patrice Lair’s side scored a goal in either half through Wendie Renard and Lara Dickenmann to avenge defeat in the Final a year ago.
In a repeat of the 2010 Final in Getafe that ended in Potsdam’s favour on penalties, Lyon were clearly fired up and became the first French club to lift the trophy in its ten-year history. And it was win that was fully deserved as they were in charge throughout.
However, it was Isabel Kerschowski who almost opened this scoring inside five minutes for the German side, but her volley from Viola Odebrecht’s cross, after a mistake from Lyon defender Laura Georges, was well saved by Sarah Bouhaddi.
At the other end, Louisa Necib almost caught Potsdam stopper Anna Sarholz off guard with a near post inswinger, but she was able to claw from the line in the nick of time.
Lotta Schelin and Camille Abily both had tries for the edge of the area for Lyon, too, but while the first hit the side netting, the second was well saved by Sarholz. The Potsdam keeper was back in action moments later when Schelin created space before shooting on the turn with her left. Again she had to be alert to smother.
But French pressure finally told just before the half hour. A dangerous corner from the right was nodded down by Amandine Henry to Schelin three yards out. The Swede’s initial shot was blocked by the flailing legs of Sarholz, but right-back Renard reacted quickest to poke home the loose ball.
Potsdam were finding it tough going breaking past the French rear-guard. German World Cup-winning striker Fatmire Bajramaj was working hard but was often crowded out.
And it was the stylish Schelin for Lyon, though, who was showing some classy touches, holding the ball up well and bringing her support runners into play. Meanwhile Necib, impressive in midfield, was always unflappable when in possession.
In the closing seconds of the first half, Elodie Thomas had an opportunity to stretch Lyon’s lead, but when released into the channel she chose to stay wide and cross rather than head straight for the unprotected Sarholz. The delivery was dealt with and 1-0 it stayed.
Bernd Schroder, the Potsdam boss, must have given the holders a few firm words at half-time as they came out of the traps quickly with aggression, including a challenge on Necib that no doubt played a part in her withdrawal ten minutes into the half, with Dickenmann coming on in her place.
But their early momentum was soon matched by Lyon. When Schelin won an aerial battle on the halfway line that helped set Thomas free, she beat Babett Peter for pace but when bearing down on goal tamely shot at the feet of Sarholz.
Potsdam then had their two best chances of the game inside a minute. First Peter raided down the left, squaring across the box to the unmarked Kerschowski who had time to set herself, but failed to work Bouhaddi. Then she turned provider for Anja Mittag in an even better position. Somehow with no one near her on the six yard line, she opted to control instead of the first time shot, giving Lyon time to adjust and snuff out the danger.
Lyon, quite rightly, had a penalty appeal turned down with ten minutes left when Abily was brought down inside the area, but Czech referee Dagmar Damcova was spot on to see that Peter’s challenge was perfectly timed.
Then on 85, substitutes Dickenmann and Eugenie Le Sommer combined to seal victory for Lyonnais. Le Sommer won possession on the half way line and burst down the right wing before sending over an inch-perfect cross. The ball evaded the head of Jennifer Zeitz and was controlled perfectly by the Swiss international before she fired left-footed across Sarholz and into the top corner of the net.
Teams
Olympique Lyonnais: Sarah Bouhaddi, Wendie Renard, Laura Georges, Amandine Henry, Lotta Schelin, Louisa Necib (Lara Dickenmann, 55), Shirley Cruz Trana, Élodie Thomis (Eugénie Le Sommer, 73), Sonia Bompastor (c), Sabrina Viguier, Camille Abily
Subs not used: Véronique Pons (GK), Ingvild Stensland, Sandrine Bretigny, Aurélie Kaci, Amel Majri
Coach Patrice Lair
Goals Wendie Renard, 27; Lara Dickenmann, 85
1.FFC Turbine Potsdam: Anna Felicitas Sarholz, Babett Peter, Isabel Kerschowski, Josephine Henning, Fatmire Bajramaj, Jennifer Zietz (c), Inka Wesely, Viola Odebrecht, Bianca Schmidt, Tabea Kemme, Anja Mittag
Subs not used: Desirée Schumann (GK), Kristin Demann, Daniela Löwenberg, Marie-Louise Bagehorn, Jessica Wich, Jennifer Cramer, Corina Schröder
Coach Bernd Schroder
Referee Dagmar Damkova (Cze)
Assistants Adriana Secova and Lucie Ratajova (Cze)
Fourth Official Jana Adamkova (Cze)
