Pavlina Scasna signs two year deal with Malmö
Kif Örebro's sought-after Czech forward Pavlina Scasna has signed a two year deal with LDB FC Malmö, with an option for an additional third year. Scasna will join the Malmö club in January 2008.
There were two things that made Scasna decide for Malmö: she thinks the club has both the ambition and the capacity to win titles the next few years and the club could, together with it's major financer, offer her a deal that includes a career opportunity for her in sports marketing, an area she has been studying for two years. Scasna also says that she has been in contact with a lot of clubs, but only met with Örebro and Umeå before she decided for Malmö.
Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson is very pleased: "She was at the top of our list, as she was for several other clubs too. We're etrremely happy she chose us."
Sydsvenskan: LDB gör drömvärvning
LDC FC Malmö: Pavlina Scasna klar för LdB
There were two things that made Scasna decide for Malmö: she thinks the club has both the ambition and the capacity to win titles the next few years and the club could, together with it's major financer, offer her a deal that includes a career opportunity for her in sports marketing, an area she has been studying for two years. Scasna also says that she has been in contact with a lot of clubs, but only met with Örebro and Umeå before she decided for Malmö.
Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson is very pleased: "She was at the top of our list, as she was for several other clubs too. We're etrremely happy she chose us."
Sydsvenskan: LDB gör drömvärvning
LDC FC Malmö: Pavlina Scasna klar för LdB
Two Hanna Ljungberg goals defeats Denmark
Denmark - Sweden 1 - 2 (0-0)
Sweden: Hedvig Lindahl - Anna Paulson, Hanna Marklund, Stina Segerström (46 Karolina Westberg), Frida Östberg (46 Sara Thunebro) - Caroline Seger, Victoria Svensson, Nilla Fischer (80 Linda Forsberg) - Lotta Schelin (80 Sara Johansson), Therese Lundin (46 Hanna Ljungberg), Therese Sjögran (80 Madelaine Edlund)
Goals: 0-1 Hanna Ljungberg (67), 1-1 Merete Pedersen (80), 1-2 Hanna Ljungberg (90)
Attendance: 2,345
In her first national team match since September last year (I chose to forget her fateful 7 minutes against Hungary in June), Hanna Ljungberg showed why she was an obvious lock in the national team roster in spite of not having played a minute for almost two months. She scored twice during her 45 minutes on the pitch, both times set up by Victoria Svensson.
Apart from Hanna's performance, Sweden didn't really inspire confidence. Denmark dominated large parts of the match and Sweden didn't manage to create much in front of the Danish goal in the first half. The three pre-arranged substitutions at half-time, most important of them Hanna Ljungberg, gave the Swedish side better momentum forward. Hedvig Lindahl, also recently back from a long injury period, didn't look completely reliable and was partly to blame for Denmark's 80th minute equaliser.
Expressen: Hanna sänkte Danmark i genrepet
SVT: Hanna danskdödare i VM-genrep, match clip
There will be a longer and hopefully better review of the match tomorrow.
Sweden: Hedvig Lindahl - Anna Paulson, Hanna Marklund, Stina Segerström (46 Karolina Westberg), Frida Östberg (46 Sara Thunebro) - Caroline Seger, Victoria Svensson, Nilla Fischer (80 Linda Forsberg) - Lotta Schelin (80 Sara Johansson), Therese Lundin (46 Hanna Ljungberg), Therese Sjögran (80 Madelaine Edlund)
Goals: 0-1 Hanna Ljungberg (67), 1-1 Merete Pedersen (80), 1-2 Hanna Ljungberg (90)
Attendance: 2,345
In her first national team match since September last year (I chose to forget her fateful 7 minutes against Hungary in June), Hanna Ljungberg showed why she was an obvious lock in the national team roster in spite of not having played a minute for almost two months. She scored twice during her 45 minutes on the pitch, both times set up by Victoria Svensson.
Apart from Hanna's performance, Sweden didn't really inspire confidence. Denmark dominated large parts of the match and Sweden didn't manage to create much in front of the Danish goal in the first half. The three pre-arranged substitutions at half-time, most important of them Hanna Ljungberg, gave the Swedish side better momentum forward. Hedvig Lindahl, also recently back from a long injury period, didn't look completely reliable and was partly to blame for Denmark's 80th minute equaliser.
Expressen: Hanna sänkte Danmark i genrepet
SVT: Hanna danskdödare i VM-genrep, match clip
There will be a longer and hopefully better review of the match tomorrow.
A few player movements and some rumours
Linköping's young midfield talent Petra Larsson has left the club to join her old club Ornäs BK in the 1st division. Ornäs is currently struggling and Petra wants to help them out. Since Linköping is pretty much stuck in the middle section of the league with the 4 post-WWC matches left to play, the club let her go. But Larsson has also signed a new contract with Linköping for the 2008 season, making this look more like a loan than a regular player transfer.
Linköping FC: Petra lämnar och förlänger
Linköping are, just like last year, interested in Marta and has announced their intentions to Umeå. Last year Linköping gave the Brazilian star the best financial offer, but she still decided to stay in Umeå. Linköping's manager Anders Mäki says that it is not unthinkable that they can afford to sign both Marta and Victoria Svensson.
Linköping coach Daniel Pettersson also reveals that their Finnish national team midfielder Anna-Kaisa Rantanen, much missed throughout the season, is coming back nicely from her ACL tear and probably will be able to play the last four Damallsvenskan matches.
Corren: LFC vill värva Marta
Djurgården counters Linköping's proposal to Victoria Svensson by offering to help her getting training as a football coach and a position with the club once she has decided to finish her playing career. "She has shown great qualities as a coach", says Djurgården's manager Mikael Söderman.
SVT: Dif lockar Svensson med tränarroll
Sunnanå has a verbal agreement, but no papers signed yet, with their Nigerian star forward Perpetua Nkwocha for the 2008 season. Nkwocha has made a great impression for the team this summer and the club is very happy to keep her. She will however not participate in the last matches after the World Cup. Since Nigeria has Olympic qualification matches in October, it was too hard to make the match schedules fit.
Sunnanå are also in talks with New Zealand defender Rebecca Smith, and there is a good chance that she will play for the northern club next season too.
