FC Bayern Munich Frauen edge MSV Duisburg with first half penalty

Now that they're officially out of contention for a spot in next season's Champions League, FC Bayern Munich Frauen can finish with their second highest point total over the last decade if they can pull out victories in their final three matches. Saturday's match against MSV Duisburg put them on the right track.

Thomas Wörle's side jumped out in dominate fashion, ruthlessly attacking the Duisburg goal in the first five minutes. They earned four corners during that time and had multiple solid shots, but their efforts were unrewarded with some not-so-great finishing and good defense from Duisburg.

In the 19th minute, Duisburg executed a brilliant counter off of a Bayern corner kick. Jennifer Oster broke from around midfield after a beautiful through-ball from Laura Luis, but her finishing failed her after Kathrin Längert came rushing out of goal to deny her. Lucky for FCB, the match was still scoreless.

Five minutes later, Bayern broke out in a counter led with Sarah Hagen, Lena Lotzen, Vanessa Bürki and Eunice Beckmann all getting touches on the ball. Hagen beat her defender on the left side of the box before dropping the ball off to Lotzen. The German international was fouled in the area Alice Hellfeier, earning a penalty for FCB. Katharina Baunach stepped up to take the kick and converted the penalty to give Bayern the 1-0 lead.

Lotzen nearly made it 2-0 around the 30th minute after a great cross from Beckmann, but Stina Petersen was quick out of the Duisburg goal and blocked Lotzen's shot.

The second half saw more Bayern dominance, but the inability to find another goal. On one such sequence, a Beckmann-Hagen-Lotzen interplay saw Bürki sky a shot over the crossbar from the far post.

With two matches left in the Fraun Bundesliga for FC Bayern, they sit nine points out of the two Champions League places awarded to the league. FFC Frankfurt, FFC Turbine Potsdam, and Wolfsburg occupy the first three places and are separated by only a point. So, while FCB are unfortunately out competition for one of the pots, the Frauen Bundesliga looks like it will come down to the final matchday to determine a champion and the Champions League places.

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