Damallsvenskan 2010, round 22

This week saw the final round of Damallsvnskan 2010. All games were played simultaneously, 16 oktober 2010, at 14.00. Final standings for all teams are in parentheses. Sunnanå and AIK are relegated to the second tier; Piteå and Dalsjöfors will be promoted to Damallsvenskan next year.


(10) Hammarby IF DFF v. (9) Kristianstads DFF 2 - 0 (2 - 0)
Goals: 3' Annica Svensson (passning Lena Andersson) 1-0; 26' Leena Puranen (passning Kristin Bengtsson) 2-0
Warnings: KDFF Julia Molin 36'
Source: damfotboll, HIF, svenskfotboll, my own eyes
Pictures of happy players at HIF

"It feels fantastic and is a big relief for everyone," said veteran Kicki Bengtsson of her team's season-saving win. "It's unbelievably great to win this game, to make [their Damallsvenskan] contract for next year, and to end my career with a win. I didn't get that last autumn [her first last game]." The second-happiest player for HIF may have been birthday-girl Puranen, who scored the insurance goal for HIF, on a corner kick assist from Bengtsson. HIF's win combined with Sunnanå's loss to Linköping means that they will return to the top league in 2011.


(3) Linköpings FC v. (11) Sunnanå SK 3 - 0 (0 - 0)
Goals: 54' Linda Sällström (passning Josefine Öqvist) 1-0; 65' Linda Sällström (passning Maria Karlsson) 2-0; 79' Josefine Öqvist (passning Linda Sällström) 3-0
Warnings: SSK Emelie Lövgren 45', LFC Maja Krantz 76'
Source: damfotboll

Those of us at the Hammarby-Kristianstad game had our eyes on the scoreboard (which was reporting the results from all the games) almost as much as we had them on the pitch in front of us, as a win by SSK would have negated any heroics by Hammarby; these results were cheered mightily. Both teams had a tough time converting in the first half, as each team's defense played strong. LFC dominated the second half, and SSK was forced to play higher than they would have liked, according to SSK defender Hanna Marklund. She added that they are disappointed, and were not mentally tough enough, which lost them several matches.


(5) KIF Örebro v. (2) Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 2 - 2 (2 - 2)
Goals: 3' Jane Törnqvist 0-1; 28' Sara Lindén 2-0; 36' Sanna Valkonen (passning Edda Gardarsdottir) 1-2; 45' Elin Magnusson (passning Hanna Ågren) 2-2
Source: damfotboll

K/G has for some reason had trouble with KIF at KIF's home arena— K/G's Stina Segerström, who played for KIF previously, said she can't remember K/G winning there, whichever team she was playing for at the time. Earning a draw with K/G tied KIF with Jitex on points, but put them ahead and into 5th place as a result of having a better goal differential. K/G coach Torbjörn Nilsson singled out the good play of defender Marlene Sjöberg, especially in the first half, and Johanna Almgren. KIF's asistant coach Bernard Nilsson named four players, Marie Hammarström, Marina Pettersson, Valkonen and Magnusson. (The svenskfotboll report lists Gardarsdottir as having both the assist and goal, but the damfotboll description gives the goal to Valkonen.)


(8) Djurgårdens IF DFF v. (12) AIK 2 - 0 (1 - 0)
Goals: 37' Sarah Michael (passning Ahkeela Darcel Mollon) 1-0; 47' Sarah Michael (passning Natalia Rickne) 2-0
Warnings: AIK Alexandra Lindberg 43', DIF Alexandra Höglund 74'
Source: damfotboll

The final Stockholm derby of the year, pitting DIF against already-relegated rivals AIK. "The match meant nothing for our placement but there's always prestige in a derby. It was good to win," said DIF coach Daniel Kalles Pettersson, and he reminds everyone that DIF still have one more game, the Swedish cup final against KIF Örebro on October 30. AIK coach Patric Jildefalk thinks that DIF's Elin Cederroos should have been shown out of the game for her handling of AIK's Tiffany Weimer. An apparently comic moment was had when a DIF player ran headlong into the referee, causing her to have to stop the game to catch her breath.


(6) Jitex BK v. (4) Tyresö 0 - 2 (0 - 0)
Goals: 62' Kirsten van de Ven 0-1; 65' Lisa Klinga 0-2
Warnings: JBK Elinor Ragnvaldsson 49'; TFF Azra Durakovic 51'; TFF Johanna Frisk 67'
Source: damfotboll
Pictures (see if you can spot the celebrity)

A 'derby' of sorts between this year's promoted teams, with TFF coming off the better in both this game and overall standing. It has never happened before that both newcomers have done so well, coming in 6th (JBK) and 4th (TFF). "We stayed with them well in the first half and a couple good chances were created from Kathlene Fernström's throw ins," said JBK assistant Mats Heed. Elin Sandgren in midfield was JBK's best player, while middle back Karin Lissel was singled out for TFF.


(1) LdB FC Malmö v. (7) Umeå IK 5 - 0 (3 - 0)
Goals: 12' Therese Sjögran 1-0; 22' Pavlina Scasna 2-0; 45' Manon Melis (passning Nilla Fischer) 3-0; 49' Frida Nordin (passning Therese Sjögran) 4-0; 51' Manon Melis 5-0
Source: damfotboll, LdB

A year-record-high crowd of 3546 were on hand to watch LdB cap their gold-medal season with a 5-0 pasting of UIK. UIK had trouble keeping up with LdB's tempo and play; according to national team coach Thomas Dennerby, LdB were simply in a class of their own this year. Go to the damfotboll report to see pictures of the orange-clad LdB players wearing tiaras and piling on; also, at the LdB site, there's a short video of season 'highlights' including clips from their fashion videos.

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 21

The penultimate week of the 2010 season, and Marta was on hand to watch Tyresö hand LdB FC Malmö its first defeat of the year, in what was almost surely the best game of the round...

The top two places are clear (LdB FC Malmö followed by Kopparbergs/Göteborg), but the fight for 3rd place (for mostly bragging rights) and for 10th (to avoid relegation) will remain exciting up until the very last games next week. Currently Linköping and Tyresö are tied on points for 3rd with Linköping holding the edge on goal differential; Jitex, which spent a good deal of the season in 4th, slipped to 5th with a loss against bottom-of-the-league AIK. AIK's recent American imports, Fiona O'Sullivan and Tiffany Weimer, have been doing quite a lot of good for the team at the end of the season.

At the other end of the table, Hammarby in 11th must win its last game (against 8th-place Kristianstad) to hope to stay in the league next year, while 10th-place Sunnanå must also win (against 3rd-place Linköping) to stay in the league for sure. If Sunnanå draws and Hammarby wins, the two teams would be tied on points but Hammarby's better goal differential (-17 to Sunnanå's -32) would see them through.

9 oktober 2010
Sunnanå SK v. KIF Örebro 0 - 1 (0 - 1)
Goals: 42' Sanna Talonen (passning Hanna Ågren) 0-1
Warnings: KIF Sanna Valkonen 51'; KIF Olina Vidarsdottir 78'; SSK Carolina Marklund 81'; SSK Magdalena Esseryd 90'
Source: damfotboll, Sunnanå, my own eyes (TV4Sport)

SSK's website was calling this perhaps the most important game of the year, as they are dancing just above the relegation line, and probably had a better chance to beat KIF than next week's Linköping. KIF looked the stronger of the two teams for most of the match, with better possession, but SSK and especially forward Perpetua Nkwocha looked dangerous on fast breaks.


Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC v. Djurgårdens IF DFF 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
Warnings: DIF Natalia Rickne 53'; DIF Rebecca Johnson 88'
Source: damfotboll



AIK v. Jitex BK 2 - 1 (0 - 1)
Goals: 37' Elin Sandgren 0-1; 69' Tiffany Weimer (passning Fiona O Sullivan) 1-1; 71' Clara Markstedt (passning Sofia Simonsson) 2-1
Ejection: AIK Sofia Simonsson 76'
Source: damfotboll

"Too late, AIK" says the headline, but at least they're going down fighting.


Umeå IK v. Hammarby IF DFF 3 - 0 (0 - 0)
Goals: 81' Sofia Jakobsson (passning Elin Landström) 1-0; 89' Anna Westerlund (passning Emmelie Konradsson) 2-0; 90' Linda Molin (passning Emmelie Konradsson) 3-0
Source: damfotboll, Hammarby

"The first half was Hammarby's. I've never seen UIK so pressured," according a witness from the large singing and confetti-flinging section of Hammarby supporters, "and for a while it was really good football." HIF's assistant coach Annelie Norén agreed with that, despite her team's nervous start, but "we didn't get the goals we need." She did praise her players Lena Andersson and Hodan Siid-Ahmed, and also the vocal fan support at this (very far) away game. "It means so much to the girls. They [the fans] work so hard and sing the whole match, we are very thankful." HIF's website is calling for a strong show of support at homefield Kanalplan next week, in which a win against Kristianstad might be enough to keep HIF in the top league next year, should Sunnanå lose to Linköping on the same day.


Tyresö FF v. LdB FC Malmö 1 - 0 (0 - 0)
Goals: 80' Madelaine Edlund (passning Elin Ekblom Bak) 1-0
Source: damfotboll, my own eyes (TV4), clip of the goal (and another rant about advertising)
Pictures of the fan support: Tyresö's website

"Marta was at the game!" squeals the damfotboll headline; apparently she was spotted at the snack stand. And she choose a quite good match to watch, as both teams played very well and each certainly had fair chances to score. Ekblom Bak's assist came after she blocked a hard pass from half way to TFF's goal box from LdB's Nilla Fisher; she managed to control it and send a lovely pass (curving away from the defenders) up to Edlund, who took one touch to control it, then sent a pinpoint shot at goal on the ground past the goalkeeper, a shot that hit the opposite side netting. Good stuff indeed. The large and partisan crowd were as impressive as usual, setting a record attendance for the year (2,219) and lighting off torches and cheering and singing throughout.


