Kiwis abroad: Percival’s Champions League dream ends in final defeat

Ria Percival’s tilt at the UEFA Women’s Champions League ended in defeat in Munich this morning, with Frankfurt losing 2-0 to back-to-back champions Lyon in the final.

Ria Percival. Getty Images via FIFA

May 18, 2012

AUCKLAND – Football Fern Ria Percival’s tilt at the UEFA Women’s Champions League ended in defeat in Munich this morning, with Frankfurt losing 2-0 to back-to-back champions Lyon in the final.

A record crowd of 50,212 packed into Munich’s Olympiastadion with the bulk of them lending their support to Frankfurt but a 15th minute Eugenie Le Sommer penalty and a majestic lob by Camille Abily in the 28th minute were enough for the French club to retain their continental crown.

Despite starting the last 10 league games for Frankfurt, as well as both the quarterfinals and semis in the Champions League, Percival began the game on the bench and was introduced on the hour mark with the German side chasing the game.

Frankfurt, who tasted cup final defeat last week in the German Cup will finish the season without a trophy and their hopes of qualifying for next year’s edition of the Champions League are hanging by a thread. They currently sit six points behind second-placed Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga with just two match remaining.

Percival has signed with USV Jena for next season’s Bundesliga, but first has an Olympic campiagn to look forward to with the Football Ferns.