Record crowd sees Duisburg triumph

FCR 2001 Duisburg became the last winners of the UEFA Women's Cup in its present form after completing a comfortable aggregate defeat of Russian side Zvezda-2005.

Crowd best
A 6-0 win in Kazan for Duisburg against their fellow European debutants last Saturday had virtually ensured a German club would triumph for the fifth time in the eight-year-old competition. Although the visitors scored first through Darina Apanaschenko, Annike Krahn equalised just before the interval to the delight of a UEFA Women's Cup record 28,112 crowd at the MSV Arena, beating a mark set last year when Duisburg's domestic rivals 1. FFC Frankfurt lifted the trophy. For Zvezda there is the consolation that, like Duisburg, they will be among the entrants for the inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League next season.

Baranova saves
Despite their first-leg lead and both the must-win league trip to FC Bayern München and the German Cup final against 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam coming up in the next eight days, Duisburg were unchanged save for Anne Van Bonn replacing suspended Linda Bresonik in defence. In the first 20 minutes Inka Grings sent Simone Laudehr clear but Nadezhda Baranova produced a sliding tackle and she also tipped over from Fatmire Bajramaj, the Zvezda goalkeeper keen to make amends for conceding six last Saturday.

Goal apiece
Zvezda caretaker coach Stanislav Kharitonov, who stepped in after Aleksandr Grigoryan's midweek resignation, brought in winger Anna Korovushkina and defender Olga Vasil'eva. And the visitors were celebrating in the 26th minute when Apanaschenko latched on to Nataliya Zinchenko's through ball and shot past Kathrin Längert. Indeed, despite the urgings of the crowd and a brass band on one terrace, Duisburg were having a frustrating first half but it ended happily as Annemieke Kiesel's free-kick from the left fell to Laudehr, whose shot was parried by Baranova into the path of the grateful Krahn to equalise on the night.

Crossbar struck
The home side started the second period with confidence and Laudehr soon shot just wide. However, with their first attack of the half Zvezda came close when Vera Djatel's cross was headed against the underside of the bar by Apanaschenko, and Alexandra Popp bravely hooked the ball away. Turid Knaak was sent on for Duisburg with 21 minutes left and nearly scored straight away, breaking through the Zvezda defence only for Baranova to dive at her feet.

Grings close
Baranova also made a fine reaction save to deny Grings, who beat her three times last week, and the striker then headed over in her attempt to get the two goals that would have left her as joint competition top scorer. That prize went to Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir for the third time, but it was Grings who lifted the UEFA Women's Cup as winning captain, Duisburg joining three-time champions Frankfurt, twice victors Umeå IK, Potsdam and Arsenal LFC on the roll of honour.