10 oktober 2010
Kristianstads DFF v. Linköpings FC 0 - 5 (0 - 3)
Goals: 34' Kosovare Asllani (passning Josefine Öqvist) 0-1; 42' Josefine Öqvist (passning Kosovare Asllani) 0-2; 45' Nora Holstad-Berge 0-3; 55' Linda Sällström (passning Tilda Heimersson) 0-4; 60' Charlotte Rohlin (passning Louise Fors) 0-5
Warnings: LFC Kosovare Asllani 46'; KDFF Katie Kelly 71'; KDFF Erla Arnardottir 78'
Source: damfotboll

Five different goalscorers for LFC this one, as they stopped their end-of-the-season slump (draws against middle-of-the-table teams, a loss against Hammarby last week).

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 20

Only two games left to go, as Damallsvenskan 2010 comes to a close. The race for the top spots is over, the plummet to the lower league is confirmed for AIK. Attention now turns to the important question of who will manage to finish 10th and above the relegation line...


26 september
LdB FC v. AIK 3 - 0 (1 - 0)
Goals: 28' Kathryn Gill (passning Frida Nordin) 1-0; 86' Kathryn Gill (passning Frida Nordin) 2-0; 87' Frida Nordin 3-0
Warnings: AIK Petronella Ekroth 22'; LdB Nera Smajic 72'
Source: damfotboll

The first versus the worst. LdB had already won the league title with their 1-1 draw against Kopparbergs/Göteborg last week, and continued on their winning form against last-place AIK, who could earn at best only 6 more points on the season and are therefore now relegated for certain. LdB played without Therese Sjögran and Linda Forsberg, pushing Pavlina Scasna back to the midfield, and giving Gill a chance to start up front and shine with two goals. Nordin also showed her worth with two assists and a goal of her own.


Umeå IK v. Tyresö FF 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
Goals: 32' Helén Eke (passning Sofie Persson) 0-1; 51' UIK own goal 0-2; 62' Kirsten van de Ven 0-3
Warnings: UIK Anna Paulson 88'
Ejection: TFF Carola Söberg 79'
Source: damfotboll

Time was when a newly-promoted team beating UIK would have made the headlines, but UIK's slump is hardly news anymore and so the red card to TFF's keeper tops the reports. It is unclear to me exactly what happened here, although TFF coach Tino Katsoulakis called it unfortunate, and UIK coach Joakim Blomqvist says the expulsion was the least that could be done, given the foul. The result is the same: TFF will play LdB next week, without benefit of their top keeper.


Jitex BK v. Kopparbergs/Goteborg 0 - 4 (0 - 1)
Goals: 39' Johanna Almgren (passning Caroline Näfver) 0-1; 67' Jane Törnqvist (passning Lisa Dahlkvist) 0-2; 78' Lisa Dahlkvist (passning Sara Lindén) 0-3; 80' Sara Lindén (passning Olivia Schough) 0-4
Source: damfotboll

The second installment of this derby, with second-place K/G maintaining its bragging rights as the Best of the West.


Djurgården IF DFF v. Sunnanå SK 1 - 2 (0 - 0)
Goals: 53' Linda Fransson (passning Perpetua Nkwocha) 0-1; 68' Emma Lundh 1-1; 87' Alexandra Nilsson 1-2
Source: damfotboll

Sunnanå's win over Djurgården gives them valuable points as they try to avoid relegation; they maintain tenth place and two points over Hammarby.


27 september
KIF Örebro v. Kristianstads DFF 3 - 0 (1 - 0)
Goals: 45' Hanna Ågren (passning Sanna Valkonen) 1-0; 55' Sanna Talonen (passning Elin Magnusson) 2-0; 90' Sanna Talonen (passning Elin Magnusson) 3-0
Warnings: KDFF Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 83'
Source: damfotboll


Linköpings FC v. Hammarby IF DFF 1 - 2 (1 - 2)
Goals: 32' Madeleine Tegström 0-1; 38' Therese Brogårde (passning Hodan Siid-Ahmed) 0-2; 42' Josefine Öqvist (passning Louise Fors) 1-2
Warnings: HIF Minna Meriluoto 17'; HIF Tempest-Marie Norlin 73'
Source: damfotboll report, hope lives

'The hope is alive!' cries the first-report headline for this match, an important victory for 11th place HIF over 3rd place LFC, and surely the upset of the day. HIF, fighting for its place in Damallsvenskan 2011, started better than they could have hoped, with Tegström apparently beating LFC's offside trap, and then Brogårde heading in a long free kick. Everyone looked for a tough second half when LFC's Öqvist reduced the differential just before the break. But LFC did not play as if they were a top team, according to their coach Jörgen Petersson, who picked out Linda Sällström and Faith Ikidi as his best players. His team now faces other relegation contenders in their last two games, and surely this result gives those teams some heart.

HIF coach Lars Pihls credited Susan Varli and Siid-Ahmed as his most valuable players, and veteran Kicki Bengtsson makes the match report for having played a whole 80 minutes of the game.

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 19

18 september
Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. LdB FC Malmö 1 - 1 (1 - 1)
Goals: 32' Nilla Fischer (passning Frida Nordin) 0-1; 37' Anna Ahlstrand (passning Sara Lindén) 1-1
Warnings: LdB FC Sarah Storck 35'; LdB FC Nera Smajic 88'
Source: damfotboll match report and LdB celebrates
More pictures

19 september
Sunnanå SK v. Jitex BK 0 - 4 (0 - 2)
Goals: 2' Elin Sandgren 0-1; 38' Linda Sällström; 36' Kristin Carlsson (passning Annica Sjölund) 0-2; 51' Sofia Karlsson 0-3; 61' Annica Sjölund (passning Sofia Skog) 0-4
Source: damfotboll

Kristianstads DFF v. Djurgårdens IF DFF 1 - 1 (0 - 0)
Goals: 57' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir (passning Sofie Andersson) 1-0; 86' Matilda Rosqvist 1-1
Warnings: DIF Natalia Rickne 47'
Source: damfotboll

AIK v. Umeå IK 2 - 2 (1 - 1)
Goals: 15' Rita Chikwelu 0-1; 22' Tiffany Weimer 1-1; 88' Malin Diaz (passning Fiona O Sullivan) 1-2; 90' Therese Kapstad 2-2
Warnings: AIK Emilia Appelqvist 37'; AIK Hanna Folkesson 71';
Source: damfotboll

Linköpings FC v. KIF Örebro 3 - 2 (1 - 1)
Goals: 19' Sanna Talonen (passning Maria Nordbrant) 0-1; 38' Linda Sällström; 53' Elin Magnusson (passning Olina Vidarsdottir) 1-2; 63' Louise Fors (passning Kosovare Asllani) 2-2; 82' Josefine Öqvist (passning Charlotte Rohlin) 3-2
Source: damfotboll

Hammarby IF DFF v. Tyresö FF 1 - 2 (1 - 2)
Goals: 13' Sofie Persson 0-1; 25' Matilda Agné (passning Therese Brogårde) 1-1; 32' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Madelaine Edlund) 1-2
Warnings: HIF Hodan Siid-Ahmed 22'; TFF Karin Lissel 50'; TFF Lisa Klinga 90'
Source: damfotboll

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 18

Foul-wise, it was unusually clean week in Damallsvenskan, featuring only three yellow cards in two games. Injury-wise, there was one somewhat horrifying injury as Sunnanå's Kicki Viklund smacked her head into a metal post off the side of the field, and was stretchered off bleeding profusely from her forehead and wearing a neck-brace. Score-wise, it was an uneven week, with two seven-goal games, two three-goal games, and also one incredibly boring 0-0 draw. Guess which game I went to.

4 september
Umeå IK v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 1 - 2 (1 - 0)
Goals: 45' Sofia Jakobsson (passning Emmelie Konradsson) (1-0); 47' Lisa Dahlkvist (passning Johanna Almgren) 1-1; 53' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Johanna Almgren) 1-2
Source: damfotboll

Good combination play between UIK's young players Konradsson and Jakobsson put the visitors ahead just before the half, but apparently K/G coach Torbjörn Nilsson gave his team some sort of fiery speech in the locker room, as they came out for the second half and scored almost immediately. Only five minutes later Almgren had her second assist, sending a ball to Liljegärd who left one defender behind and also outran the one ahead of her to score the winning goal. The game slowed down after that, although UIK pressed hard in the final minutes. K/G is now almost assured of second place in the league—their highest finish ever— and a Champions League berth next year.


5 september
Kristianstads DFF v. Jitex BK 3 - 4 (1 - 4)
Goals: 7' Malin Fors (passning Kristin Carlsson) 0-1; 12' Annica Sjölund 0-2; 33' Kristin Carlsson 0-3; 35' Kirsty Yallop (passning Susanne Moberg) 1-3; 41' Malin Fors 1-4; 54' Susanne Moberg 2-4; 57' Mia Carlsson (passning Therese Björck) 3-4
Warnings: KDFF Emelie Johnsson 46'
Source: damfotboll, Jitex
Pictures of the game

KDFF refused to give up, despite being three goals behind at halftime— "Jitex had some cheap goals," according to KDFF coach Elisabet Gunnarsdottir, "it was if our defense had never played together before"— but her team made a good game of it with two in the second half. The hunt for third place continues for Jitex, who are only one point behind Linköping.


LdB FC Malmö v. Sunnanå SK 3 - 0 (2 - 0)
Goals: 31' Pavlina Scasna 1-0; 36' Pavlina Scasna 2-0; 68' Pavlina Scasna (passning Therese Sjögran) 3-0
Source: damfotboll match report, damfotboll follow-up on Kicki Viklund, damfotboll on the metal posts that hold the advertising signs

Scasna's hat trick performance was great, sure, but this game will be remembered also for the incident in which SSK's Kicki Viklund slid off the field and cut her forehead open on a metal post used to hold advertising. The profuse bleeding was bad, but it looked like it could have been even worse. The stadium operators claim that the posts are 3.05 meters away from the sidelines, just a little over the regulation 3 meters. Still, after this accident, I hope someone is either reconsidering the distance or reconsidering fixed metal posts.


Hammarby IF DFF v. KIF Örebro 0 - 1 (0 - 1)
Goals: 15' Marina Pettersson (passning Edda Gardarsdottir) 0-1
Source: damfotboll

An unhappy return to the every day for Hammarby, following their win last week against AIK. The back lines of both teams had the best play on the day, and therefore the audience did not see so many scoring opportunities. "We had more chances than Hammarby, but did not play well today. We met a physical and struggling Hammarby and defended ourselves well," said KIF coach Richard Holmlund, a little confusingly.

