Lyon pip Juvisy to French title

UEFA Women's Champions League runners-up Olympique Lyonnais ensured they ended their season on a high by clinching their fourth straight French title.

Going into the final day of the season, Lyon needed a win at bottom side AS Montigny-le-Bretonneux to hold off the challenge of FCF Juvisy and duly triumphed 5-0, Lara Dickenman, Élodie Thomis and Katia putting them three up within 15 minutes. Katia added another before the break and Amandine Henry completed the scoring in the 88th minute as Lyon equalled the record of four French championships in a row set by Toulouse FC between 1999 and 2002, and took their goal tally for the season to 93 from 22 games.

Lyon, who lost the UEFA Women's Champions League final on penalties to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, will begin next season's competition in the round of 32. Juvisy, three points adrift, will play in the qualifying round after winning 1-0 at FCF Hénin-Beaumont to finish runners-up and hold off the challenge of Paris Saint-Germain FC, who finished third despite only conceding eight goals all season. Juvisy previously played in the UEFA Women's Cup in 2003/04 and 2006/07, both times falling in their group despite winning two of three games.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, the travails of the team Lyon beat in the semi-finals in April, two-time European champions Umeå IK, continued this weekend as they lost 2-1 at home to Jitex BK. Umeå, who will begin the 2010/11 UEFA Women's Champions League in the qualifying round after finishing second in Sweden last year, are now eighth in the 12-team table with four wins, two draws and six defeats. Unbeaten LdB FC Malmö lead the way by eight points from Göteborg FC, with titleholders and UEFA Women's Champions League entrants Linköpings FC in third.