Šašić scores four as Frankfurt establish big lead

• Celia Šašić scores four as Frankfurt establish commanding first-leg lead 
• Rikke Sevecke own goal, Dzsenifer Marozsán and Simone Laudehr complete scoring
• Brøndby will hope for consolation in Saturday's second leg
• German side hoping to make final for first time since 2011/12
• Šašić now with ten goals from six appearances this season

Three-time winners 1. FFC Frankfurt took a huge step towards a place in the UEFA Women's Champions League final as Celia Šašić scored four in a thumping first-leg win against Brøndby IF.

Contesting their third semi-final after defeats in 2004 and 2007, the visitors fell behind to a Šašić penalty early on and were 4-0 down at the interval. Simone Laudehr struck within a minute of the restart and Šašić added two more to leave the Swedish side needing a miracle to make the 14 May Berlin decider.

There were ten minutes on the clock when Bianca Schmidt dashed into the area only to be brought down by Katrine Veje and the No9 did the rest from the spot. Brøndby responded, despite seeing little of the ball, and Nanna Christiansen whistled a shot just wide on 26 minutes.

However, a 13-minute period which brought three goals took the tie away from the Danish hopefuls. First, 18-year old Rikke Sevecke put a Dzsenifer Marozsán cross into her own net before the lively Schmidt squared for Šašić and an easy tap-in. Shortly before half-time, goalkeeper Katrine Abel proved unable to stop a powerful long-range shot from Marozsán for Frankfurt's fourth.

Forced to chase the game, Brøndby were punished almost immediately after the second half began, Laudehr scoring in the 46th minute. Two more arrived for Šašić in the 62nd and 69th minute to virtually confirm Frankfurt's presence in the final.