Zvezda hold their nerve to oust Umeå

Zvezda-2005 will take on fellow UEFA Women's Cup debutant FCR 2001 Duisburg in the final next month after ending the hopes of two-time winners Umeå IK.

Apanaschenko double
The Swedish side, runners-up for the last two seasons, were aiming to reach their sixth final in the eight-year history of the competition, and had hopes of overturning last week's 2-0 loss in Russia when Hanna Ljungberg struck on 22 minutes. But winter signing Darina Apanaschenko claimed an away goal just past the half-hour and scored again with 14 minutes left, not long after Madelaine Edlund had given Umeå fresh hope.

Lead short-lived
Ljungberg's personal record in this competition is formidable and the former Sweden attacker ensured the game burst to life when she connected with a cross and produced a superb finish with her left foot. However, within nine minutes Zvezda responded. Umeå goalkeeper Ulla-Karin Rönnlund was caught in possession to the right of her box and her attempted pass did not reach Emma Berglund, allowing Apanaschenko to roll the ball into an empty net.

Unique run
Now Umeå needed three more goals and they had one on 65 minutes through Edlund, only for Apanaschenko to head in a cross from the left eleven minutes later. The draw meant Zvezda's record of winning all their European fixtures came to an end in their ninth match, but having begun their campaign in the first qualifying round they have become the only team to reach a UEFA Women's Cup final after starting in the earliest stage. They will now welcome Duisburg to Russia on 16 May before visiting Germany seven days later.