Duisburg end Arsenal challenge

FCR 2001 Duisburg's defence of their European title goes on after they completed a UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final elimination of Arsenal LFC.

Leading the tie 2-1 at kick-off, Duisburg had the better of the play throughout in Bishop's Stortford and made their dominance pay in the second half with first European goals for Jennifer Oster and Marina Himmighofen. Duisburg progress to a semi-final on the second and third weekends of April, again at home in the first leg, and are likely to face German rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, who take a 5-0 lead into their second leg at Norway's Røa IL on Wednesday.

Inka Grings scored at both ends in the first leg and nearly had another in the Arsenal goal 13 minutes into the return, her header from Alexandra Popp's free-kick clawed away by goalkeeper Emma Byrne. Duisburg, unchanged from Wednesday, were as dominant early on as they had been at the MSV Arena but were fashioning few clear-cut chances.

Neither were Arsenal, the 2006/07 UEFA Women's Cup winners, who had Scottish international Jennifer Beattie up front in place of suspended compatriot Kim Little. They did have an effort on goal, however, when Gemma Davison, switching wings to the left, beat two defenders and curled a 38th-minute shot at Ursula Holl.

Within four minutes of the interval, though, Duisburg broke the deadlock. The ball fell to Grings in the box and she laid it right to Oster, who beat Byrne with a strong angled shot. Duisburg knew a second goal would kill the tie, something they almost achieved when Simone Laudehr forced Byrne to save at full stretch. Holl then denied Faye White from close range but Duisburg put the result beyond doubt with two minutes left when substitute Himmighofen intercepted Corinne Yorston's back pass and finished calmly.