German Women's Bundesliga side 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam have won the the prestigious 38th "Weltklasse" International Women's Indoor Tournament 2018 ("Internationales Frauen-Hallenfußball-Turnier um den Pokal der Sparkasse Bielefeld") in Bielefeld (Photo courtesy: CPD Football)
German Women’s Bundesliga side 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam have won the prestigious 38th “Weltklasse” International Women’s Indoor Tournament 2018 (“38. Internationales Frauenfußball-Hallenturnier des TuS Jöllenbeck um den Pokal der Sparkasse Bielefeld”) in Bielefeld, Germany on Sunday.
The tournament with Bundesliga clubs 1. FC Cologne, SGS Essen, Turbine Potsdam and Werder Bremen, Danish sides Fortuna Hjørring, KoldingQ and VSK Aarhus and AC Sparta Praha from the Czech Republic kicked of on Saturday with the group stage matches. The squads featured various well-known national team players from different parts the world.
Werder Bremen and SGS Essen advanced from Group A to the semifinals on Sunday, while Turbine Potsdam and Sparta Praha booked their spots from Group B. Tournament newbies Sparta Praha registered a 3-1 win against Werder Bremen in their semifinals to set up a final against Turbine Potsdam who defeated SGS Essen 4-0 in the second semifinal.
The final turned into a dramatic game of football: Sparta Praha Pavlina Nepokojova (1′), Tia Hälinen (6′) and Michaela Khýrová put the Czech side 3-0 in the lead, before Felicitas Rauch (13′) and Anna Gasper (14′) hit back to give the Germans new hope.
Tia Hälinen (14′) increased the lead seconds later and it looked like Sparta would clinch the title. But the German “never give up mentality” proved them wrong as Elise Kellond-Knight (18′) and goalkeeper Lisa Schmitz (20′) levelled the scoreline seconds before the full time whistle.
The final went into a penalty shoot-out which Lisa Schimtz decided in favour of Turbine Potsdam as the goalkeeper saved the decisive penalty kick.
7th Place Match: 1. FC Cologne 1-4 VSK Aarhus
5th Place Match: Fortuna Hjørring 5-4 KoldingQ
3rd Place Match: Werder Bremen 1-5 SGS Essen
Final: AC Sparta Praha 7-8 Turbine Potsdam (on penalties)
Please click here for the full group stage results and standings.