Arsenal dreaming of Frankfurt turnaround

A last-gasp goal on Sunday may have left Arsenal LFC needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit in their UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final second leg at 1. FFC Frankfurt, but they are still dreaming of playing for the title at Munich's Olympiastadion.

Only victory at Stadion Am Brentano Bad for Arsenal on Saturday afternoon would take the 2007 winners to the 17 May decider and stop the sole three-time champions reaching a record-equalling fifth final.

It seemed that, just as in their 2005/06 quarter-final, Arsenal would hold Frankfurt 1-1 in their home first leg, but Kerstin Garefrekes struck with virtually the last kick of the game at Borehamwood – something described by Gunners manager Laura Harvey as "gut-wrenching".

However, she told UEFA.com: "The dream of getting to the Champions League final is still there, we always say you've just got to be in the game in the second leg. And as gut-wrenching as it is, in reality we are still in the game."

Midfielder Stephanie Houghton added: "It's a big incentive, the fact it's a Champions League final and we're so close. We're all just focused on the 90 minutes ahead and hopefully we can do the business.

"A lot of the girls are looking forward to the game but we've not got to let the occasion get to us. It's 90 minutes of football and hopefully we can get an early goal and turn it around."

While Arsenal continue to miss the injured Kelly Smith and Faye White has begun maternity leave, Frankfurt remain without goalkeeper Nadine Angerer – though Desirée Schumann is proving a fine replacement – and there are also doubts over Fatmire Bajramaj and Sandra Smisek. However, Kim Kulig came off the bench in midfield on Sunday to end a nine-month injury absence, and Dzenifer Marozsan, herself struggling before the game, proved the player of the match as a first-half substitute for Smisek.

Frankfurt had lost all their three previous away games in Europe this season and forward Jessica Landström said: "It was a tough game. I don't think it was a really good game, but we scored two goals and won away, and that's really important for us. It's a good start now.

"We have really good players, a really good bench. Dzeni is an awesome player. And of course she helps the team, if we have an injured player. [Schumann] is a great young talent, she's being doing an awesome job in the last few games, she's been training hard for a long time. She's ready. It's half-time, we're playing at home. We'll play as if it's 0-0, we need to win this game too."