Frankfurt step closer to final

Germany's 1. FFC Frankfurt took a significant step towards their fourth UEFA Women's Cup final in seven seasons as Birgit Prinz and Conny Pohlers scored twice apiece in a 4-2 defeat of ASD CF Bardolino in the semi-final second first.

Experienced campaigners
Frankfurt, winners of the competition in 2002 and 2006 and contesting their fifth semi-final, were without playmaker Renate Lingor but nevertheless took charge from the first whistle – Pohlers opening the scoring in the fifth minute by heading in Petra Wimbersky's free-kick. In front of 5,190 spectators at the Brentanobad Stadium, Frankfurt doubled their advantage 14 minutes later, Prinz registering from long range to put the Frauen-Bundesliga leaders, who last week reached a tenth successive German Cup final, in complete command.

Goals at both ends
Bardolino, in the last four for the first time, quickly rediscovered the form that has allowed them to establish a seven-point lead in Serie A and pulled a goal back two minutes after half-time through Maria Sorvillo. The lively Pohlers and Prinz then passed up chances to make it 3-1 within moments, although the latter did restore Frankfurt's two-goal cushion with eleven minutes remaining after fine work by Kerstin Garefrekes. The tie looked to have been settled two minutes later when Garefrekes set up Pohlers for Frankfurt's fourth, only for Melanie Gabbiadini to reply in the 83rd minute to leave it intriguingly poised ahead of the second leg in Verona on 5 April.

'Stupid goals'
"The goals we conceded were stupid," said Frankfurt coach Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks. "But I am confident that we will improve many things in the return leg. However, I also know that we still have 90 difficult minutes ahead." The first leg of the second semi-final takes place on Sunday when competition debutants Olympique Lyonnais welcome last year's beaten finalists Umeå IK to the Stade de Gerland.