Hammarby, with 12 points, has to play its last four games against Tyresö (home), Linköping (away), Umeå (away) and Kristianstad (home); Sunnanå with 14 points is the team that they have to best chance of overtaking to avoid relegation. Sunnanå plays against Jitex (home), Djurgården (away), Örebro (home) and Linköping (away) and therefore perhaps has the every so slightly easier schedule. It's not looking good for Hammarby.


Djurgårdens IF v. Linköpings IF 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
Source: damfotboll, my own eyes

No goals, no warnings... a game in which not much happened at all. It figures, that this is the game that I went to this week. Djurgården celebrated mildly at the end, as a tie against last year's league winners must certainly be considered a positive achievement by them.


Tyresö FF v. AIK 5 - 2 (1 - 1)
Goals: 15' Katrin Schmidt (passning Elaine Moura) 1-0; 26' Fiona O Sullivan 1-1; 44' Jennifer Egelryd 2-1; 60' Kirsten van de Ven 2-1; 63' Madelaine Edlund (passning Elaine Moura) 3-1; 71' Azra Durakovic 4-1; 89' Elin Ekblom Bak 5-1; 90' Tiffany Weimer 5-2
Warnings: AIK Sofia Simonsson 1'; TFF Kirsten van de Ven 81'
Source: damfotboll

"If it had been 2-0 the match might have run our way, and it would have become a little vacuum. AIK has strengthened but not so much as to threaten us," said TFF manager Hans Löfgren. Schmidt, van de Ven, Edlund, and Elaine were the players who distinguished themselves the most, and in damfotboll's match report, Ekblom Bak looks especially pleased to have scored and won against her old team AIK. Ex-Nittany Lion Weimer added a consolation goal for AIK in stoppage time.

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 17

It was Derby Time again in Damallsvenskan, with Stockholm Northsiders AIK hosting Southsiders Hammarby (both teams also in the basement of the league), Way Up North Sunnanå hosting Slightly Less North Umeå, and last but not least the Skåne derby, featuring Kristianstad against LdB.

1 sept
Jitex BK v. Linköpings FC 1 - 1 (0 - 0)
Goals: 50' Kathlene Fernström 0-1; 85' Maria Karlsson 1-1
Warnings: JBK Sofia Skog 67'
Source: damfotboll

LFC manages only partial revenge for their earlier home loss to JBK; this draw between the teams at 3rd and 4th places mostly helps Kopparbergs/Göteborg have a more secure grip on 2nd.


1 sept
Sunnanå SK v. Umeå IK 1 - 3 (1 - 2)
Goals: 12' Sofia Jakobsson (passning Rita Chikwelu) 0-1; 41' Kristina Wiklund (passning Perpetua Nkwocha) 1-1; 44' Sofia Jakobsson (passning Rita Chikwelu) 1-2; 80' Rita Chikwelu (passning Emmelie Konradsson) 1-3
Warnings: UIK Linnéa Ågren 31'
Source: damfotboll

The return leg of the Up North derby, which last time UIK won 6-1. UIK's Chikwelu increases her season point total, assisting on two goals and scoring one herself.


1 sept
KIF Örebro v. Djurgårdens IF DFF 3 - 1 (2 - 1)
Goals: 10' Sanna Talonen (passning Marie Hammarström) 1-0; 13' Marie Hammarström 2-0; 36' Sarah Michael 2-1; 77' Marina Pettersson 3-1
Warnings: DIF Alexandra Höglund 50'; DIF Rebecca Johnson 77'; KIF Jennie Wecksell 87'
Source: damfotboll

A practice game for the two teams who will play in the Swedish Cup finals; the game points a clear finger at how that game will probably go.


1 sept
LdB FC Malmö v. Kristianstads DFF 5 - 3 (1 - 3)
Goals: 12' 0-1 Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 0-1; 13' Manon Melis (passning Frida Nordin) 1-1; 15' Susanne Moberg 1-2; 35' Sofie Andersson 1-3; 53' Therese Sjögran (passning Pavlina Scasna) 2-3; 60' Manon Melis (passning Therese Sjögran) 3-3; 65' Pavlina Scasna (passning Therese Sjögran) 4-3; 76' Linda Forsberg (passning Therese Sjögran) 5-3
Warnings: KDFF Gudny Björk Odinsdottir 88'
Source: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

Two substitutions I was happy to see near the end of the game: Kathryn Gill got on the field second time in a week (replacing Nilla Fischer in the 81st) as did young forward Sarah Storck (in for Manon Melis in the 84th). LdB must have gotten quite a stern halftime speech from their coach; they scored four goals in a little more than 20 minutes in the second half.


1 sept
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC v. Tyresö FF 2 - 1 (2 - 1)
Goals: 4' Madelaine Edlund (passning Line Roddik/Hansen) 0-1; 14' Jane Törnqvist 1-1; 33' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Johanna Almgren) 2-1
Warnings: KGFC Johanna Almgren 23'; TFF Sofie Persson 71'; TFF Elaine Moura 86'
Source: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

TFF's Edlund scores for her new team time, her third in two appearances. For KGFC, it's always nice to see Törnqvist (one of Sweden's Grand Dames) score. Besides the two goalscorers, KGFC coach Torbjörn Nilsson acknowledged also the contributions of defender Stina Segerström.


1 sept
AIK v. Hammarby IF DFF 2 - 4 (2 - 1)
Goals: 25' Tiffany Weimer (passning Clara Markstedt) 1-0; 37' Fiona O Sullivan (passning Linda Sembrant) 2-0; 40' Tempest-Marie Norlin (passning Hodan Siid-Ahmed) 1-2; 50' Nazanin Vaseghpanah (passning Matilda Agné) 2-2; 73' Nazanin Vaseghpanah 3-2; 85' Tempest-Marie Norlin (passning Annica Svensson) 4-2
Warnings: AIK Petronella Ekroth 12'; HIF Matilda Agné 35'; HIF Nazanin Vaseghpanah 39'; AIK Hanna Folkesson 90'
Source: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

And speaking of Grand Dames, Kicki Bengtsson started in this one, but came off at halftime. The New Bloods for AIK (Weimer and O'Sullivan) both helped their team, but not enough. "A miracle" for Hammarby, according to damfotboll, as AIK appeared to have better play early on. A tough loss for AIK, but an important victory for HIF, who are now two points beneath the relegation line, held now by Sunnanå in 10th place.

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 16

Three Swedish ex-WPS players (Madelaine Edlund, Johanna Frisk, and Elaine) had themselves a pretty good weekend in Damallsvenskan, with their team Tyresö FF.

28 august
Hammarby IF v. Djurgården IF 0 - 2 (half - half)
Goals: 20' Rebecca Johnson (passning Klara Lindberg) 0-1; 74' Ahkeela Darcel Mollon (passning Rebecca Johnson) 0-2
Warnings: Team Name x'
Sources: damfotboll matchreport, on Bengtsson, and svenskfotboll,

Djurgården came out looking more alert, and Johnson's goal came as no surprise, as she was well-placed and Djurgården had the run of play. Hammarby came back to threaten somewhat in the last fifteen minutes, but Djurgården keeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir (exhausted from illness and travel to and from World Cup qualifiers) was never too worried. She singled out the fine play of defenders Elin Cederroos and Onome Ebi.

Last year I went to the Hammarby-Djurgården fixture, which was touted as Kicki Bengtsson's last game... this year, that same game saw her home-field comeback as she played in her 398th game for the league. The team celebrated its 40th birthday both before and after the game, although celebrations must have been somewhat muted by the realization that it's going to take some hard work and luck if they are to stay in Damallsvenskan; Hammarby is tied with AIK at the bottom of the table, and both teams face relegation to the second division next year unless some team above them stumbles badly.


28 august
AIK v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg 0 - 4 (0 - 2)
Goals: 28' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Johanna Almgren) 0-1; 43' Lisa Dahlkvist (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 0-2; 79' Marlene Sjöberg (*note that the match report credits Dahlqvist*); 83' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Sara Lindén) 0-4
Sources: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

A convincing win for K/G, which assistant coach Christian Andersson credited in part to AIK's poor clearances; he praised AIK goalkeeper Maja Åström for several saves, and the "young and brave" AIK team. Liljegärd opened the scoring, but the best goal of the day was Dahlqvist's smoker from 30m out. She added a third goal with ten minutes to go, a goal that has been officially credited to Sjöberg, but "...Lisa says herself that she was the last to touch it," said Andersson. The final goal came through the unselfish play of Lindén to Liljegärd, thereby making the two teammates tied again for league-leading scorers, at 14 goals each.


29 august
Umeå IK v. Kristianstads DFF 2 - 1 (1 - 0)
Goals: 36' Sofia Jakobsson (passning Maija Saari) 0-1; 53' Anna Westerlund (passning Maija Saari) 2-0; 54' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 2-1
Warnings: UIK Rita Chikwelu 59'; UIK Anna Westerlund 82'
Source: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

"The three points were very important for us to regain a little self-confidence," said UIK coach Joakim Blomkvist. "We fought well," said KDFF coach Elisabet Gunnarsdottir, "not enough for the whole game but we are on our way back." She named UIK's Rita Chikwelu as 'extremely useeful' and the important difference between the two teams in this game.


29 august
Tyresö FF v. Sunnanå SK 6 - 1 (4 - 0)
Goals: 14' Madelaine Edlund (passning Azra Durakovic) 1-0; 31' Sofie Persson (passning Kirsten van de Ven) 2-0; 35' Madelaine Edlund (passning Katrin Schmidt) 3-0; 44' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Azra Durakovic)4-0; 47' Azra Durakovic 5-0; 52' Azra Durakovic 6-0; 70' Josefin Johansson (passning Perpetua Nkwocha) 6-1
Warnings: SSK Magdalena Esseryd 59'; TFF Johanna Frisk 78'
Source: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

It only took 14 minutes for "Madde" Edlund (last seen playing for St. Louis Atheltica in the WPS) to score a goal with her new team; around 1000 people saw a real goal-fest at Tyresövallen, with the scoring and assisting spread neatly around. "Clearly our best home game," said TFF spokesperson Hans Löfgren. "The team raised its level for the whole game." He further named Johanna Frisk and Elaine as key players in the convincing win. TFF now is in 5th place, just one point behind Jitex.


