Umeå's Marta to the cause
Monday, May 19, 2008
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Shackled by some tough defending after opening the scoring in the first leg, Marta is ready to give her all as Umeå IK head to Frankfurt for the Saturday's return.
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Having failed to add to her very early strike at home against 1. FFC Frankfurt, Marta knows Umeå IK will have to score in the UEFA Women's Cup final second leg.
Perfect start
Absent from training on the day before Saturday's final first leg, two-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta struck just 12 seconds into the home game against Frankfurt. "When the ball went in I could hardly believe we had managed to score so quickly," said the Brazilian. "It wasn't something we'd practiced, but right before the match we talked about trying a long ball right from kick-off."
Rugged defending
Frankfurt were to equalise soon afterwards, and Marta was denied the opportunity to add to her tally by some rugged defending, which saw the striker receive treatment on the pitch for minor injuries. "It was a tough game physically," she conceded. "But we're used to it, we can cope with it. It's part of football at this level."
Missed chances
Marta was not the only danger for Umeå, with strike partner Madelaine Edlund also causing the Frankfurt back four problems, but she could not find the proper finishing touch on the day. "That's football," said the No9. "Sometimes you score, sometimes you don't. I wasn't tough and special enough today. If I can be tougher inside the box next match, then hopefully I'll be able to score."
Tough ask
That will be no easy task, with Frankfurt boasting home advantage and a grass – rather than artificial – surface in the return fixture. "After today's match Frankfurt just need to keep a clean sheet to be the champions," said Marta. "Of course, we'll try with all we have to break down their defence. One thing is for sure – Saturday's will be a more difficult match [than the first leg]."
'Great goalscorers'
However, Umeå captain Frida Östberg is sure that her side will pull through, even though the advantage now seems to be with the Germans. "We're going there to win the trophy, with all due respect to Frankfurt who are a really good team," she said. "The good thing about our side is that we score a lot of goals. We have several great goalscorers, and on Saturday we have to find the net."