Just one week after FCR Duisburg made a big step back into the title race after defeating 1.FFC Frankfurt, their hopes were cut to a minimum the week after. In this weekends’ top game at Turbine Potsdam, Duisburg suffered a 1-0 loss on a goal by German international Anja Mittag.
Like last weekend, this top game was not on a high level. Inka Grings had the first scoring opportunity for the guests midway through the first half but only hit the post. With six minutes left on the clock, Potsdam made use of only their second opportunity in this game and kept themselves on the top position. Turbine Coach Bernd Schröder declared to be satisfied with the chance conversion, while Duisburg Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was disappointed to be punished for the only defensive mistake her team did during the game.
Potsdam’s biggest challenger 1.FFC Frankfurt raced to an easy win over struggling 1.FC Saarbrücken. The guests had to face the surprise retirement of 40-year-old Coach Stephan Fröhlich due to health reasons just two days before the game. Frankfurt left no doubt they would collect the points and rallied to a 9-0 win. Former Atlanta Beat forward Conny Pohlers replaced injured Birgit Prinz and scored four goals. Also, Swedish national team player Jessica Landström added a pair.
In further games, Bayern Munich defeated Bayer Leverkusen, 4-0, with former German international Petra Wimbersky netting a pair. Hamburger SV captured a narrow, 1-0 win over SG Essen-Schönebeck on a goal by Kim Kulig short before halftime. VfL Wolfsburg secured the fourth spot by a 2-1 road win at SC Bad Neuenahr, whose successful Coach Thomas Obliers announced to leave the team after the season. U20 World Champion Selina Wagner decided the game for the road team one minute after she came in as substitute player. The game between the teams on the bottom of the standings, Herford vs. Jena was postponed due to weather. With five games left to play, Turbine Potsdam leads the standings one point ahead of Frankfurt. Duisburg now is four points behind rank two.