Glory, gilt-edged goals and giant crowds - WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
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FIFA.com’s latest women’s football review travels to various parts of Europe where the opportunity to win silverware - as well as significant crowd interest - were both recurring themes over the weekend. There was cup glory to be found in both England and France, as well as an important final-round in Germany, while league championship success looms in several other nations across the continent. We also skip across the Atlantic, where Washington Spirit continues to hold more heralded challengers at bay.
England: Arsenal rediscover former glory
Arsenal claimed the FA Women’s Cup for a record 14th time after seeing off holders Chelsea with a 1-0 scoreline under sunny Wembley skies. A superb individual strike from Danielle Carter separated the teams with England manager Mark Sampson describing it as a goal that “wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Champions League final”. Veteran Gunners’ star Kelly Smith also impressed, with the 37-year-old still displaying her technical excellence on the big stage. Perhaps the biggest story, though, was the record 32,912 crowd which surpassed last season’s benchmark of just over 30,000.
France: Lyon’s insatiable hunger for silverware
Lyon’s remarkable dominance in France remains unblemished after the club won the cup on Sunday to secure a fifth consecutive double. Having already won the league with a match to spare, Lyon were forced to come from behind to see off a brave Montpellier. After the two sides exchanged goals within the opening few minutes, it took until four minutes from the end before Lyon secured the trophy. And, much like in England, the cup-winning strike was worthy of the occasion as gifted midfielder Louisa Necib crashed home a 20-metre half-volley into the top corner with trademark élan. There was also a record crowd in excess of 8,000 on hand in Grenoble to witness the cup remain in the same hands. Lyon will now have a chance to secure a remarkable treble in next week’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final against Wolfsburg.
Germany: Wolfsburg hold off rivals in Euro charge
The title race had may have already concluded in Germany as Bayern retained their crown, but the hunt for the second Champions League berth was contested on the final weekend. And it was Wolfsburg who held off third-placed 1.FFC Frankfurt by securing a 5-2 win over the already-relegated Koln. There was a low-key conclusion to the season for Bayern with the champions held 1-1 at home by mid-table Hoffenheim. However, perhaps the most notable headline of the weekend was the retirement of 73-year-old coach Bernd Schroder, who finally retired after a remarkable 45-year career. Aside from a few seasons during the 1990s, Schroder’s entire career was spent at Turbine Potsdam with the club from the outskirts of Berlin enjoying regular success during that time.
Top three: Bayern Munich (57 points), Wolfsburg (47), Frankfurt (46)
USA: Derby stalemate, Spirit undiminished
Washington Spirit not only maintained their undefeated opening to the season, but extended their lead at the summit. A first-half header from veteran midfielder Joanna Lohman was enough to edge a 1-0 win over Houston Dash and open up a three-point margin after five rounds. Much focus, however, was on the Pacific northwest where Portland Thorns also remain unbeaten following a 1-1 draw at Seattle Reign. Star recruit Alex Morgan lifted new club Orlando Pride into third with a tough single-goal win over a hard-working Western New York Flash.
Top three: Washington Spirit (13), Chicago Red Stars (10), Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride (both 9)
Elsewhere
Several exciting finales loom to league campaigns across Europe, most notably in the Netherlands and Italy where domestic glory will be up for grabs in the final round. FC Twente took a giant stride towards winning the league after a lone strike from Renate Jansen was enough to edge Ajax, and skip narrowly ahead of their title rivals on goal difference. An injury-time winner from Martina Rosucci ensured Brescia defeated Bari 2-1, to retain their three-point margin over Fiorentina in Italy’s penultimate round. Meanwhile there was no such anxiety for Slavia Prague who won their third Czech Republic league title with a match to spare thanks to a 1-1 derby draw with Sparta.