Norra Västerbotten: "Peppe" stannar i SSK
On the other hand, there is a lot of interest in some Sunnanå players from other clubs. Maria Nordbrant, who ended up just outside Sweden's World Cup roster, has attracted interest from at least 3 Damallsvenskan clubs. One of these are Bälinge, where sport director Conny Sjöberg isn't hard pressed to express his delight in the 22 year old winger/attacker. Nordbrandt says that she has also been talking to Linköping FC and Kif Örebro, both just like Bälinge situated in university towns, so a move might have to do with Nordbrandt's plans for the future.
Other Sunnanå players with options are Sweden U21 players Alexandra Nilsson, where Linköping has expressed interest, and Anna Bodén, where Malmö is rumoured as a possible destination.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge jagar Nordbrandt
Norra Västerbotten: Konkurrenter vill värva från Sunnanå
Linköping FC: Petra lämnar och förlänger
Linköping are, just like last year, interested in Marta and has announced their intentions to Umeå. Last year Linköping gave the Brazilian star the best financial offer, but she still decided to stay in Umeå. Linköping's manager Anders Mäki says that it is not unthinkable that they can afford to sign both Marta and Victoria Svensson.
Linköping coach Daniel Pettersson also reveals that their Finnish national team midfielder Anna-Kaisa Rantanen, much missed throughout the season, is coming back nicely from her ACL tear and probably will be able to play the last four Damallsvenskan matches.
Corren: LFC vill värva Marta
Djurgården counters Linköping's proposal to Victoria Svensson by offering to help her getting training as a football coach and a position with the club once she has decided to finish her playing career. "She has shown great qualities as a coach", says Djurgården's manager Mikael Söderman.
SVT: Dif lockar Svensson med tränarroll
Sunnanå has a verbal agreement, but no papers signed yet, with their Nigerian star forward Perpetua Nkwocha for the 2008 season. Nkwocha has made a great impression for the team this summer and the club is very happy to keep her. She will however not participate in the last matches after the World Cup. Since Nigeria has Olympic qualification matches in October, it was too hard to make the match schedules fit.
Sunnanå are also in talks with New Zealand defender Rebecca Smith, and there is a good chance that she will play for the northern club next season too.
Norra Västerbotten: "Peppe" stannar i SSK
On the other hand, there is a lot of interest in some Sunnanå players from other clubs. Maria Nordbrant, who ended up just outside Sweden's World Cup roster, has attracted interest from at least 3 Damallsvenskan clubs. One of these are Bälinge, where sport director Conny Sjöberg isn't hard pressed to express his delight in the 22 year old winger/attacker. Nordbrandt says that she has also been talking to Linköping FC and Kif Örebro, both just like Bälinge situated in university towns, so a move might have to do with Nordbrandt's plans for the future.
Other Sunnanå players with options are Sweden U21 players Alexandra Nilsson, where Linköping has expressed interest, and Anna Bodén, where Malmö is rumoured as a possible destination.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge jagar Nordbrandt
Norra Västerbotten: Konkurrenter vill värva från Sunnanå
Dancing with wolves
Team-building is an important part of the national team's preparations for the World Cup. The team's preparation camp is situated close to Sweden's largest wildlife park, where a close encounter with a pack of wolves were the treat of the day. The initial reactions were somewhat hesitating. "I don't want to" said Victoria Svensson, but Frida Östberg broke the ice and thought the wolves were "cute and cuddly".
All in all this national team is considered much more tightly knit than several previous versions. Hanna Ljungberg revealed that the national team has had several strong groups within the team, particulary when the national team was made up almost exclusively by players from the three big clubs (Umeå, Djurgården and Malmö). "The team isn't as divided as it has been", says Hanna and continues "You don't see these same girls always walking together and these always eating together. Everybody is talking to everybody." Sara Johansson means that Thomas Dennerby has a big part in this. "He showed that he is good at this when he was coaching Djurgården/Älvsjö and won the championship already the first year after the two rivaling clubs had merged."
Expressen: "Jag var vaksam", pictures
Aftonbladet: Harmoni i flocken
All in all this national team is considered much more tightly knit than several previous versions. Hanna Ljungberg revealed that the national team has had several strong groups within the team, particulary when the national team was made up almost exclusively by players from the three big clubs (Umeå, Djurgården and Malmö). "The team isn't as divided as it has been", says Hanna and continues "You don't see these same girls always walking together and these always eating together. Everybody is talking to everybody." Sara Johansson means that Thomas Dennerby has a big part in this. "He showed that he is good at this when he was coaching Djurgården/Älvsjö and won the championship already the first year after the two rivaling clubs had merged."
Expressen: "Jag var vaksam", pictures
Aftonbladet: Harmoni i flocken
Marta's agent: Umeå is our first choice
Marta's agent Fabiano Farah denies rumours that Marta already has decided to play in the new professional women's league in USA. "That is not true", he says, but adds that he has been approached by a big owner group that controls four MLS teams. "Our intention is to sign a new contract with Umeå", Farah continues, "[Umeå IK's football manager] Roland [Arnqvist] has a lot of good ideas and is a great leader, a top manager in women's football." He also expressed his satisfaction with how Arnqvist stood up for Marta when she wasn't nominated for the Swedish Forward of the Year award last year.
So, Marta and Farah seems pleased with her situation in Umeå. Farah says that an extension of Marta's stay in Umeå will be decided by what kind of offer Umeå and Roland Arnqvist can put on the table.
It is rumoured that American and German interests has offered Marta a pay-check in the neighbourhood of SEK 200,000 a month. Roland Arnqvist says that is completely out of his reach, but that he can probably get Marta's signature for less: "I believe him [Fabiano Farah] when he says that his interests are not only financial". Umeå will still most likely have to give Marta a substantial wage rise, and Arnqvist seems optimistic in finding the neccesary sponsors.
Marta herself only comments to all this with a short :"I neither want to nor have to think about that now".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Marta vill förlänga med Umeå IK
Västerbottenskuriren: Hoppfullt för UIK om Marta
In a completely different place in Swedish women's football, AIK defender Hanna Jöhnk has moved clubs to local 2nd division side Brommapojkarna.
