Little goal gives Arsenal trophy

Arsenal LFC will go into their UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 tie with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in high spirits after Kim Little's goal ensured they retained the FA WSL Cup with a 1-0 defeat of Birmingham City LFC.

Having already pipped Birmingham to secure a ninth consecutive league title, Arsenal were keen to defeat once more their rivals – who themselves won the other English domestic trophy, the FA Women's Cup. But it took until the 82nd minute for league top scorer Little to strike with a curling effort from just outside the box. By that stage Arsenal had hit the woodwork twice through Kelly Smith and substitute Gemma Davison, though Rachel Williams missed an open goal for Birmingham.

Little said: "We had a lot of chances in the first half and quite a few at the start of the second, so I'm just glad I got a bit of space to put it in the goal to get the win. It was tough afterwards as they were going to come at us but we've got the win and we are glad to finish the domestic season with a win."

The Gunners, who knocked out FC Barcelona in the UEFA Women's Champions League round of 32, welcome fellow former European champions Potsdam on 1 November before visiting Germany six days later. Birmingham were eliminated from the competition on their debut by ASD CF Verona in extra time but will be back in 2013/14 along with Arsenal.