Malmö secure narrow lead against Frankfurt

FC Malmö will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final against 1. FFC Frankfurt.

Frankfurt, three-time European champions, enjoyed large swathes of possession but could not unlock the Malmö defence. The 2011 Swedish champions ultimately prevailed in coach Peter Moberg's first competitive game in charge thanks to Sara Bjork Gunnarsdóttir's 25th-minute effort. They will look to preserve that advantage next Wednesday.

Frankfurt looked composed from the start but it was not until midway through the second half that Malmö keeper Thóra Helgadóttir was called into notable action to palm away Kerstin Garefrekes' firm shot from the right. It proved a decisive stop and four minutes later, the hosts were in front; Gunnarsdóttir pounced on indecision from Ria Percival and Saskia Bartusiak and finished with aplomb.

Helgadóttir was again required to claw away a fierce free-kick from Melanie Behringer prior to the interval, but was twice left helpless just before the hour. Dzenifer Marozsan struck the bar from an acute angle on the left and, almost immediately, Garefrekes somehow missed the target with a free header from five metres out.

Frankfurt remained dominant thereafter, Garefrekes going closest to an equaliser with a late header, but Malmö stood firm for an unexpected win. They go to Germany looking to wrap up revenge for their only previous campaign, 2003/04, when they were eliminated by Frankfurt at the semi-final stage.