29 august
Linköpings FC v. LdB FC Malmö 2 - 1 (2 - 0)
Goals: 5' Manon Melis (passning Frida Nordin) 0-1; 37' Linda Forsberg (passning Frida Nordin) 0-2; 57' Josefine Öqvist 2-1
Warnings: LFC Josefine Öqvist 25'; LdB Amanda Ilestedt 85'
Sources: damfotboll, my own eyes

Last year's champions Linköping had been the only team to take points away from league-leading LdB FC, a 0-0 draw back in spring. LdB played a nice calm possession game; they looked quite competent and in control. LFC also played very well, but simply not as precisely as LdB; the importance of Faith Ikidi to LFC's backline cannot be overstated. LdB frankly looks unbeatable by any other Damallsvenskan team, and if they can hold on to these players in this form, I feel pretty good about their chances in the Champions League next year. Here's a longer summary of the game.


29 august
KIF Örebro IF v. Jitex BK 1 - 1 (0 - 0)
Goals: 72' Kristin Carlsson 0-1; 87' Sanna Talonen (passning Maria Nordbrant) 1-1
Source: svenskfotboll, damfotboll

A physically tough match, but a fair one, with lots of close combat, agreed the two coaches. Jitex still lies in 4th place in the league, with fellow newcomers Tyresö in 5th place, only one point behind.

Damallsvenskan 2010, round 15

Two oldies but goodies made the headlines this week— Hanna Marklund by scoring a goal, and Kicki Bengtsson by merely taking the field. Saturday 14 was a beastly hot day in southern Sweden, as these things go, with temperatures at least in the 80s F and unusually high humidity.


14 aug
Djurgården IF v. Jitex BK 1 - 3 (0 - 2)
Goals: 24' Kajsa Tornfalk 0-1; 44' Frida Höglund (passning Sofia Karlsson) 2-0; 50' Annica Sjölund (penalty) 0-3; 85' Klara Lindberg (passning Matilda Rosqvist) 1-3
Warnings: JBK Sofia Karlsson 14'
Source: damfotboll, Jitex BK

DIF was coming off a victory against Hammarby IF in the Cup, but was not in good enough to overcome the year's overachievers JBK. Down by two goals in the first half, DIF was then whistled for a penalty early in the second when JBK's Kristin Carlsson was pushed in the box, and victory for JBK seemed assured, despite some last minute heroics from DIF's Lindberg.

JBK dominated physically, despite the heat. "It seemed more like a 6-0 game than a 3-1 game," crowed JBK coach Hans Prytz, who pointed to the good play of the goal scorers and also Sofia Skoog. Frida Höglund was awarded player of the match, in the presence of her mother, and the JBK reporter hopes that Mamma Höglund can make it to the next match, away in Örebro, presumably for luck. "The Purples" from Mölndal have now beaten every Stockholm team at least once (as long as you don't count Tyresö), and Djurgåren twice.


14 aug
Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. Hammarby IF DFF 2 - 1 (0 - 0)
Goals: 58' Lisa Dahlkvist (penalty) 1-0; 85' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Caroline Näfver) 2-0; 87' Nazanin Vaseghpanah (penalty) 2-1
Warnings: K/G Jenny Hallstenson 37'
Source: damfotboll, K/G

Kopparbergs/Göteborg's coach Torbjörn Nilsson described the first half as static, with few goal chances; starting defender Marlene Sjöberg (who feeling poorly) was replaced by forward Linnea Liljegärd (who herself has not been well since the trip to the US in July) at the half. The second half started badly for K/G, with some "pinball" action allowing HIF some counter attacks. K/G's Sara Lindén earned K/G's penalty kick, and otherwise menaced, but HIF's goalkeeper Minna Meriluoto had a brilliant day and it was not until late in the game that the combination play of Johanna Almgren and Näfver opened the way for Liljegärd's volley. Keeping in mind their earlier Cup victory over K/G, HIF pushed hard and fought valiantly in the last few minutes, and was awarded a penalty, leaving K/G coach Nilsson nervous until the very end.

Taking the pitch at left midfield for HIF in the 65th minute was national team veteran Kicki Bengstsson, who has promised to help HIF for the rest of the season; HIF has important matches yet to come against fellow relegation contenders Djurgården and AIK.

14 aug
Sunnanå SK v. AIK 2 - 0 (1 - 0)
Goals: 3' Hanna Marklund (passning Elin Johansson) 1-0; 88' Perpetua Nkwocha 2-0
Warnings: 58' AIK Emelie Ölander; 86' SSK Elin Johansson
Source: damfotboll

Already by the second minute SSK's Linda Fransson had missed a penalty kick, but then in the third, national team veteran "The Eternal" Marklund had scored a header from a corner kick. SSK continued to have several chances at goal, not least through the efforts of Nkwocha. The second half was similarly played, and Nkwocha's goal was well-deserved by that point, according to SSK coach Krister Lundgren.

AIK's coach Patric Jildefalk described his team's effort as "passive" and thought it typical of them to go down a goal so early, but he gave high marks to goalkeeper Johanna Baecklund, who got the start instead of Maja Åström on account of the latter's illness.

15 aug
Kristianstads DFF v. Tyresö FF 0 - 3 (0 - 2)
Goals: 12' Katrin Schmidt (passning Kirsten van de Ven) 0-1; 32' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Line Roddik/Hansen) 0-2; 90+3' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Lisa Klinga) 0-3
Warnings: KDFF Kirsty Yallop 55'; KDFF Mia Carlsson 87'
Source: damfotboll

It has been a turbulent month for KDFF, with questions arising about the team's economic situation; their trainer Elisabet Gunnarsdottir mentioned that these issues made it hard to properly motivate and concentrate the players. KDFF's best chances came early in the second half with two corner kicks in quick succession.

TFF seems to have obviously been the better team on the day, which coach Tino Katsolulakis attributed to his players' strong play and good ball control. Van de Ven had a particularly good day, with two goals and an assist.

16 aug
KIF Örebro DFF v. LdB FC Malmö 1 - 3 (1 - 1)
Goals: 27' Emma Wilhelmsson 0-1; 28' Elin Magnusson (passning Marie Hammarström) 1-1; 79' Pavlina Scasna (passning Manon Melis) 1-2; 82' Therese Sjögran
Warnings: LdB Pavlina Scasna 44'; KIF Sanna Valkonen 76'
Source: damfotboll

KIF goaltender Kristin Hammarström made the match interesting with her many good saves, especially one against LdB striker Melis inside the first five minutes. On the LdB end of the field, Tine Cederkvist returned to start in goal after Icelandic national goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir was injured during the warm-ups. LdB dominated especially in the second half, although they did not score again until late, through Scasna (who used to play for KIF) and then a bit of artistry from Sjögran.

17 aug
Linköpings FC v. Umeå FC 5 - 0 (2 - 0)
Goals: 23' Josefine Öqvist (passning Louise Fors) 1-0; 40' Kosovare Asllani (passning Tilda Heimersson) 2-0; 59' Kosovare Asllani (passning Petra Larsson) 3-0; 90+1 Linda Sällström 4-0; 90+3 Linda Sällström (passning Maja Krantz)5-0
Source: damfotboll, svenskfotboll, and my own eyes (longer wrap-up)

Asllani, last seen playing for the Chicago Red Stars in WPS, made two goals and looked quite sharp in her re-debut for LFC. Fors (also recently returned, from Spanish side Espanyol) and Öqvist also had good days, and Sällström, who replaced Asllani in the 66th minute, had two goals in stoppage time.

LFC looked dominant throughout, with UIK taking few shots, and its defense looking generally shaky. UIK is simply not what is has been, notes svenskfotboll; they believe they shall make it back to the top, although it will take time, notes Roland Arnqvist, the man who saw them through their better years, and who has recently returned to UIK.

Catching up with Damallsvenskan 2010

Damallsvenskan resumes the 2010 season this weekend, with round 15 of 22. The top teams have spread out somewhat, with LdB FC Malmö rather firmly in first place, Kopparbergs/Göteborg somewhat less securely in second, and Linköpings FC (last year's champions) and Jitex BK (newly promoted) rounding out the top four. Shockingly, the bottom three places are held by the Stockholm teams Djurgårdens IF, AIK, and Hammarby IF, with the last two teams currently tied on points below the relegation line. Round 16 will not be played until the last weekend of August, as Sweden has World Cup qualifiers on August 21 (against the Czech Republic) and 25 (against Wales).

Sorry to miss on details of the rounds immediately before the summer break, but for reference, the scores for rounds 10 through 14 are reported below.

Round 10
Hammarby IF DFF v. Umeå IK 0 - 1
LdB FC Malmö v. Tyresö FF 4 - 1
Jitex BK v. AIK 1 - 0
Djurgården v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg 0 - 1
KIF Örebro DFF v. Sunnanå SK 0 - 0
Linköpings FC v. Kristianstads DFF 3 - 0

Round 11
Kristianstads DFF v. Hammarby IF DFF 0 - 1
Tyresö FF v. Jitex BK 3 - 2
AIK v. Djurgården 0 - 0
Umeå IK v. LdB FC Malmö 0 - 4
Sunnanå SK v. Linköpings FC 0 - 4
Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. KIF Örebro DFF 1 - 1

Round 12
Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. Linköpings FC 1 - 1
AIK v. KIF Örebro DFF 0 - 4
Umeå IK v. Jitex BK 1 - 2
Sunnanå SK v. Kristianstads DFF 1 - 1
LdB FC Malmö v. Hammarby IF DFF 4 - 0
Tyresö FF v. Djurgården 1 - 2

Round 13
Jitex BK v. LdB FC Malmö 1 - 2
Kristianstads DFF v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg 1 - 1
Djurgården v. Umeå IK 2 - 0
Hammarby IF DFF v. Sunnanå SK 2 - 0
KIF Örebro DFF v. Tyresö FF 1 - 2
Linköpings FC v. AIK 1 - 0

Round 14
Tyresö FF v. Linköpings FC 1 - 1
Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. Sunnanå SK 5 - 0
AIK v. Kristianstads DFF 3 - 1
Umeå IK v. KIF Örebro DFF 1 - 0
LdB FC Malmö v. Djurgården 6 - 3
Jitex BK v. Hammarby IF DFF 3 - 1

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 9

Some weeks there's just no time to do much more than report the bare facts; these are such weeks. It's a busy time for everyone: by tomorrow night (2 June) when all Round 10 games are played simultaneously, every team in Damallsvenskan will have played four games in two weeks.


Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. Jitex BK 6 - 0 (2-0)
Goals: 5' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Sara Lindén)1-0; 45' Johanna Almgren (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 2-0; 50' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Johanna Almgren) 3-0; 74' Linnea Liljegärd 4-0; 79' Sara Lindén (passning Olivia Schough) 5-0; 87' Olivia Schough (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 6-0


Hammarby IF DFF v. Linköpings FC 1 - 4 (1-2)
Goals: 18' Jonna Andersson (passning Jessica Samuelsson) 0-1; 30' Jonna Andersson (passning Linda Sällström) 0-2; 38' Tempest-Marie Norlin (passning Nazanin Vaseghpanah) 1-2; 53' Jonna Andersson (passning Linda Sällström) 1-3; 87' Linda Sällström (passning Faith Ikidi) 1-4
Warnings: HIF Daniella Chamoun 8'; LFC Petra Larsson 55'
Source: damfotboll

Jonna Anderson was the hero of the match for LFC, scoring her first goal for them in the 18th minute and then adding her second and third for the team in the same match. Faith Ikidi returned to LFC after World Cup qualifying duty with the Nigerian national team, and provided the assist to Linda Sällström in the waning minutes. HIF coach was understandably not pleased, saying that three of LFC's four goals were presents to them from his defense, lacking only the wrapping paper.


AIK v. LdB FC Malmö 1 - 3 (0-2)
Goals: 7' Josefine Alfsson (passning Pavlina Scasna) 0-1; 39' Manon Melis 0-2; 54' Linda Sembrant 1-2; 62' Pavlina Scasna (passning Lina Nilsson) 1-3
Warnings: AIK Sofia Simonsson 29'; AIK Linda Sembrant 37'; LdB Josefine Alfsson 50'; LdB Malin Levenstad 55'
Source: damfotboll

LdB started the game without playmaker Therese Sjögren, who had pain in her hip, but Pavlina Scasna filled in that role quite well, providing an assist early and later scoring one of her own.


Sunnanå SK v. Djurgården 2 - 1 (2-0)
Goals: 6' Martina Sandström 1-0; 28' Linda Fransson 2-0; 55' Sarah Michael (passning Alexandra Höglund) 2-1
Warnings: SSK Magdalena Esseryd 46'; SSK Hanna Marklund 81'
Source: damfotboll

SSK had a good aggressive start to the game and scored twice in the first half perhaps aided by some defensive mistakes by DIF. DIF played harder in the second half, but the SSK defense was stronger and held them off, although for the last few minutes the home fans "were sitting on needles." With this win SSK earned their second consecutive victory, and their first at their home field.


Kristianstads DFF v. KIF Örebro 3 - 1 (1-1)
Goals: 6' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 1-0; 39' Marina Pettersson 1-1; 66' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 2-1; 78' Antonia Göransson 3-1
Warning: KIF Edda Gardarsdottir 70'
damfotboll's report


Tyresö FF v. Umeå IK 1 - 2 (1-1)
Goals: 2' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Elin Ekblom Bak) 1-0; 10' Rita Chikwelu 1-1; 79' Rita Chikwelu 1-2
Warning: TFF Kirsten van de Ven 61'
damfotboll's report

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 8

Tyresö FF v. Hammarby IF DFF 2 - 2 (1-2)
Goals: 5' Line Roddik Hansen 0-1; 8' Annica Svensson (passning Nazanin Vaseghpanah) 1-1; 35' Daniella Chamoun (passning Nazanin Vaseghpanah) 1-2; 75' Elin Ekblom Bak (passning Kirsten van de Ven) 2-2
Warnings: TFF Karin Lissel 42'; TFF Azra Durakovic 49'; TFF Lisa Klinga 76' (ejection); HIF Sara Wiman 90'


Jitex BK v. Sunnanå SK 1 - 2 (1-1)
Goals: 35' Elin Carlsson 1-0; 45' Matilda Forslund 1-1; 90' Linda Fransson 1-2
Warnings: JBK Jenny Olsson 91'

This result was a bit of a surprise, to me at least; SSK has not had a particularly good season so far, and was lying just around the relegation line, while JBK was sitting in fourth place. With their win, SSK has pushed Stockholm teams AIK and Hammarby down to 11th and 12th place respectively, despite AIK's victory against Umeå (see below).


LdB FC Malmö v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg 5 - 3 (3-2)
Goals: 5' Emma Wilhelmsson 1-0; 14' Johanna Almgren 1-1; 15' Manon Melis (passning Pavlina Scasna) 2-1; 27' Manon Melis (passning Pavlina Scasna) 3-1; 40' Sara Lindén 3-2; 62' Linda Forsberg (passning Pavlina Scasna) 4-2; 81' Manon Melis; 90+2' Lisa Dahlkvist 5-3
Highlights from TV

This game was quite the cleanly-played shootout, with a record attendance for the season (1775). Most of the goals were pretty, some were less so... K/G goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl perhaps had a lapse in concentration once or twice— for goals 1 and 3, she appeared to have the ball in her hands, but somehow the ball scooted past her into the goal. On the other hand, she had a couple good saves as well. Johanna Almgren's goal was a nice bit of individual effort, although I think the maybe Sara Lindén might have gotten credit for an assist, with her nice leading pass that took Almgren cleanly past the LdB defense. Manon Melis did a hat-trick for LdB FC.


Umeå IK v. AIK 0 - 1 (0-1)
Goals: 19' Clara Markstedt 0-1
Warnings: UIK Emmelie Konradsson 77'


Djurgården IF v. Kristianstads DFF 1 - 5 (0-1)
Goals: 11' Susanne Moberg (passning Sofie Andersson) 0-1; 51' Mia Carlsson 0-2; 74' Katrin Omarsdottir (passning Margret Lara Vidarsdottir) 0-3; 78' Susanne Moberg 0-4; 81' Elin Cederroos 1-4; 85' Julia Molin (passning Susanne Moberg) 1-5
Warnings: DIF Elin Cederroos 37'; KDFF Antonia Göransson 52'


KIF Örebro DFF v. Linköpings FC 0 - 0
Warnings: LFC Josefine Öqvist 63'; KIF Edda Gardarsdottir 83'

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 7

Games played May 16-19. Damallsvenskan is now one-third through the 2010 season. It is not too surprising that LdB FC and Kopparbergs/Göteborg top the chart and that KIF Örebro is in third; I feel quite comfortable saying that Jitex, lying fourth, are this year's overachievers so far.


Kopparbergs/Göteborg v. Umeå IK 5 - 0 (3-0)
Goals: 5' Own goal 1-0; 25' Sara Lindén (passning Lisa Ek) 2-0; 28' Lisa Ek (passning Marlene Sjöberg) 3-0; 71' Lisa Ek (penalty) 4-0; 86' Linnea Liljegärd 5-0
Warnings: K/G Lisa Dahlkvist 41'; UIK Emma Berglund 45'
Sources: damfotboll, KGFC, svenskfotboll
Pictures here

K/G's Johanna Almgren started for the first time the year, and could not have had a better time of it; already in the 5th minute, she made a good run on the right side, got the ball and caused the first goal, which has since been officially credited as an own goal as it went off of UIK's Frida Östberg. Almgren and Linnea Liljegärd continued to create confusion in the UIK defense, which was trying to play in an unfamiliar low style. Lisa Ek dominated the midfield with hard running and precision passing, serving a ball to Sara Lindén who scored with her head, and then getting a goal of her own a few minutes later. Ek added a penalty goal to her tally late in the 70th minute, and then late in the game Liljegärd added a goal with an elegant lifted ball, after some sloppy play in the UIK defense. Defender Stina Segerström is also mentioned as being a key player in the game.

K/G went into the locker room up by three goals to nil for the fourth game in a row; and perhaps not too surprisingly, their play deteriorated a little early in the second half, but coach Torbjörn Nilsson admonished his players which seems to have worked to good effect. He was not too happy with their perceived lapse in concentration, saying afterward that his team did not hold up well, although he also credited UIK with playing the ball around well. UIK defender Emma Berglund also said that her team played better in the second half even though it is not reflected in the game statistics.

K/G now lies second in the league, one point behind LdB FC after the latter's win against Sunnanå. In their next game they travel to Malmö, in a game that will be televised and should be quite good. "It will be fun, we have a really good feeling in the team right now," said Nilsson.


Sunnanå SK v. LdB FC Malmö 1 - 2 (0-2)
Goals: 9' Manon Melis (passning Therese Sjögran) 0-1; 27' Lina Nilsson 0-2; 80' Perpetua Nkwocha 1-2
Warnings: SSK Emelie Lövgren 27'; LdB Emma Wilhelmsson 65'; LdB Malin Levenstad 75'
Source: damfotboll, svenskfotboll

It was a quite even match between these two teams, and Sunnanå had several good counter attacks early on, although LdB took the lead already in the 9th minute. SSK's Emelie Lövgren's yellow card was issued at the same time that LdB's Lina Nilsson scored her goal, which suggests that something interesting may have happened but I don't know what. LdB went into the locker room two goals up, and apparently came out fighting as well, with several good chances in the second half. SSK's Perpetua Nkwocha reduced LdB's lead in the 80th, and SSK then took over the game as they tried to equalize, but LdB held on.

SSK coach Krister Lundgren congratulated LdB and was proud that his team showed that it could keep up with the best. Hanna Marklund was on the field again for SSK, and it was the last game in a SSK shirt for their Brazilian Luana Gomes.

LdB coach Martin Sjögren was much less pleased, saying it was his team's worst game of the year and that they lost the ball too easily. Still, LdB FC now leads the league, with Kopparbergs/Göteborg one point behind; LdB hosts K/G next weekend in a game with obvious implications for the league title. Sjögren is looking forward to it, and thinks that his players are better on an individual basis.


Jitex BK v. Kristianstads DFF 2 - 2 (1-1)
Goals: 36' Kajsa Tornfalk (passning Elin Carlsson) 1-0; 40' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir (passning Susanne Moberg) 1-1; 54' Kajsa Tornfalk (passning Annica Sjölund) 2-1; 68' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 2-2
Warnings: JBK Kajsa Tornfalk 37'; JBK Elin Sandgren 90+' (ejection)
Source: damfotboll, Jitex, still and moving pictures also courtesy of Jitex (I recommend the movie for the excellent work of the trumpet section, audible in the first few seconds)
Also, here's a short video about Jitex, including the goals of this game, a short history about them (Pia Sundhage played for them), and a peek inside the locker room (go to minute 29; the clip on Jitex is about 4 minutes long). I am not entirely sure if this will be viewable in the US.

