Venus over the moon

By Paul Saffer

It was not easy by any means, but a narrow 1-0 win at Arsenal LFC took Swedish champions Djurgården/Alvsjö through to their first UEFA Women's Cup final, grabbing victory against the English title-holders in their third meeting of the competition to go through 2-1 overall.

Tactical battle
In the first leg eight days earlier, the Stockholm side had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw, as Arsenal won the tactical battle by frustrating Djurgården/Alvsjö's usual attacking gusto and using their patient, counterattacking football to fine effect.

Attacking tactics
However, in the second leg at Borehamwood, Arsenal LFC's home just north of London, Djurgården/Alvsjö were able to dominate for long periods, forcing their hosts deep into their own half, even when they were chasing the game. That the balance between the teams changed can be put down in no small part to the decision of Djurgården/Alvsjö coach Mikael Söderman to restore American striker Venus James to his starting lineup.

Arsenal stretched
With the speedy and strong James as the attacking pivot, Victoria Svensson, Sara Johansson, Linda Fagerström and Kristin Bengtsson were able to stretch Arsenal's defence to the full in the first half, Svensson eventually striking on 40 minutes. And in the second half, James switched to good effect to the right wing, along Johansson to hold the ball up in the lone striker position.

'Exciting game'
James was understandably delighted as her club secured a place in the two-legged showpiece in their debut European campaign. She told uefa.com: "It feels great. It's the first time our team's ever made it to the final. It was a hard game, we just fought to the end. It was an exciting game."

Going for goals
The 4-1-4-1 formation that produced victory allowed Djurgården/Alvsjö to play their natural game, James added. "We knew we had to score because we could not go for a 0-0 game," she said. "So in training we practiced a lot of attacking play."

Visitors' relief
Having lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal in their second qualifying round group, then been held in the semi-final first leg, James admitted her side were relieved to have claimed a victory against the Londoners. None of the deciding goals in the encounters were spectacular, but James mused: "However, it goes in, it's all that matters."

Outdoing Umeå
Djurgården/Alvsjö are keeping up Sweden's record of always having a team in all four UEFA Women's Cup finals, following in the footsteps of Umeå IK, runners-up in the inaugural 2001/02 edition and winners for the past two seasons. Not only did Djurgården/Alvsjö end Umeå's reign by defeating them in the quarter-finals in October, but in the same fortnight beat their rivals to both the Allsvenskan championship and Swedish Cup. "It's been great," James said.

German encounter
So now 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam of Germany await in the final, hoping to do to Djurgarden/Alvoso what compatriots 1. FFC Frankfurt did to Umeå in 2001/02 - before the Swedish side gained revenge over the next two campaigns. James admitted: "They beat Frankfurt and I've heard they're good. I've never been to Germany so I'm excited about that."