Damfotboll.com: Lämnar AIK för BP
National team pre-camp
The Swedish national team has assembled for a preparation camp, that will include a friendly against Denmark on Thursday before taking off to the Far East. The camp started on a high note, watching Swedish athlete Carolina Klüft winning the hepathlon World Cup gold in Osaka on live television, something that hopefully will inspire the team.
National team Thomas Dennerby says he and the staff doesn't mull about injured players, but are trying to find out the best way to use the players they have. One of the problems to solve will be which goal-keeper to use, and both Hedvig Lindahl and Sofia Lundgren seems eager to start.
Other vital questions, listed by Svenska Dagbladet journalist Johanna Garå, includes Hanna Ljungberg's fitness (will she be able to play 90 minutes?) and wether Sweden can continue the 4-3-3 tactics in spite of losing both wingers Josefine Öqvist and Frida Nordin or they have to return to the old 4-4-2.
Svenska Dagbladet: VM-truppen laddar med teambuilding, Dennerby har lite huvudbry
SVT: Damlandslaget laddade - med Klüft (video)
National team Thomas Dennerby says he and the staff doesn't mull about injured players, but are trying to find out the best way to use the players they have. One of the problems to solve will be which goal-keeper to use, and both Hedvig Lindahl and Sofia Lundgren seems eager to start.
Other vital questions, listed by Svenska Dagbladet journalist Johanna Garå, includes Hanna Ljungberg's fitness (will she be able to play 90 minutes?) and wether Sweden can continue the 4-3-3 tactics in spite of losing both wingers Josefine Öqvist and Frida Nordin or they have to return to the old 4-4-2.
Svenska Dagbladet: VM-truppen laddar med teambuilding, Dennerby har lite huvudbry
SVT: Damlandslaget laddade - med Klüft (video)
International weekend
A rather busy international weekend with several Damallsvenskan players in action:
Pavlina Scasna (Kif Örebro) scored a hat-trick when her Czech republic defeated Belarus 4-1 in a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying match. If she hasn't landed a great deal with a new club already, this ought to have helped.
UEFA.com: ?časná treble takes Czechs top
LDB FC Malmö's Manon Melis got the opening goal for the Dutch national team in their 2-1 win over Wales in another Euro qualifier.
UEFA.com: Netherlands hold on for win
Less impressive was the result for Iceland's national team (Malmö's temping goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir and their midfielder Dora Stefansdottir both played 90 minutes), suffering a chock defeat to last place Slovenia in their Euro qualifying group with 2-1.
UEFA.com: Slovenia shock leaders Iceland
Finally Finland, with Bälinge's Petra Vaelma (playing 69 minutes) and Katri Nokso-Koivistu (subbed out with 6 minutes left of regulation time) and AIK's Sanna Valkonen and Jessica Juhlin, was outplayed by the USA national team in a 4-0 defeat in Carson, California.
Ussoccer: U.S. Women Defeat Finland, 4-0, at The Home Depot Center
Pavlina Scasna (Kif Örebro) scored a hat-trick when her Czech republic defeated Belarus 4-1 in a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying match. If she hasn't landed a great deal with a new club already, this ought to have helped.
UEFA.com: ?časná treble takes Czechs top
LDB FC Malmö's Manon Melis got the opening goal for the Dutch national team in their 2-1 win over Wales in another Euro qualifier.
UEFA.com: Netherlands hold on for win
Less impressive was the result for Iceland's national team (Malmö's temping goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir and their midfielder Dora Stefansdottir both played 90 minutes), suffering a chock defeat to last place Slovenia in their Euro qualifying group with 2-1.
UEFA.com: Slovenia shock leaders Iceland
Finally Finland, with Bälinge's Petra Vaelma (playing 69 minutes) and Katri Nokso-Koivistu (subbed out with 6 minutes left of regulation time) and AIK's Sanna Valkonen and Jessica Juhlin, was outplayed by the USA national team in a 4-0 defeat in Carson, California.
Ussoccer: U.S. Women Defeat Finland, 4-0, at The Home Depot Center
Lotta goes to America ?
Lotta Schelin is one of the Swedish players that has expressed her interest to play in an American professional team, and her club Kopparbergs/Göteborg has for some time discussed a cooperation agreement with FC Indiana, one of the leading American clubs. FC Indiana has expressed interest in Schelin and Göteborg's chairman Peter Bronsman says: "I'm sure they will want some of our players and we can get some of theirs" and adds that "if Lotta wants to go, we will help her".
Aftonbladet: Lotta Schelin på väg att bli proffs
This is just me talking here, but Lotta Schelin has expressed a desire to play in a truly professional environment, so it's probably not FC Indiana as much as the coming Chicago franchise in the yet to be announced US professional women's soccer league that is enticing her. The group that owns FC Indiana is also involved in the future Chicago club. But a 2008 start for the new league has lately become more uncertain. For instance, one of the key persons in the Chicago venture, Peter Wilt, writes about the plans for a pro league at Chicago Tribune's web-site, without ever mentioning a 2008 start-up. A 2009 opening seems more plausible, which I guess keeps Lotta in Sweden for at least another season.
I have previously made several posts related to this, for instance these:
FC Indiana seeks cooperation with Göteborg
New USA league - encouraging and worrying
In other transfer-related news, Josefine Öqvist has signed a new one year contract with Linköping. Club manager Anders Mäki says that it is important that the club shows it's confidence in the player during her injury.
Corren: Öqvist kvar i LFC
Kif Örebro announces that they have re-signed core players for the 2008 season. National team players Stina Segerström and Kristin Hammarström as well as midfielders Marie Hammarström and Elin Magnusson and prolific striker Emelie Erixon have all signed new contracts. The club's office manager Thomas Rasmusson reveals that they are also in talks with several potential recruitments, both young talents and established national team players.
Nerikes Allehanda: Stommen kvar i KIF - jagar VM-spelare
Aftonbladet: Lotta Schelin på väg att bli proffs
This is just me talking here, but Lotta Schelin has expressed a desire to play in a truly professional environment, so it's probably not FC Indiana as much as the coming Chicago franchise in the yet to be announced US professional women's soccer league that is enticing her. The group that owns FC Indiana is also involved in the future Chicago club. But a 2008 start for the new league has lately become more uncertain. For instance, one of the key persons in the Chicago venture, Peter Wilt, writes about the plans for a pro league at Chicago Tribune's web-site, without ever mentioning a 2008 start-up. A 2009 opening seems more plausible, which I guess keeps Lotta in Sweden for at least another season.
