Potsdam party after defending title

UEFA Women's Champions League finalists 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam secured their fourth Frauen-Bundesliga title on Sunday following a 1-0 home win against SC 07 Bad Neuenahr.

Five points clear of FCR 2001 Duisburg, who they beat in the semi-finals to set up a European final with Olympique Lyonnais in Getafe on 20 May, Potsdam ensured they retained the German crown with one game to spare as Bianca Schmidt headed the decisive goal from a 68th-minute corner. Bernd Schröder, the Potsdam coach, said: "In the first half we didn't show what we're capable of. We were nervous but I knew that we would score in the second half. We are simply happy to have won and to be champions."

German international striker Fatmire Bajramaj, who left Duisburg for Potsdam last summer, added: "Coming to Potsdam has paid off; I'm a German champion for the first time." Potsdam will enter next season's UEFA Women's Champions League in the round of 32 but Germany's qualifying round berth is still undecided.

Duisburg beat SC Freiburg 5-0 but as three-time European champions 1. FFC Frankfurt saw off relegated Tennis Borussia Berlin 13-0, they remain within three points of FCR and their goal difference is now only five inferior. Next Sunday Duisburg go to FC Bayern München and Frankfurt visit SC Bad Neuenahr.

In France, Lyon kept themselves in the running to successfully defend their title with a 5-0 defeat of European quarter-finalists Montpellier Hérault SC with two goals each from Élodie Thomis and Sandrine Bretigny. Lyon are third, nine points behind leaders FCF Juvisy, but have three games in hand.

Meanwhile, in England Arsenal LFC lost their four-year grip on the FA Women's Cup when Natasha Dowie's goal deep in extra time gave Everton LFC a 3-2 win. Everton, who had never won the trophy before, trail Arsenal by eight points in the league with four games left. The Gunners will be champions again on Thursday if they win at Blackburn Rovers LFC and Everton do not triumph at second-placed Leeds Carnegie LFC. In the race for that second European berth, Everton trail Leeds by three points with two games in hand.

The Italian title was decided on Sunday with Arsenal's fellow UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finalists ASD Torres Calcio taking their first Serie A crown since 2000/01 with a 3-1 win at AC Reggiana Femminile. Deposed champions ASD CF Bardolino Verona are in second but level on points with UPC Tavagnacco two games from the end.