Potsdam's Nagasato ends Duisburg dreams

Holders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam will face Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women's Champions League final for the second season running after defeating German rivals FCR 2001 Duisburg.

Yuki Nagasato's first-half goal settled the semi-final in Potsdam's favour following a 2-2 first-leg draw. Potsdam, who defeated Lyon on penalties in last season's showpiece, have the chance to become the first team since Umeå IK in 2004 to retain the trophy when they meet the French side at Craven Cottage in London on 26 May.

Potsdam coach Bernd Schröder made two changes to the team which surrendered the lead twice in the first leg eight days earlier, bringing in Inka Wesely and Corina Schröder for Josephine Henning and Bianca Schmidt, who were injured and suspended respectively. Duisburg, meanwhile, drafted in Kozue Ando and Simone Laudehr for Mandy Islacker and Marina Himmighofen.

It was Ando who had the first meaningful attempt, forcing Anna Felicitas Sarholz into service from close range. Stung into action, Potsdam went close twice in as many minutes through strikers Anja Mittag and Nagasato, whose effort scraped the crossbar.

The sides, familiar with each other after numerous encounters over the last few seasons, knew that conceding first could prove costly, yet still looked to push forward whenever possible. Duisburg responded with Ando testing Sarholz, who saved with an outstretched foot, while soon after opposite number Christina Bellinghoven dealt easily with Viola Odebrecht's effort.

Isabel Kerschowski then struck the crossbar from a corner for a now dominant Potsdam team, with Fatmire Bajramaj − surprised by the rebound − putting the loose ball wide. The breakthrough did arrive, however, five minutes before the break, when Odebrecht found Nagasato, who bent a right-footed shot into the far corner from 13 metres.

Duisburg knew they had to push after the break, but it was Potsdam, via efforts from Mittag and Bajramaj, who could have ensured a calmer finale. The visitors introduced another striker, Turid Knaak, without success as Potsdam continued to fashion chances of their own. Bajramaj, when one-on-one with Bellinghoven, and Nagasato missed the late opportunities, but it mattered little for Potsdam comfortably closed the game out.