I have previously made several posts related to this, for instance these:
FC Indiana seeks cooperation with Göteborg
New USA league - encouraging and worrying
In other transfer-related news, Josefine Öqvist has signed a new one year contract with Linköping. Club manager Anders Mäki says that it is important that the club shows it's confidence in the player during her injury.
Corren: Öqvist kvar i LFC
Kif Örebro announces that they have re-signed core players for the 2008 season. National team players Stina Segerström and Kristin Hammarström as well as midfielders Marie Hammarström and Elin Magnusson and prolific striker Emelie Erixon have all signed new contracts. The club's office manager Thomas Rasmusson reveals that they are also in talks with several potential recruitments, both young talents and established national team players.
Nerikes Allehanda: Stommen kvar i KIF - jagar VM-spelare
Brazil defeats Umeå
Umeå IK - Brazil 1 - 2 (0-1)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund, Maria Bergkvist - Hanna Ljungberg (46 Emelie Konradsson), Lisa Dahlqvist, Elaine (46 June Pedersen) - Erika Karlsson (56 Laura Del Rio Garcia), Madeleine Edlund, Marta (46 Ramona Bachmann)
Goals: 0-1 Pretinha (40), 0-2 Pretinha (56), 1-2 Laura del Rio Garcia (62)
Attendance: 6,101
-"A great match and a fantastic crowd", commented Marta after the exhibition match between her club Umeå and her national team Brazil on Thursday night and manager Roland Arnqvist called it "one of the best games we've ever been part of". Coach Jeglertz was particulary pleased with how well the team played in the second half. After handing over Marta and Elaine to the Brazil team at half-time and Hanna Ljungberg resting after 45 minutes that should have pleased national team coach Thomas Dennerby, it was much up to Umeå's youngsters. "Impressive play with a very young team", said Jeglertz.
Umeå's Spanish trialist Laura del Rio Garcia scored Umeå's goal, set up by June Pedersen. This might still not be enough to secure her a contract, if I read the signs right.
SVT: Marta med och sänkte Umeå, match clip (video), pregame story; Pretinha, Formiga and coach Barcellos talks (video),
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inga mål - men Marta hade roligt ändå, Idag är Ljungberginha snällare mot sig själv
Västerbottenskuriren: Hannas sköna besked inför fotbolls-VM
Some other international news:
Djurgården's Ariane Hingst and Umeå's Ramona Bachmann both played 90 minutes when Germany routed Switzerland 7-0 in a European Championship qualification match Wednesday evening.
UEFA: Garefrekes treble lifts Germany
New Zealand has released their roster for the World Cup. New Zealand team captain Rebecca Smith (Sunnanå) is of course one of those that will go to China.
New Zealand FA: WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SQUAD FULL OF YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCE
Japan's U21 team was Sweden on training camp and played against Bälinge and Djurgården, winning the matches 1-0 and 2-1. Both Bälinge and Djurgården used the opportunity to give valuable international experience to youth and reserve team players.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Unga spelare fick chans mot Japan
Djurgården: Japanskorna vann
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund, Maria Bergkvist - Hanna Ljungberg (46 Emelie Konradsson), Lisa Dahlqvist, Elaine (46 June Pedersen) - Erika Karlsson (56 Laura Del Rio Garcia), Madeleine Edlund, Marta (46 Ramona Bachmann)
Goals: 0-1 Pretinha (40), 0-2 Pretinha (56), 1-2 Laura del Rio Garcia (62)
Attendance: 6,101
-"A great match and a fantastic crowd", commented Marta after the exhibition match between her club Umeå and her national team Brazil on Thursday night and manager Roland Arnqvist called it "one of the best games we've ever been part of". Coach Jeglertz was particulary pleased with how well the team played in the second half. After handing over Marta and Elaine to the Brazil team at half-time and Hanna Ljungberg resting after 45 minutes that should have pleased national team coach Thomas Dennerby, it was much up to Umeå's youngsters. "Impressive play with a very young team", said Jeglertz.
Umeå's Spanish trialist Laura del Rio Garcia scored Umeå's goal, set up by June Pedersen. This might still not be enough to secure her a contract, if I read the signs right.
SVT: Marta med och sänkte Umeå, match clip (video), pregame story; Pretinha, Formiga and coach Barcellos talks (video),
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inga mål - men Marta hade roligt ändå, Idag är Ljungberginha snällare mot sig själv
Västerbottenskuriren: Hannas sköna besked inför fotbolls-VM
Some other international news:
Djurgården's Ariane Hingst and Umeå's Ramona Bachmann both played 90 minutes when Germany routed Switzerland 7-0 in a European Championship qualification match Wednesday evening.
UEFA: Garefrekes treble lifts Germany
New Zealand has released their roster for the World Cup. New Zealand team captain Rebecca Smith (Sunnanå) is of course one of those that will go to China.
New Zealand FA: WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SQUAD FULL OF YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCE
Japan's U21 team was Sweden on training camp and played against Bälinge and Djurgården, winning the matches 1-0 and 2-1. Both Bälinge and Djurgården used the opportunity to give valuable international experience to youth and reserve team players.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Unga spelare fick chans mot Japan
Djurgården: Japanskorna vann
Seger stays in Linköping
Linköping's and Sweden's midfielder Caroline Seger has signed a new contract with her club, turning down offers from Djurgården and Göteborg. "It was tempting to leave, since this season has turned out the way it has", she explains, "but ultimately that's why I decided to stay. I didn't want to leave the club like this."
She also talks about Linköping's injury problems this season, and says that they have probably spent too much time at training on football exercises and not enough on strength and fitness. There will be changes before the next season, everybody in the club are aware of that. The club hasn't changed their ambition to become an established top side and Seger says that if the club manages to find a great striker, next season will be really good.
Corren: Seger nobbade storlag
She also talks about Linköping's injury problems this season, and says that they have probably spent too much time at training on football exercises and not enough on strength and fitness. There will be changes before the next season, everybody in the club are aware of that. The club hasn't changed their ambition to become an established top side and Seger says that if the club manages to find a great striker, next season will be really good.
