Perseverance pays off for Potsdam

Fatmire Bajramaj believes 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam's dramatic UEFA Women's Champions League triumph was a victory for hard work and perseverance.

The German club were crowned European champions for the second time after a goalless 120 minutes at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in Getafe, finally ending the challenge of Olympique Lyonnais after a marathon penalty shoot-out in which each side took nine kicks. "This is one of the most beautiful titles I have ever won, because we really worked very hard for it," Bajramaj told UEFA.com. "It's a real reward that we can take the trophy home now."

Victory can rarely have come with a greater effort, although having played against Lyon in the 2008/09 semi-finals with her former club, Bajramaj was not surprised by the French club's ability. "I know them from last season when I played for Duisburg," she explained. "They're a strong team and they deserved to get to the final. They're among the best teams in Europe, and that's why they really played very well here tonight."

Winners in 2005 and runners-up the following year, Potsdam looked to be facing another defeat when they missed two of their first four penalties, leaving Lyon with two chances to take the title. Goalkeeper Anna Felicitas Sarholz denied first Amandine Henry and then Isabell Lehn Herlovsen, however, to take the final into sudden death where Bajramaj converted her team's seventh kick en route to victory – and she insisted her belief had never wavered.

"I had a feeling that I can't really explain," she said. "I thought we could still make it when our goalkeeper saved her first penalty; then I knew we would definitely win it. It took a long time, because a lot of players had to take a penalty, but it worked out for us in the end."