By all reports this was the best game of the weekend: the air was cold and the wind biting but the game was a good fight and a fair result ("a tough but honest game"), with the visitors coming back to tie it up twice, and one player on each side scoring twice (a "doublefish"). The home side thought they had won it with a goal in the 90th minute but it was called back on account of roughing KDFF goalkeeper Sandra Wahldén, who is back from a several games off due to concussion. She says that she was "attacked" by two JBK players and if the referee had not blown the whistle, she would have gotten protested enough to get a card. (In the video linked above, it's kind of hard to see the contact, though...)

Kajsa Tornfalk's first goal came from a nice ball headed through the middle by Elin Carlsson, leaving her in a one-on-one with Wahldén, who got a piece of the ball but not enough to keep it out. Margret Lara Vidarsdottir's equalizer came from a nice simple though ball from Susanne Moberg; her run took her far to the left side, from which she made the shot from an acute angle. Tornfalk's second was a really nice one-touch off her right foot into the left side of the goal, from a ball headed back to her after a throw-in. Vidarsdottir's second equalizer came after the ball was bouncing around in the box a bit after a KDFF free-kick.

Besides the goalscorers, other players singled out for praise were Wahldén, Antonia Göransson, Emelie Johnsson, and Katrin Omarsdottirs for KDFF ; for JBK, Frida Höglund, Sofia Karlsson, and Annica Sjöland.

The game was marred only by the poor field conditions, and the red card issued to Elin Sandgren two minutes into stoppage time (the reason for her ejection is either kicking an opponent's shin guard instead of the ball, or protesting that she should get penalized for doing so). Italian goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli, who was brought to the club to substitute for Wahldén, will remain with KDFF for at least the rest of the month.


AIK v. Tyresö FF 0 - 2 (0-1)
Goals: 23' Jennifer Egelryd (passning Elin Ekblom Bak) 0-1; 66' Karin Lissel 0-2
Warnings: TFF Line Roddik Hansen 17'; AIK Emelie Ölander 65'; AIK Hanna Folkesson 77'; TFF Azra Durakovic 86'
Source: damfotboll

This was AIK's third game in a row in which they did not score any goals, and it was also TFF's second away win within Stockholm. TFF played aggresively from the start, pushing back the AIK defense, and wasting several good chances to score. AIK came back a little bit in the second half, but their offense is young; 16-year-olds like Therese Boström and Malin Diaz are talented, but are not going to get the better of experienced defenders like Elin Ekblom Bak and Line Röddick Hansen.

Defenders Karin Lissel and Johanna Frisk did not start again for TFF, but Lissel came in shortly after the second half started, and made the second goal. TFF coach Tino Katsoulakis said that he was pleased with the game, but also that his team needs to take their chances at goal and not shoot straight at the goalkeeper.


KIF Örebro DFF v. Hammarby IF DFF 2 - 1 (0-1)
Goals: 45' Nazanin Vaseghpanah (penalty) 0-1; 55' Marie Hammarström (passning Edda Gardarsdottir) 1-1; 70' Sanna Talonen (passning Elin Magnusson) 2-1
Warnings: KIF Marina Pettersson 29'; KIF Edda Gardarsdottir 33'
Source: damfotboll

HIF's goal came through a penalty kick, after KIF defender Susanna Lehtinen dragged down HIF's Daniela Chamoun. KIF's Marie Hammarström equalized early in the second half through a low shot on a corner kick. KIF dominated the start of the half, with halftime substitute Sanna Talonen eventually scoring their second goal. Coach Richard Holmlund thought his team was too passive in the first, and should have scored, but he praised their character in the come-back.

HIF goalkeeper Minna Merluoto was singled out for praise, making several good saves. Coach Lars Pihl said they had their chances, but the they played okay and their only really poorly played game was against Jitex.


Linköpings FC v. Djurgården 2 - 1 (1-1)
Goals: 6' Josefine Öqvist 1-0; 9' Ellinor Lindbom (passning Emma Lundh) 1-1; 57' Josefine Öqvist 2-1
Warnings: DIF Caroline Frånberg 73'
Source: damfotboll, svenskfotboll, LFC

LFC ended their goalless streak at two games, as Josefine Öqvist scored two classy goals and seems to be on her way back to her national team form. As the match went on LFC became more dominant, but the second half seems to have been better than the first. DIF had some chances from corner kicks, and Emma Lundh nearly scored from a long-distance shot early; she later provided the assist for Ellinor Lindblom to score her first goal in the league.

Jessica Samuelsson made her debut for LFC, and seemed to be working well with Öqvist—"We will certainly be seeing more of her," said LFC coach Jörgen Petersson. LFC's Maria "Kalle" Karlsson replaced Faith Ikidi, who is away for a World Cup qualifier with her national team Nigeria. There's a little confusion about whether Jonna Andersson replaced Linda Sällström in the starting eleven, or at halftime—one source conflicts with the other two—I'll take the majority vote and say that Sällström, who had a stomach bug yesterday, was subbed out after the first half.

Djurgården coach Daniel Kalles Petersson praised Ann-Marie Norlin (who was hastily called back to duty "but showed no lack of fitness") and the play of keeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir.

Damallsvenskan 2010: Strays from rounds 3 and 6

Round-up of a couple stray games from this past week...

Round 6
Tyresö FF v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg 0 - 4 (0-2)
Goals: 33' Sara Lindén (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 0-1; 44' Sara Lindén 0-2; 51' Sara Lindén 0-3; 82' Emelie Johansson
Sources: damfotboll, Tyresö, K/Göteborg
Pictures of TFF supporters, and the game
A couple more details, including video highlights

Newcomers Tyresö have been having quite a good run so far this season, having beaten Djurgården and last year's champions Linköping. K/G for its part lost to Linköping in the opening game, but have been on an unbeaten streak since, and lie second in the league. More than a thousand enthusiastic fans were on hand despite the unseasonably cool weather, burning torches before the game, singing "well into the second half," and lending (occasionally rude) vocal support.

K/G had control of the match from the beginning, although TFF played quite well and had some chances early on. K/G didn't open the scoring until the 33', when Sara Lindén received a nice cross in on the ground and one-touched it in from s short distance directly in front of the goal. Her second came just about ten minutes later, a nice strike from the top left corner of the box over the reach of TFF goalkeeper Carola Söberg, as Lindén was running toward goal. Her third goal, coming just after the start of the half, was another nice one-touch, when the ball was sent back into the area after TFF maybe thought they had cleared it. The fourth goal, scored in the last few minues of the game, was perhaps less pretty, as Emelie Johansson trundled the ball in (perhaps getting help from her hand, according to the TFF defenders) after keeper Söberg was lying on the ground after having made a couple of quick saves.

TFF Defenders Karin Lissel and Johanna Frisk were not available for the match, although their substitutes Line Roddik Hansen and Petronella Ekroth did fine jobs and none of the goals were the result of obvious defensive miscues; the absence of the two starters just added up to too many changes. While TFF never looked like winning, they nevertheless had their chances to score; although they are not pleased to lose, they cannot be too unhappy with their showing against K/G, which is finally looking like the dominant team that they were predicted to be this year.

Lindén now leads the league in scoring after her hat-trick.


Round 3
KIF Örebro v. Umeå IK 0 - 0
Warnings: UIK Emma Berglund 28'; UIK Emma Kulberg 80'
Sources: damfotboll

The Örebro-UIK game match was finally played, having been delayed twice before, once directly and once indirectly because of the volcano. The UIK players must have been tired, playing their third game in a week, and KIF dominated the statistics, taking for instance 7 shots on goal to UIK's 3. The play of Caroline Jönsson in goal and Frida Östberg in defense were largely responsible for maintaining the draw, although KIF may have scored a legitimate goal on a first-half corner kick—KIF coach Richard Holmlund says that even from his position on the bench, he could see that the ball was in the goal. Still, he was happy that his team played together so well, and thinks that the goals will come if they keep on like this. UIK coach Joakim Blomqvist said that they played their game and he is pleased enough with that.

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 6: Derby Days

No fewer than three derbies this weekend, one in the far south, one in the far north, and one in the Big City. The southern one was well-played, the northern one featured lots of goals, and the Big City was... well...

Kristianstads DFF v. LdB FC Malmö 0 - 2 (0-2)
Goals: 18' Manon Melis (passning Therese Sjögran) 0-1; 37' Pavlina Scasna (passning Manon Melis) 0-2
Warnings: KDFF Therese Björck 12'; LdB Emma Wilhelmsson 67'; LdB Nilla Fischer 78'
Source: damfotboll

Southern Derby: These two teams both hail from Skåne, Sweden's deep south, and more than 1500 people braved the unseasonable chill to watch it; they were treated to a well-executed game by both teams. Last week Kristianstad shocked Umeå with a very quick goal: they nearly did the same against LdB, putting the ball in the net but having it called back for roughing the keeper. Therese Sjögran sent a long ball up the left wing to find Manon Melis, who scored in 18th. LdB's Frida Nordin took a shot that required Kristianstad's new goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli of Italy to stretch out her full length (162cm, or 5'4.25") to make the save. LdB's second goal was started by Elin Rubensson in the midfield, who played it up to Melis who in turn found Pavlina Scasna on the right, inside the box. At the start of the second half, KDFF's Susanne Moberg forced a leg save from LdB keeper Thora Helgadotrir, and LdB nearly had an own goal shortly thereafter.

LdB earned a penalty kick when Picarelli and Scasna collided; Sjögran took the shot, which was saved by "a panther's leap" from Picarelli. Picarelli explained afterwards that she recognized Sjögran from previous national team duties, "but I've never seen her take a penalty before."

KDFF coach Elizabeth Gunnarsdottir said that clearly the best team won, while LdB coach Martin Sjögren thought that his team should have scored again after KDFF started pressing forward in the second half.