Corren: Seger nobbade storlag
Transfer rumours: Scasna to Malmö?
Umeå IK's manager Roland Arnqvist, who has expressed keen interest in the Czech star, quickly retreated when he heard the wage demands from Kif Örebro's Pavlina Scasna: "I've never heard anyone demanding that kind of money". Scaring away Umeå from a deal should usually mean that you've placed yourself out of reach for the entire Swedish league. But according to Kif Örebro's head coach Richard Holmlund, who also has offered Scasna really big money, she just wanted Umeå off her back: "She has made up her mind for Malmö. It's much closer to her home and she believes that she can win titles with them." LDB FC Malmö's sport director Kenny Jönsson comments the news with "they seem to know much more about this than we do" and states that the club only makes comments on player transfers when a deal is signed.
Västerbottenskuriren: Stjärnans bud till UIK var en fint
Damfotboll.com: KIF Örebros tränare placerar Scasna i Malmö
Umeå's Roland Arnqvist has presented contract proposals to 15 players for the 2008 season. Maybe half of these contracts could be longer than one year. Umeå IK has today 17 players on their payroll, so it will be interesting to see who the two unlucky ones are. And it looks like head coach Andrée Jeglertz will get an offer too.
Västerbottens Folkblad. ?Vi vill behålla de flesta?
Linköping's and Sweden's goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl has signed a new contract with her club for 2008. "She's an important piece in our team" says manager Anders Mäki, who hopes to be able to sign yet some players before they go to China.
Linköping FC: Hedvig klar för nästa säsong
Hammarby's 19 year old midfielder Josefin Wejner has left the club for division 2 hopefulls Tyresö FF. Wejner has got limited playing-time this season and Stockholm suburb club Tyresö expects to promote to the 1st division.
Damfotboll.com: Tyresö värvar allsvenskt igen
And not strictly Damallsvenskan, but almost: Kristianstad DFF, uncontested leader of the 1st division south, 12 points ahead with 8 matches left, and a very probable Damallsvenskan club next year, has signed Iceland's 25 times capped midfielder Erla Arnadottir. Erla, who has played 5 season in Damallsvenskan (Stattena, Sunnanå and Mallbacken) has just returned to Sweden after playing with Jersey Sky Blue in the American W-league. The 8 match deal is looked upon as an extended try-out for both sides. Kristianstad really doesn't need to strengthen their squad this season, but a 2008 damallsvenskan season seems to be approaching.
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF värvar landslagsstjärna
Västerbottenskuriren: Stjärnans bud till UIK var en fint
Damfotboll.com: KIF Örebros tränare placerar Scasna i Malmö
Umeå's Roland Arnqvist has presented contract proposals to 15 players for the 2008 season. Maybe half of these contracts could be longer than one year. Umeå IK has today 17 players on their payroll, so it will be interesting to see who the two unlucky ones are. And it looks like head coach Andrée Jeglertz will get an offer too.
Västerbottens Folkblad. ?Vi vill behålla de flesta?
Linköping's and Sweden's goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl has signed a new contract with her club for 2008. "She's an important piece in our team" says manager Anders Mäki, who hopes to be able to sign yet some players before they go to China.
Linköping FC: Hedvig klar för nästa säsong
Hammarby's 19 year old midfielder Josefin Wejner has left the club for division 2 hopefulls Tyresö FF. Wejner has got limited playing-time this season and Stockholm suburb club Tyresö expects to promote to the 1st division.
Damfotboll.com: Tyresö värvar allsvenskt igen
And not strictly Damallsvenskan, but almost: Kristianstad DFF, uncontested leader of the 1st division south, 12 points ahead with 8 matches left, and a very probable Damallsvenskan club next year, has signed Iceland's 25 times capped midfielder Erla Arnadottir. Erla, who has played 5 season in Damallsvenskan (Stattena, Sunnanå and Mallbacken) has just returned to Sweden after playing with Jersey Sky Blue in the American W-league. The 8 match deal is looked upon as an extended try-out for both sides. Kristianstad really doesn't need to strengthen their squad this season, but a 2008 damallsvenskan season seems to be approaching.
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF värvar landslagsstjärna
Transfer rumours: Svensson on the move?
Djurgården's star Victoria Svensson admitts to tabloid Aftonbladet that "another Swedish top club" has been in touch with her and that the offer is interesting. But the paper doesn't even hint which club it might be.
Aftonbladet: Svensson jagas av toppklubb
EXTRA, EXTRA: As Sund-fan points out here in the comments, the club Svensson has been talking to is, no surprise there, Linköping. She will not make any decision until after the season but says "I wouldn't meet with them if I didn't find their offer interesting".
Corren: Linköping lockar Victoria Svensson
Umeå has three players on trial this week. The U19 midfielder Petronella Ekroth from 1st division club Öster and her teammate Sofia Jakobsson, who is on the roster for Sweden's U18 matches against Norway later in August are followed by Laura Del Rio Garcia, a 25 years old attacker from Levante and the Spanish national team. "We don't know much about her", said Umeå manager Roland Arnqvist, "but if she's good, she will get some minutes against Brazil on Thursday".
Expressen: UIK prövar nya förmågor
Sunnanå's successful coach Kenneth Isaksson will not be offered an extension of his current contract with the club. "It would have been interesting to continue, but the club doesn't want to sign a new contract and that's it", says Isaksson. Sunnanå's sport director Sören Gustafsson comments that "they [Isaksson and his assistant Björn Israelsson] had three year contracts and now they expire" and says that the management are discussing some names: "we are among the top sides and so should the new coach be".
Norra Västerbotten: Kega tvingas lämna Sunnanå
And Sunnanå's and Sweden's stand-out defender Hanna Marklund hasn't made up her mind on her future footballing career. "I will make my decision this fall" she tells tabloid Expressen in an interview from her childhood home in the 20 families big village Åliden.
Expressen: "Jag vet inte om jag fortsätter ett år till"
Aftonbladet: Svensson jagas av toppklubb
EXTRA, EXTRA: As Sund-fan points out here in the comments, the club Svensson has been talking to is, no surprise there, Linköping. She will not make any decision until after the season but says "I wouldn't meet with them if I didn't find their offer interesting".
