Renate Lingor scorched a Malmo FF defense featuring former Rutgers University standout Denise Reddy for three goals on Sunday as FFC Frankfurt returned to the UEFA Women's Cup final with a 4-1 romp in the second leg of the semifinals.
Frankfurt, which won the inaugural title in 2002 but was ousted in the semifinals last year, triumphed after overcoming a second-half deficit before 4,600 at Am Brentano Bad in Frankfurt. The first leg, played two weeks earlier in Malmo, was a scoreless draw.
Reddy teamed in central defense with Swedish national-teamer Karolina Westberg as Malmo held Frankfurt for 71 minutes, until Swedish national team goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson fumbled Pia Wunderlich's corner kick into her net.
Lingor, a starter for Germany's Women's World Cup champions, finished off the Swedes with goals in the 75th and 89th minutes and in stoppage time. Heidi Kackur had given Malmo a 59th-minute lead.
Frankfurt gets a rematch with defending champion Umea IK in the two-legged final, slated for May 3 and 11. Umea, also from Sweden, lost to Frankfurt in the 2002 final but overcame the Germans on penalties in the 2003 semis.
Malmo begins Swedish League play Thursday at Balinge IF.
Hope Solo and Kopparbergs/Goteborg open their Swedish Damallsvenskan campaign Monday at Sunnana SK, and FFC Turbine Potsdam, with Julie and Nancy Augustyniak, play at Bayern Munich on Monday in German League action.
GERMANY
* Julie Augustyniak (FFC Turbine Potsdam, D1), at Bayern Munich, Monday.
Season league stats: 3 games, 1 goal.
* Nancy Augustyniak (FFC Turbine Potsdam, D1), at Bayern Munich, Monday.
Season league stats: 4 games, 0 goals.
SWEDEN
Damallsvenskan
* Hope Solo (Kopparbergs/Goteborg, D1), at Sunnana SK, Monday.
Season league stats: Season-opener.
UEFA Women's Cup semifinals, second leg
* Denise Reddy (Malmo FF, D1), at FFC Frankfurt (Germany), 1-4 (Sunday); Frankfurt advances on aggregate, 4-1.
90 minutes in central defense.
UEFA Women's Cup stats: 7 games, 0 goals.