UEFA Champions League: Potsdam cares for Lyon knockout

by Olaf Goldbecker

Most games in the round of the last 16 were not very surprising. High scores were seen in nearly all games. Despite being an established club, Potsdam had the biggest surprise when they defeated Olympique Lyon, which has been in the final of the last four years.

Torres Calcio v Rossyanka 2-0 (2-1 on agg)
The Italian side overcame an unlucky 0-1 deficit from the first game due to their veteran power. Pamela Conti in the first half and Patrizia Panico in the second period scored the goals that made Torres move to the quarter finals.

Birmingham City v FC Zorky 5-2 (7-2 on agg)
FC Zorky is the second Russian side that did not make the next round. Isobel Christiansen and Kirsty Linnett cared for an early 2-0 lead and a 4-0 on agg, before some suspense came up when Maria Ruiz and Ashley Nick tied for Zorky. Shortly after the break Kerys Harrop ended their hopes. Linnett again and Melissa Lawley lifted the score.

Glasgow City v Arsenal LFC 2-3 (2-6 on agg)
Suzanne Lappin opened the scoring early for the home team but hopes did not come up as Rachel Yankey tied after twelve minutes. Glasgow now would have required four more goals, an impossible task. Still Glasgow kept the match open, Alex Scott scored the game winner in the final minute.

Tyresö DFF v Fortuna Hjorring 4-0 (6-1 on agg)
After a close match in Denmark, Hjorring disappointed with a bad first half in which they allowed all four goals. Whitney Engen, Kirsten van de Ven and a double strike right before halftime by Marta and Veronica Boquete scored and did not leave any doubts about who would advance.

VfL Wolfsburg v LdB FC Malmö 3-1 (5-2 on agg)
While the Swedish runners up made it to the quarter finals, the champion dropped before the winter break. The defending champion from Germany scored in the first half by Luisa Wensing and Lena Goessling and the match was nearly decided. Sara Gunnarsdottir got her team on the scoreboard with twenty minutes left to go, but in case that this was a ray of hope for Malmö, Martina Müller buried it with the final goal of the match.

FC Zürich v FC Barcelona 1-3 (1-6 on agg)
The match was decided after the first game in Spain. Cinzia Zehnder marked the first strike and gave Zurich the lead this time but Ruth Garcia tied before halftime, while Marta Corredera and Jelena Jankovic scored after the break.

SV Neulengbach v Konak Belediyesi  3-0 (6-0 on agg)
The highest win seen over both games was achieved by Austrian powerhouse Neulengbach. Marlies Hanschitz, Alexandra Biroova and Nina Burger scored for their team.

Olympique Lyon v Turbine Potsdam 1-2 (2-2 on agg, Potsdam on away goal rule)
A final without Lyon has not happened since the European competition was named Women’s Champions League, but now the final will at least feature one new name. Turbine Potsdam surprised the French side even though Camile Abily scored the lead for Lyon after 12 minutes for a 2-0 score seen over both games. After 33 minutes defender Stefanie Draws tied for Potsdam, and with twenty minutes left on the clock, Norwegian NT player Maren Mjelde marked the game winning goal on a penalty kick. Lyon did not have an answer and does not survive the winter in this competition.