Corren: Linköping lockar Victoria Svensson
Umeå has three players on trial this week. The U19 midfielder Petronella Ekroth from 1st division club Öster and her teammate Sofia Jakobsson, who is on the roster for Sweden's U18 matches against Norway later in August are followed by Laura Del Rio Garcia, a 25 years old attacker from Levante and the Spanish national team. "We don't know much about her", said Umeå manager Roland Arnqvist, "but if she's good, she will get some minutes against Brazil on Thursday".
Expressen: UIK prövar nya förmågor
Sunnanå's successful coach Kenneth Isaksson will not be offered an extension of his current contract with the club. "It would have been interesting to continue, but the club doesn't want to sign a new contract and that's it", says Isaksson. Sunnanå's sport director Sören Gustafsson comments that "they [Isaksson and his assistant Björn Israelsson] had three year contracts and now they expire" and says that the management are discussing some names: "we are among the top sides and so should the new coach be".
Norra Västerbotten: Kega tvingas lämna Sunnanå
And Sunnanå's and Sweden's stand-out defender Hanna Marklund hasn't made up her mind on her future footballing career. "I will make my decision this fall" she tells tabloid Expressen in an interview from her childhood home in the 20 families big village Åliden.
Expressen: "Jag vet inte om jag fortsätter ett år till"
Scasna leaves Örebro
Kif Örebro's Czech star Pavlina Scasna has turned down a contract offer from the club and will join another, so far unnamed, Swedish club the next season. Örebro head coach Richard Holmlund is sad to see Scasna leave, but states that the club's ambition to become one of the top sides in Sweden remains. He adds that the he obviously will have to look for players out-side the club to replace her.
The contract Scasna was offered is supposed to have been the best ever to be put in front of a player by Örebro, which must mean a better contract than Kristin Lilly got 2005.
Pavlina Scasna has been rumoured to be sought after by almost every Swedish club, but only Umeå and Linköping have as far as I know approached her officially. I wouldn't give you much money back if you wagered a bet on Umeå as her destination.
Nerikes Allehanda: KIF Örebros stjärna lämnar klubben
Damallsvenskan round 18: Umeå wins and secures 6 point lead
Umeå IK - LDB FC Malmö 2 - 0 (0-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund (82 June Pedersen), Maria Bergkvist - Lise Klaveness, Lisa Dahlqvist, Elaine - Ramona Bachmann (61 Hanna Ljungberg), Madelaine Edlund, Marta
Malmö: Thora Helgadottir - Therese Jönsson, Emma Wilhelmsson, Dora Stefansdottir, Lina Nilsson - Malin Levenstad, Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Emma Stålhammar (70 Nanna Johansen) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis
Goals: 1-0 Lisa Dahlqvist (55), 2-0 Marta (89)
Attendance: 1,964
With the 2-0 defeat of Malmö, Umeå can see forward to the final matches after the World Cup with a lot of confidence - they will need to lose points in three of the four remaining matches to miss out on the championship.
Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson surprised by assigning his 18 year old defender Malin Levenstad to do man-marking on Marta. And particulary in the first half she was really successful. She managed to force Marta back or playing sideways instead of moving forward as usual. Umeå, in spite of having most of the possession, didn't manage to create much, their few finishes being shots from distance. The situation was new to both sides "Nobody has ever tried this before" commented Hanna Ljungberg and asked at halftime how it was marking Marta compared to others, Malin Levenstad answered "I have no idea, I've never done this before".
But even with some success in keeping tabs on Marta, I think Malmö suffered more from their tactics than Umeå did. Playing five in defense, they lost the midfield and couldn't support their attackers. They could keep the ball in Umeå's defensive half only short periods and with their power-draining defense play it was inevitable that Umeå should come through sooner or later. And when it happened, it was of course Marta who managed to escape her marker and set up Lisa Dahlqvist (playing great in a more offensive midfield role than usual) to score the leader.
Far too late in the game Malmö begun trying to push forward, but Umeå took advantage to score another, Marta zig-zagging through together with Hanna Ljungberg. Coach Jörgen Pettersson could just sigh after the match: "We did what we could. Umeå was simply better". And I think, even if Pettersson didn't want to go there, that missing injured Frida Nordin really hurt Malmö's offensive play.
Hanna Ljungberg replaced Ramona Bachmann to play the last half hour, her first match since the fatal European qualification match with the national team match against Hungary in June. She said she was very happy to return and also looked good on the field, contributing to Umeå's late 2-0 goal, cooperating nicely with Marta. But you could notice that she avoided those 50/50 situations with the keeper, that she would have rushed into before her injuries. "I'm less stupid nowadays", she commented.
Dagens Nyheter: Umeå mot nytt SM-guld
Sydsvenskan: Gulddrömmen är över för Malmö
Aftonbladet: ?Jag har blivit mindre dum?
Expressen: "Vi ska inte tappa det här"
AIK - Linköpings FC 1 - 1 (0-1)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Bohlin (78 Madelene Göras), Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Camilla Ulander Nilsson (46 Sofia Simonsson) - Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Jessica Juhlin, Kacey White, Ingrid Bohlin - Laura Kalmari (86 Freja Egebrand)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Frida Östberg, Faith Ikidi, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Ann Westermark (74 Maria Lindström), Caroline Seger, Sara Larsson (46 Petra Larsson), Maureen Mmadu - Maria Karlsson, Maria Aronsson (56 Kosovare Asllani)
Goals: 0-1 Maria Aronsson (41), 1-0 Linda Lekander (73)
Attendance: 208
AIK's confidence must have grown quite a bit after the inspired, albeity losing, effort against Umeå in the Swedish Cup final. Linköping took a predictable lead after dominating the first half (6-1 in shots at goal), but AIK once again came out more aggressive in the second. Knowing their strength they looked for set pieces and on one of their 5 second half corners, Linda Lekander (the same fullback that set up all AIK's thre goals in the cup final) managed to bend her corner-kick directly into goal. Linköping had several more promising chances, including three short in the wood-work, but AIK managed to hold on to the precious draw.
