Malmö denied, Røa frustrate Stabæk
Monday, October 29, 2012
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WFC Malmö missed the chance to clinch the Swedish title and Stabæk FK's hopes in Norway have faded after clubs' last domestic games before the midweek round of 16 first legs.
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WFC Malmö missed the chance to clinch the Swedish title and Stabæk FK's hopes in Norway have faded after the contenders' last domestic games before the UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16.
Malmö went into the penultimate week of the season five points clear of Tyresö FF, who visit the leaders next Saturday. This Saturday, Tyresö beat Jitex BK 3-0 but a Malmö win at two-time European champions Umeå IK would have ensured a third straight championship.
However, Malmö fell behind to Emelie Kondradsson on 51 minutes and then had Ramona Bachmann sent off. Although Elin Rubensson levelled with five minutes left, the 1-1 draw means Malmö still need a point against Tyresö in the title decider.
Göteborg FC, in fourth, won 2-1 against KIF Örebro while their hosts on Wednesday, Fortuna Hjørring, prevailed 5-1 at KoldingQ to remain within five points of Danish leaders Brøndby IF. Malmö's midweek opponents ASD CF Verona came from behind to beat ASD Fiammamonza 1970 2-1 while ASD Torres kept up their perfect Serie A start, winning by the same score at ACFD Pordenone.
Norway's two European entrants were matched on Friday and deposed champions Røa IL won 3-1 at Stabæk FK, who with two games left are now six points behind Lillestrøm SK. On Thursday Røa travel to a VfL Wolfsburg side boosted by a Conny Pohlers hat-trick in a 4-0 defeat of FCR 2001 Duisburg; after five Frauen Bundesliga games they have won four and drawn one and scored 14 unanswered goals.
Wolfsburg are three points behind 1. FFC Frankfurt with two games in hand. Two ahead of VfL having played a match more are 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, winning 3-0 at FF USV Jena ahead of their Thursday trip to English title holders Arsenal LFC.
European champions Olympique Lyonnais underlined their status as they overcame EA Guingamp 3-0, their sixth win and 43rd unanswered league goal this season, while FCF Juvisy Essonne prevailed by the same score at FC Vendenheim and are fourth. Juvisy go to Stabæk on Wednesday while Lyon face FK Zorkiy Krasnogorsk, currently a point adrift of Russian leaders WFC Rossiyanka, themselves matched with AC Sparta Praha.
