Frankfurt regain European crown

1. FFC Frankfurt defeated their great rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 3-2 to complete a 7-2 aggregate triumph and replicate their UEFA Women's Cup success of 2002.

Prinz winner
A 4-0 first-leg success last week left Frankfurt on the cusp of victory despite Potsdam pipping them to the Bundesliga and German Women's Cup titles this season. Conny Pohlers fired the team from the east of the country in front in the ninth minute and restored Potsdam's lead after Steffi Jones had equalised. The second half was all about Frankfurt, however, as Renate Lingor stroked in a penalty following the dismissal of Babett Peters and Birgit Prinz capped another victory in added time.

Same teams
Even though his side lost their home leg 4-0, Potsdam coach Bernd Schröder kept faith with his starting lineup from last week as the club from the outskirts of Berlin looked to complete a superb treble in front of 13,200 spectators. Frankfurt's Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks also stuck to his guns, with Ursula Holl retaining the goalkeeper's jersey despite the return from suspension of regular No1 Marleen Wissink.

Pohlers opener
Frankfurt could have put the tie beyond doubt inside two minutes as Kerstin Garefrekes shot just wide with her left foot. Seven minutes later Potsdam took the lead against the run of play as Pohlers showed lightning reflexes to turn the ball in following a goalmouth scramble. The goal galvanised the visitors who went close to doubling their lead when Anja Mittag rifled off a shot which crashed to safety off the crossbar. A mistake by Jones in the 20th minute then gave Pohlers another opening which she failed to capitalise on.

Jones leveller
The action was swinging from end, and in the 24th minute Garefrekes had a shot from close range blocked after being slipped in by a superb pass from Birgit Prinz. The winger's blushes were spared from the resulting corner as Jones rose to powerfully head Sandra Smisek's set-piece beyond Nadine Angerer. With the crowd lifted, the lively Garefrekes and Katrin Kliehm went close to putting Frankfurt in front, although when the third goal came it was scored by Pohlers as the diminutive forward capitalised on Tina Wunderlich's poor header to double her tally.

Great save
Sensing Frankfurt were there for the taking, Schröder went for it by introducing attacking players Christiane and Isabell Kerschowski after the break, but the home team were the next to go close as Sandra Albertz headed against the post after racing in behind the Potsdam defence to meet Lingor's corner. Peter then picked up a second yellow and Prinz brought a superb save from Angerer from a fine Garefrekes pass. Lingor was involved again in the 73rd minute as she scored from the spot after Smisek had been fouled by Jennifer Zietz.

Prinz winner
Fittingly, FIFA World Player of the Year Prinz had the final say by scoring the fifth goal of a pulsating tie. Frankfurt are once again the champions of Europe and will return to defend the trophy next season when Potsdam will be attempting to wrest it back. Another fascinating European season awaits.

Attendance: 13,200