FFC Frankfurt win Champions League
May 14, 2015FFC Frankfurt 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain
(Sasic 32', Islacker 90+1' - Delie 40')
Germany's domination of the Women's Champions League continued after Mandy Islacker's stoppage time winner secured the country's third triumph on the spin.
VfL Wolfsburg has won the last two European trophies, whilst FFC Frankfurt went down in the final against French opposition in 2012 and has now secured its fourth Champions League crown - the best record of any club.
Goal-getter Celia Sasic sent Colin Bell's men on their way to Germany's ninth tournament victory, yet they were pegged back by Marie-Laure Delie at the break. But Islacker's late volley turns Frankfurt's season into a success despite missing out on the treble with Bayern Munich taking the league title and the Wolves winning the German Cup.
Frankfurt eager from the start
Frankfurt, winners in 2002, 2006 and 2008, was the favorite of the crowd in the German capital of Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel joining UEFA President Michel Platini. Colin Bell's side pressed high up the pitch with the excellent Dzsenifer Marozsan combining with top scorer Sasic.
The first half-chance fell to the feet of Swiss midfielder Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, whose control let her down with the ball rolling across the 18-yard-line. Bonn-born Sasic was the main threat, though, and a glancing header went past the post on 22 minutes.
Meanwhile, attacking-midfielder Marozsan was beginning to threaten with her runs out into the flanks and her cross in the 29th minute to Simone Laudehr should have been converted.
But three minutes later, Sasic earned the breakthrough for the Germans who were on top. Kerstin Garefrekes struck off an opponent and with the ball spinning fortuitously in the air the striker netted her 14th goal of this season's Women's Champions League.
The Parisians appeared subdued despite their high-scoring feats in previous rounds. Kenza Dali's shot on 39 minutes from the best part of 40 yards looked more like a sign of desperation for the French club.
Consequently, the resulting corner kick from Dali was turned home by Delie whose potency in front of goal has been key to PSG's Champions League campaign.
Dramatic tale
While the second-half was a more balanced contest, the German side carved out the clearer opportunities. Sasic threatened on 48 minutes before the following effort from Spaniard Veronica Boquete was booted off the line by German-born defender Annike Krahn.
Twenty minutes later, in the 68th minute, former Espanyol player Boquete failed to direct her long-range effort at goal on target as the ball sailed over the woodwork.
But in the closing minutes, Bell's side took the title when the ball broke kindly to second-half sub Islacker who directed the ball high and into the net and send their players into raptures on home soil.