Umeå IK v. Sunnanå SK 6 - 1 (3-0)
Goals: 6' Anna Westerlund (passning Sofia Jakobsson) 1-0; 30' Anna Westerlund (passning Emmelie Konradsson) 2-0; 44' Emmelie Konradsson (passning Rita Chikwelu) 3-0; 63' Perpetua Nkwocha (passning Linda Fransson) 3-1; 73' Pernilla Nordlund (passning Emmelie Konradsson) 4-1; 77' Maija Saari (passning Therese Kapstad) 5-1; 86' Therese Kapstad (passning Rita Chikwelu) 6-1
Warnings: UIK Frida Östberg 9'
Source: damfotboll

Northern Derby, this one in the far north, as Umeå hosted Sunnanå, which has Skellefteå as its home town. Skellefteå is even farther north than Umeå, and might be remembered by American fans as the town where the USWNT played Sweden in a friendly a while back. Or perhaps not. Anyway, UIK dominated without much difficulty, despite resting its tired defenders Anna Paulson and Emma Berglund; coach Joakim Blomkvist was happy with the team's offensive effort and hopes that this is the point when UIK turns its season around.

SSK's coach Krister Lundgren was not particularly pleased, saying that his team did not follow the game plan of playing a high and aggressive defense. He thought they did better in the second half, when they had reduced to a back line of three. Defender Hanna Marklund sat this one out, due to stomach flu.


Hammarby IF DFF v. AIK 0 - 0
Warning: HIF Tempest-Marie Norlin 69'
Source: damfotboll

Big City Derby: South-siders Hammarby hosted north-siders AIK. These two teams currently lie below the relegation line, and so you might think they would fight like the dickens to beat the other... but instead what happened was a nervous game with much struggling and not a lot of pretty play. Hammarby took 22 shots and vistors AIK took only 5, although both teams came close, banging the ball off the posts. AIK coach Patrik Jidefalk prasied his young team's defensive effort, singling out goalkeeper Maja Åström and defender Linda Sembrandt. Hammarby coach Lasse Pihl said that it's frustrating when one does all one planned to do in the game, except score a goal. Can't argue with that.


Djurgården v. KIF Örebro DFF 4 - 2 (1-0)
Goals: 21' Elin Cederroos 1-0 (corner kick from Emma Lundh); 50' Rebecca Johnson (passning Sarah Michael) 2-0; 72' Marie Hammarström 2-1; 79' Rebecca Johnson (passning Sarah Michael) 3-1; 82' Susanna Lehtinen 3-2; 88' Rebecca Johnson (passning Sarah Michael) 4-2
Source: damfotboll
Video highlights, including the Djurgården song

It was a chilly afternoon at Kristineberg, and at first it looked like it would settle in to defensive trench warfare. The first goal from Elin Cederroos off a corner kick may have last touched the leg of a KIF defender, but no one has called it an own goal yet. The second goal, by DIF's Rebecca Johnsson, fully woke up KIF and the two traded goals thereafter, with Johnsson going on to score a hat-trick.


Linköpings FC v. Jitex BK 0 - 1 (0-1)
Goal: 38' Elin Carlsson (passning Frida Höglund) 0-1
Warnings: LFC Josefine Öqvist 88'; LFC Maria Karlsson 90' ("Kalle," #16, not the other one )
Sources: Jitex, damfotboll

This was a good free-flowing game, with plenty of chances coming from both sides. Newcomers Jitex looked "nonchalent," sharing equally in time of possession, shots, and shots on goal in the home of last year's champions Linköping. LFC were awarded a penalty kick but goalkeeper Jenny Olsson saved Tilda Heimersson's shot in the 42nd minute. Josefine Öqvist apparently put the ball in the net in the 88th, but she was judged to be offsides, a call I will dare to assume that she disputed and thereby got her yellow.

Jitex has now beaten both Umeå and Linköping and have taken 12 points total in the first 6 games, a fabulous start for a newly-promoted team. Jitex coach Hans Prytz credited his team's success to their hard work in both training and games. He mentioned keeper Jenny Olsson and left back Sofia Karlsson in particular as forces in this particular game "but could have named the all 11 on the field."

LFC has scored only one goal in its last four games, and situation that coach Jörgen Pettersson says was "expected" since that is where they lost most of the strength from last year, with the departure of so many offensive players [Jessica Landström, Caroline Seger, and Kosovare Asllani] to the US league. LFC brought defenders Faith Ikidi and Charlotte Rohlin up to the front at the end but to no avail. "We are creating chances, but not taking them," he said.


Results for Tyresö v. Kopparbergs/Göteborg and the long-delayed KIF Örebro games coming up soon...

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 5

LdB FC Malmö—Linköpings FC 0 - 0
Warning: LFC Maja Krantz 55'
Sources: pictures from LFC

For some reason both teams are a little behind on their reporting, and details about this game are lacking at the moment; about all I can say is the the stats were pretty even. There are some good pictures though.


Kopparbergs/Göteborg—AIK 5 - 0 (4-0)
Goals: 7' Sara Lindén 1-0; 31' Sara Lindén (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 2-0; 35' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Lisa Ek) 3-0; 45' Olivia Schough (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 4-0; 71' Marlene Sjöberg (passning Olivia Schough) 5-0
Warnings: K/G Lisa Ek 67'; AIK Sofia Simonsson 69'
Sources: damfotboll.com, goteborgfc.se, some nice pictures of this game

K/G is picking up steam, and looking more like the team that many thought would have their run of the league this year. They had lost to AIK at home two years in a row, and were eager for revenge. Last year's league-leading scorers Linnea Lilijegärd and Sara Lindén had a good day of it, and according to the K/G website at least, all the goals were pretty. The second half was less intense than the first, but defender Marlene Sjöberg added the fifth, following the play all the way from the defense and finishing well. K/G also reports that AIK keeper Maja Åström had several fine saves.


Sunnanå SK—Tyresö FF 1 - 1 (1-1)
Goals: 14' Linda Fransson (passning Kristina Wiklund) 1-0; 34' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Azra Durakovic) 1-1
Warnings: SSK Matilda Forslund 32'; TFF Lisa Klinga 76'
Source: damfotboll.com

This was a tough and occasionally entertaining game, quite evenly played, and marked the second comeback of defender Hanna Marklund. "It was fun to play. but it's more fun to play if you're in training," Marklund said. Dutch international Kirsten van de Van now has four goals on the year for Tyresö. Tyresö's goalkeeper Carola Söberg saved a penalty kick from Linda Fransson in the 7th minute, before Fransson atoned and scored in the run of play. Both coaches report claim to be satisfied with the game.


Kristianstads DFF—Umeå IK 3 - 1 (2-0)
Goals: 3' Antonia Göransson (passning Susanne Moberg) 1-0; 4' Susanne Moberg (passning Margret Lara Vidarsdottir) 2-0; 59' Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 3-0 (penalty); 74' Sofia Jakobsson 3-1
Warnings: KDFF Kirsty Yallop 41'; UIK Emma Berglund 42'; UIK Emma Berglund 59' (ejection); KDFF Johanna Rosén 62'; UIK Sofia Jakobsson 73'
Sources: damfotboll.com, uik.se

This one must have been quite a game—two goals against UIK within the first five minutes, and five yellow cards, one of which resulted in an ejection and penalty kick. KDFF dominated the stats, taking twice as many shots and three times as many shots on goal. Striker Antonia Göransson had a good day, scoring the first goal and earning the penalty kick. KDFF's regular goalkeeper, Sandra Wahldén, was injured, so standing in goal for KDFF was central defender Erla Arnardottir ("Damallsvenskan's least experienced goalkeeper, and only 160cm"). She is glad to be moving back to the field despite her successful stint between the posts; KDFF is trying to secure the services of Italian goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli, who does not have a club team at present.

UIK is probably feeling a bit down in the dumps these days, having just exited the Champion's League at the hands of Olympique Lyonnais, and losing striker Hanna Pettersson (who scored both goals in the first semifinal) to a fractured left fibula in the process. She has already been operated on to stabilize the bone and a damaged tendon, and is expected to be in a cast for the next six weeks, but might be back for Umeå's new round of Champion's League games by August. Right now Umeå lies eighth in the domestic table, although it must be remembered that they and KIF are a game behind everyone else.


Jitex BK—KIF Örebro DFF 0 - 1 (0-1)
Goal: 43' Elin Magnusson 0-1

This game was the first one for both teams to be played on a natural grass surface. The stats were pretty even, with KIF's goal coming from Elin Magnusson just before halftime. KIF was awarded a penalty kick in second half extra time, which Magnusson missed.


Djurgården—Hammarby IF DFF 2 - 1 (0-0)
Goals: 57' Emma Lundh (passning Sarah Michael) 1-0; 62' Daniella Chamoun (passning Leena Puranen) 1-1; 72' Sarah Michael (passning Natalia Rickne) 2-1
Warning: DIF Alexandra Höglund 90+'
Source: damfotboll.com, difdam.nu, and also pictures at hammarbydamfotboll.com
Video highlights

Djurgården is trying to drum up support, and held a promotion for a "Derby without violence," in which fans wearing match jerseys of either team would get half off their entry fee. It's not clear how well this worked, as the attendance was 512, which is not too much, but better than usual. The first half was pretty even, but then Djurgården came out of the locker room and played more aggressively in the second. Hammarby are hoping to take some points away from the next derby next week, when they host AIK at Kanalplan; both teams currently lie beneath the relegation line,

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 4

24 april
Tyresö FF - Kristianstads DFF 0 - 0
Warning: Tyresö, Helen Nottebrock, 82'

AIK - Sunnanå SK 1 - 1
Goals: 34' Josefin Johansson 0-1; 90' Linda Sembrant 1-1
Warning: Sunnanå, Magdalena Esseryd 66'

25 april
Jitex BK - Djurgården 1 - 0
Goal: 35' Annica Sjölund, 1-0 (penalty)
Warnings: Jitex, Kristine Lindblom yellow, 14', Kristine Lindblom, 38' (red), Frida Höglund, 90'

LdB FC Malmö - KIF Örebro DFF 4 - 0
Goals: 19' Manon Melis (passning Frida Nordin) 1-0; 56' Manon Melis (passning Therese Sjögran) 2-0; 78' Therese Sjögran 3-0; 90' Manon Melis (passning Nilla Fischer)
Warning: LdB, Lina Nilsson, 86'


Umeå IK - Linköpings FC 1 - 1
Goals: 18' Anna Westerlund, 1-0; 80' Charlotte Rohlin, 1-1
Warning: Umeå, Maija Saari, 84'

Hammarby IF DFF - Kopparbergs/Göteborg 1 - 2
Goals: 53' Therese Brogårde (passning Nazanin Vaseghpanah) 1-0; 60' Linnea Liljegärd 1-1; 86' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Caroline Näfver) 1-2
Warning: Hammarby, Annica Svensson, 33'


Volcano Bonus Result: Round 3
28 april
Sunnanå SK - Kopparbergs/Göteborg 0 - 4
Goals: 10' Lisa Ek (passning Jenny Hallstenson) 0-1; 22' Sara Lindén (passning Lisa Ek) 0-2; 36' Sara Lindén 0-3; 54' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Marlene Sjöberg)
Warning: Sunnanå, Magdalena Esseryd, 71'


At long last, Umeå played its second Champions League semifinal against Lyon on 28 April, which ended as a 0-0 draw, sending Lyon through to the finals.

