Lingor fires Frankfurt through

A Renate Lingor hat-trick in the final 15 minutes propelled German champions 1. FFC Frankfurt into their second UEFA Women's Cup final in three attempts with a 4-1 aggregate triumph against Malmö FF.

Goalless first leg
The first leg of this semi-final tie had ended goalless, and when Malmö took the lead on 59 minutes through Heidi Kackur it looked as if an all-Swedish final against the holders Umeå IK was beckoning.

Frankfurt fightback
However, Frankfurt - who beat Umeå in the first final in 2002 and were defeated on penalties in the last four by the same team a year later - hit back superbly. Caroline Jönsson's own goal from a Pia Wunderlich corner drew them level on aggregate and Lingor then turned on the style with strikes in the 75th, 89th and 91st minutes.

Defensive visitors
Frankfurt were on the attack from the start, while Malmö were content to keep it tight and wait for chances to counterattack. Frankfurt's best early chance came after 15 minutes when Judith Affeld released Lingor down the right. The German international squared the ball for Wunderlich, but the midfield player shot over. Two minutes later Kathrin Kliehm also went close with a long-range effort.

Andersson threatens
The visitors had their best chance three minutes before half-time. A quickly taken free-kick saw Malin Andersson break through on the left wing, but Frankfurt goalkeeper Marleen Wissink managed to deny her.

Kackur strikes
Fourteen minutes into the second half Malmö's tactics finally paid off. The Frankfurt defence failed to stop Therese Sjögran storming into the penalty area and she picked out Kackur. The Finnish international took her time before stabbing the ball into the net.

Own goal
Frankfurt looked down and out, but an own goal from goalkeeper Jönsson gave them hope. The Swedish international tipped a Wunderlich corner on to the post in the 71st minute, only for the ball to rebound back on to her head and then into the back of the net.

Hat-trick
Just four minutes later Lingor got the vital second goal when she volleyed an attempted clearance straight in from outside the area. Another Lingor volley on 89 minutes made the tie safe and in added time the German international completed her hat-trick with a delicate chip from the edge of the area.

'Tough work'
"It was tough work out there today and I was a bit lucky to score three goals," said the 28-year-old. "Caroline Jönsson won our battle in Sweden by saving all of my shots. Today I think you could say that I was the winner."

Staab optimistic
The likely dates for the final are 8 or 9 May for the first leg in Umea and 6 June for the return in Frankfurt. Looking ahead, the German side's coach, Monika Staab, said: "Malmö like to play very hard. Umeå are a more skilful side and I think we will find it easier against them than we did here today."