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 3: Under a cloud

Soccer in Sweden has been in a bit of turmoil this week due to the volcano in Iceland that threw so much ash into the air. The volcano claimed four football victims in total: K/Göteborg could not fly up to Skellefteå to play Sunnanå; Olympic Lyon could not fly to Umeå for the Champion's League semifinal which meant that the game was moved to the April 28; meanwhile, though, the Örebro-Umeå scheduled for last weekend had been rescheduled for April 28th and will now take place... well, it isn't clear yet when. The fourth victim of the ash cloud is the Swedish National Team, which was supposed to have played a friendly against Germany tomorrow night.

Djurgården—LdB Malmö 0 - 1
Goal: 90'+ 1:35 Josefine Alfsson 0-1

The statistics show a surprisingly even game, with similar numbers of freekicks and corners and each team taking 10 shots on goal. Djurgården's Alexandra Höglund and LdB's Lina Nilsson both got yellow cards.


Hammarby—Jitex 1 - 2
Goals: 51' Kristine Lindblom (passning Annica Sjölund), 0-1; 53' Annica Sjölund (passning Elin Sandgren) 0-2; 80' Daniella Chamoun 1-2

The statistics for this one were not quite as even, and you might have expected Hammarby to win it, but Jitex took control with two goals in quick succession at the start of the second half. Hammarby's goal came courtesy of Daniella Chamoun, who was a 54th minute substitute. Jitex's Sofia Skog and Elin Carlsson both received yellows.


Kristianstad—AIK 3 - 1
Goals: 5' Clara Markstedt 0-1; 22' Susanne Moberg (passning Antonia Göransson) 1-1; 43' Susanne Moberg (passning Antonia Göransson) 2-1; 78' Susanne Moberg (passning Therese Björck)

Susanne Moberg had a hat trick and Kristianstad dominated the positive stats in everything but corner kicks. This result is perhaps not as surprising as the next one, but it comes close, and AIK is now 0 for 3. Kristianstad's Antonia Göransson (who had two assists) and AIK's Malin Diaz each received yellows.


Linköping—Tyresö 0 - 2
Goals: 40' Kirsten van de Ven 0-1; 53' Kirsten van de Ven (passning Johanna Frisk according to svenskfotboll and LFC but Elin Ekblom Bak according to Tyresö) 0-2
Source: Tyresö, Linköping

The surprises continue, and this one is right up there with the opening round defeat of Umeå by Jitex; newcomers Tyresö "took a mighty fine scalp" despite the reportedly bad field and wind conditions in Linköping's Folkungvallen. Linköping had the slight advantage in the first, but both reports agree that Tyresö's first goal came in the wake of a "messy" corner kick and LFC went into the locker room behind for the first time this season. Reports conflict about who assisted on the second goal, but whoever it was crossed to ball very nicely to van de Ven right in front of the goal. Linköping's play picked up again after the 70th or so, but the Tyresö defense bunkered down and weathered it. A yellow card was issued to LFC's Petra Larsson. Tyresö now looks forward to their home opener and stadium dedication this Saturday, which includes a warm-up by musical act Crusified Barbara.


Sunnanå-Kopparbergs/Göteborg delayed until 28 april

KIF Örebro-Umeå delayed further notice

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 2 (part 2)

Umeå - Djurgården 1-0
Goal: 53' Sofia Jakobsson (passning Emmelie Konradsson) 1-0

Kopparbergs/Göteborg-Kristianstads DFF 4-2
Goals: 5' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Marlene Sjöberg) 1-0; 8' Susanne Moberg (passning Margret Lara Vidarsdottir) 1-1; 20' Lisa Dahlkvist (passning Marlene Sjöberg) 2-1; 27' Linnea Liljegärd (passning Catrine Johansson) 3-1; 56' Susanne Moberg (passning Margret Lara Vidarsdottir) 3-2; 72' Sara Lindén (passning Linnea Liljegärd) 4-2
Sources: KDFF, K/G; see the goals (from far away but it is set to thumpy music) at the KDFF website.

The first half was dominated by K/G, which took more than twice as many shots on goal and was leading 3-1 at the half. The second half was a more back-and-forth affair from the start, and KDFF's goal in the opened the play up even more. K/G backup keeper Susanne Nilsson (replacing starting keeper Hedvig Lindahl, still serving a suspension from last week's red card) was forced to make several good saves, but it was K/G's Sara Lindén who put the home team more securely in the lead. Sounds to me, from the tone of the report, that K/G is quite relieved to have a victory... which is fair enough, but pre-season favorites aren't usually so scared by a pre-season relegation contender.

Damallsvenskan 2010, Round 2 (part 1)

Second round games are spread out over the week due in part to Umeå's Champion's League campaign, and so two more games will be played on Wednesday.

Sunnanå - Hammarby 1-1
Goals: 85' Carina Holmberg (Marina Sandström), 1-0; 91' Nazanin Vaseghpanah (Daniella Chamoun) 1-1
Sources: Damfotboll, Svenskfotboll

Lots of action in the last five minutes of the game, with Sandström assisting Holmberg's goal, and then nearly assisting Matilda Forslund on a second goal that would have secured Sunnanå's victory. Hammarby had picked up their game in the last quarter, and Vaseghpanah's low shot from just outside the box gave them the equalizer in added time. Sunnanå coach Janne Hallberg said the team was more cohesive than they were in last week's loss to Kristianstad, and mentioned the good efforts of Sandström, Josefin Johansson, and Alexandra Nilsson while also noting that Perpetua Nkwocha and Luana Gomes have not yet optimized their play. Hammarby's assistant coach Annelie Norén stressed that the draw was "morally important" for her team, as two one-goal losses in a row would have been "not so fun." She mentioned especially Matilda Agné and Anna Lindblom for their work on Hammarby's defense.


Tyresö - KIF Örebro 0-1
Goal: 52' Sanna Talonen (Marie Hammarström) 0-1
Sources: Tyresö, Damfotboll

This game was technically Tyresö's home opener, but it was moved to Hammarby's home field Kanalplan in Stockholm, due to ongoing construction at their home arena. The change didn't please everyone: apparently a few Tyresö fans went to their home field first, and Örebro coach Richard Holmlund complained about the facilities afterwards, saying it should not be approved for top-flight football. The game was an even affair, the goal coming early in the second half off Hammarström's cross in from the left where Talonen met it well at about the 11 meter mark. "We played a good team today, probably the best newcomers for many years," said Holmlund, who said he was happy that the game ended as it did. Tyresö coach Tino Katsoulakis was sorry that the game did not end in a draw. "Toward the end we had many chances."

Tyresö's real home opener will come at the unveiling of their home arena Bollmoravallen on April 24 against Kristianstad.


AIK - Linköpings FC 0-2
Goals: 50' Charlotte Rohlin (Linda Sällström) 0-1; 64' Linda Sällström (Maria Karlsson) 0-2
Sources: svenskfotboll, Linköping

Reigning champion LFC was feeling confident coming off last week's win against pre-season favorites Kopparbergs/Göteborg, and has now taken its second straight victory. LFC started agressively and had three corner kicks within the first ten minutes. AIK's Emelie Ölander took AIK's first and only shot on goal in the 14th minute, but LFC had more chances in the first half. Their first goal came early in the second, from a close-range shot by Rohlin after an LFC corner kick; they extended their lead shortly thereafter on a distance shot by Sällström from the right side. Josefin Öqvist had a few chances, and must have been quite active as she got a yellow card in the 79th. LFC coach Jörgen Petersson praised especially Faith Ikidi and Rohlin for their strength in the defense, saying that it left goalkeeper Sofia Lungren with little to do.


LdB FC Malmö - Jitex BK 6-1
Goals: 5' Kathryn Gill (Elena Sadiku) 1-0; 12' Manon Melis (Kathryn Gill) 2-0; 13' Annica Sjölund (Kathlene Fernström) 2-1; 42' Kathryn Gill (Manon Melis) 3-1; 47' Elena Sadiku 4-1; 59' Kathryn Gill 5-1; 79' Lina Nilsson 6-1
Sources: Jitex, Damfotboll

After last week's shock victory against Umeå, Jitex must have been feeling pretty good about themselves; this week, perhaps it's back to reality. Their own report says that they resisted pretty well in the first half, but that the second half was all LdB. LdB coach Martin Sjögren generously agreed with that, saying that the score first half was not so lopsided as the numbers made it appear, and that Gill's 3-1 goal came out of nowhere. Still, Jitex is looking forward to next week's game against Hammarby, at which they think have a more reasonable chance.

For its part, LdB seemed quite pleased to be able to spread the credit around. The lion's share went to Kathryn Gill, who made her home-field debut in some style by scoring a hat-trick and assisting on a fourth; the damfotboll report wonders whether she will become the crucial player for LdB, being tall, safe with the ball, and as strong with head balls as Nilla Fischer. "If you have such good teammates, that makes it easy," said Gill afterwards. Also getting mention was youngster Elena Sadiku (F94) from LdB's development team, who assisted the first goal and then scored one of her own just after the second half began.

More than one thousand people attended this match, the best attendance for the season so far. In the wake of last week's red card to Göteborg's Hedvig Lindahl, people are watching the referees more closely than usual, but a single yellow card was given (to Elin Sandgren of Jitex) and apparently no one had any cause to complain about anything.