Linköping's World Cup player Sara Larsson was back on the pitch after her injury and was pleased with how her foot felt.
AIK: Lekanders hörnmål gav poäng
Linköping: Delad pott i Solna
Corren: "Jätteskönt att vara tillbaka"
Djurgården - Hammarby 1 - 0 (0-0)
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Dorte Dalum Jensen, Jane Törnqvist, Therese Brogårde, Sara Thunebro - Elin Ekblom, Ariane Hingst, Ann-Marie Norlin, Linda Forsberg (87 Emma Lundh) - Kristin Bengtsson, Victoria Svensson
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Annica Svensson, Elin Sölveskog, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom - Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman - Marijke Callebaut, Louise Fors (73 Daniella Chamoun), Sara Johansson (76 Therese Sandström) - Jessica Landström,
Goals: 1-0 Emma Lundh (90)
Attendance: 1,212
A last minute goal by junior Emma Lundh (set up by Victoria Svensson, who else), only minutes after she got subbed in for Linda Forsberg, saved the day for Djurgården, keeping them in something that can be called striking distance from Umeå, at least if you're an optimistic Djurgården fan. Just like against in their match against Umeå recently, Hammarby showed their best side, hard working and organised. Young defender Anna Lindblom was successful against Djurgården's winger Elin Ekblom, moving most of Djurgården's attacking to their weaker left side.
Dagens Nyheter: Djurgården hänger på guldtåget
Falköpings KIK - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 0 - 3 (0-2)
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Nettan Hofling, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson (82 Madeleine Tegström), Sandra Krantz, Camilla Sanderheim (75 Rebecka Blennow), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Cynthia Uwak, Jill Oakes, Erin Ramsay, Linnea Liljegärd (88 Therese Larsson)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg (53 Sofia Karlsson), Jenny Engwall, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson - Sofie Andersson (84 Lisa Ek), Salina Olsson, Ingvild Stensland, Emelie Farfa - Lotta Schelin, Sara Lindén (90 Frida Svensson),
Goals: 0-1 Ingvild Stansland (43), 0-2 Lotta Schelin (45), 0-3 Salina Olsson (78)
Attendance: 710
Falköping can be hard to defeat at home, but after goals by stars Stensland and Schelin late in the first half, the match was decided. For Falköping this was still a step forward compared to the 5-1 beating in their spring meeting and late signing Jill Oakes has been a boost for their midfield. But I can still not see what could save last place Falköping from relegation.
Göteborgsposten: VM i Kina -nästa för Schelin
SVT: Schelin längtar till VM (video with Lotta Schelin interview and match clips)
Qbik - Kif Örebro 1 - 2 (1-1)
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke (52 Jennifer Meier), Anna Nilsson, Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Rebecca Johnson (46 Julia Spetsmark), Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren (66 Sanna Backman), Therése Björk, Lovisa Ericsson
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Marina Pettersson, Hanna Pettersson (67 Elin Rydberg)
Goals: 1-0 Rebecca Johnson (31), 1-1 Pavlina Scasna (36), 1-2 Elin Magnusson (59)
Attendance: 483
After five goalless matches, Qbik got the longed for goal on a quick counter-attack , Rebecca Johnson heading in the return from Anna Nilsson's shot. But Örebro was stronger and Pavlina Scasna could create a goal almost on her own only five minutes later. Early in the second half Örebro exploited a misyunderstanding between Qbik's midfielders and could take the lead. Qbik tried to get an equaliser, but had problems creating scoring opportunities and Örebro, testing Qbik's keeper Maria Yatrakis sevreral times, won a deserved victory.
Örebro's Holmlund wasn't entirely pleased with what his team managed "but we won, and that's what counts" and thought Scasna ought to have scored more with the chances she got, "but Qbik had a fantastic goalkeeper". Qbik's Jansson has started counting points to escape relegation: "We need to defeat Hammarby and Falköping and take a point from either Malmö or Göteborg". A tall order.
Värmlands Folkblad: Måltorkan över - ändå ny Qbikförlust
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Mål ? men nu ser det mörkt ut, Qbik
Nerikes Allehanda: Magnusson sköt KIF Örebro till seger
Sunnanå SK - Bälinge 1 - 0 (0-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Mirjam Marklund (90 Johanna Lindahl), Alexandra Nilsson - Maria Nordbrandt (67 Rebecca Smith), Anna Bodén, Josefin Johansson, Kristina Wiklund (88 Sanna Frostevall) - Lina Johansson, Perpetua Nkwocha,
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Nina Engström, Annette Kent, Malin Ericsson (70 Linda Blom), Alexandra Höglund (69 Lisa Lantz), Emma Lindqvist, Moa Eriksson, Katri Nokso-Koivisto (81 Julia Lyckberg), Anne Mäkinen
Goals: 1-0 Own goal (76)
Attendance: 1,074
Sunnanå showed already from srart which was the strongest side and had most of the possession while Bälinge had big problems even getting into Sunnanå's defensive half. Perpetua Nkwocha kept Bälinge's defense busy, but Sunnanå still had unexpected problems creating any real scoring chances. A hard working Bälinge managed to fend off Sunnanå until the 15 minutes from the end, when a botched attempt to clear a Perpetua Nkwocha cross ended up in an own goal. Anna Bodén and Josefin Johansson helped Sunnanå dominate the midfield while goalkeeper Maja Åström saved Bälinge from a much bigger defeat.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Självmål sänkte Bälinge
Norra Västerbotten: Självmål räddade Sunnanå
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund (82 June Pedersen), Maria Bergkvist - Lise Klaveness, Lisa Dahlqvist, Elaine - Ramona Bachmann (61 Hanna Ljungberg), Madelaine Edlund, Marta
Malmö: Thora Helgadottir - Therese Jönsson, Emma Wilhelmsson, Dora Stefansdottir, Lina Nilsson - Malin Levenstad, Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Emma Stålhammar (70 Nanna Johansen) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis
Goals: 1-0 Lisa Dahlqvist (55), 2-0 Marta (89)
Attendance: 1,964
With the 2-0 defeat of Malmö, Umeå can see forward to the final matches after the World Cup with a lot of confidence - they will need to lose points in three of the four remaining matches to miss out on the championship.
Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson surprised by assigning his 18 year old defender Malin Levenstad to do man-marking on Marta. And particulary in the first half she was really successful. She managed to force Marta back or playing sideways instead of moving forward as usual. Umeå, in spite of having most of the possession, didn't manage to create much, their few finishes being shots from distance. The situation was new to both sides "Nobody has ever tried this before" commented Hanna Ljungberg and asked at halftime how it was marking Marta compared to others, Malin Levenstad answered "I have no idea, I've never done this before".
But even with some success in keeping tabs on Marta, I think Malmö suffered more from their tactics than Umeå did. Playing five in defense, they lost the midfield and couldn't support their attackers. They could keep the ball in Umeå's defensive half only short periods and with their power-draining defense play it was inevitable that Umeå should come through sooner or later. And when it happened, it was of course Marta who managed to escape her marker and set up Lisa Dahlqvist (playing great in a more offensive midfield role than usual) to score the leader.
Far too late in the game Malmö begun trying to push forward, but Umeå took advantage to score another, Marta zig-zagging through together with Hanna Ljungberg. Coach Jörgen Pettersson could just sigh after the match: "We did what we could. Umeå was simply better". And I think, even if Pettersson didn't want to go there, that missing injured Frida Nordin really hurt Malmö's offensive play.
Hanna Ljungberg replaced Ramona Bachmann to play the last half hour, her first match since the fatal European qualification match with the national team match against Hungary in June. She said she was very happy to return and also looked good on the field, contributing to Umeå's late 2-0 goal, cooperating nicely with Marta. But you could notice that she avoided those 50/50 situations with the keeper, that she would have rushed into before her injuries. "I'm less stupid nowadays", she commented.
Dagens Nyheter: Umeå mot nytt SM-guld
Sydsvenskan: Gulddrömmen är över för Malmö
Aftonbladet: ?Jag har blivit mindre dum?
Expressen: "Vi ska inte tappa det här"
AIK - Linköpings FC 1 - 1 (0-1)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Bohlin (78 Madelene Göras), Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Camilla Ulander Nilsson (46 Sofia Simonsson) - Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Jessica Juhlin, Kacey White, Ingrid Bohlin - Laura Kalmari (86 Freja Egebrand)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Frida Östberg, Faith Ikidi, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Ann Westermark (74 Maria Lindström), Caroline Seger, Sara Larsson (46 Petra Larsson), Maureen Mmadu - Maria Karlsson, Maria Aronsson (56 Kosovare Asllani)
Goals: 0-1 Maria Aronsson (41), 1-0 Linda Lekander (73)
Attendance: 208
AIK's confidence must have grown quite a bit after the inspired, albeity losing, effort against Umeå in the Swedish Cup final. Linköping took a predictable lead after dominating the first half (6-1 in shots at goal), but AIK once again came out more aggressive in the second. Knowing their strength they looked for set pieces and on one of their 5 second half corners, Linda Lekander (the same fullback that set up all AIK's thre goals in the cup final) managed to bend her corner-kick directly into goal. Linköping had several more promising chances, including three short in the wood-work, but AIK managed to hold on to the precious draw.
Linköping's World Cup player Sara Larsson was back on the pitch after her injury and was pleased with how her foot felt.
AIK: Lekanders hörnmål gav poäng
Linköping: Delad pott i Solna
Corren: "Jätteskönt att vara tillbaka"
Djurgården - Hammarby 1 - 0 (0-0)
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Dorte Dalum Jensen, Jane Törnqvist, Therese Brogårde, Sara Thunebro - Elin Ekblom, Ariane Hingst, Ann-Marie Norlin, Linda Forsberg (87 Emma Lundh) - Kristin Bengtsson, Victoria Svensson
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Annica Svensson, Elin Sölveskog, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom - Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman - Marijke Callebaut, Louise Fors (73 Daniella Chamoun), Sara Johansson (76 Therese Sandström) - Jessica Landström,
Goals: 1-0 Emma Lundh (90)
Attendance: 1,212
A last minute goal by junior Emma Lundh (set up by Victoria Svensson, who else), only minutes after she got subbed in for Linda Forsberg, saved the day for Djurgården, keeping them in something that can be called striking distance from Umeå, at least if you're an optimistic Djurgården fan. Just like against in their match against Umeå recently, Hammarby showed their best side, hard working and organised. Young defender Anna Lindblom was successful against Djurgården's winger Elin Ekblom, moving most of Djurgården's attacking to their weaker left side.
Dagens Nyheter: Djurgården hänger på guldtåget
Falköpings KIK - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 0 - 3 (0-2)
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Nettan Hofling, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson (82 Madeleine Tegström), Sandra Krantz, Camilla Sanderheim (75 Rebecka Blennow), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Cynthia Uwak, Jill Oakes, Erin Ramsay, Linnea Liljegärd (88 Therese Larsson)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg (53 Sofia Karlsson), Jenny Engwall, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson - Sofie Andersson (84 Lisa Ek), Salina Olsson, Ingvild Stensland, Emelie Farfa - Lotta Schelin, Sara Lindén (90 Frida Svensson),
Goals: 0-1 Ingvild Stansland (43), 0-2 Lotta Schelin (45), 0-3 Salina Olsson (78)
Attendance: 710
Falköping can be hard to defeat at home, but after goals by stars Stensland and Schelin late in the first half, the match was decided. For Falköping this was still a step forward compared to the 5-1 beating in their spring meeting and late signing Jill Oakes has been a boost for their midfield. But I can still not see what could save last place Falköping from relegation.
Göteborgsposten: VM i Kina -nästa för Schelin
SVT: Schelin längtar till VM (video with Lotta Schelin interview and match clips)
Qbik - Kif Örebro 1 - 2 (1-1)
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke (52 Jennifer Meier), Anna Nilsson, Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Rebecca Johnson (46 Julia Spetsmark), Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren (66 Sanna Backman), Therése Björk, Lovisa Ericsson
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Marina Pettersson, Hanna Pettersson (67 Elin Rydberg)
Goals: 1-0 Rebecca Johnson (31), 1-1 Pavlina Scasna (36), 1-2 Elin Magnusson (59)
Attendance: 483
After five goalless matches, Qbik got the longed for goal on a quick counter-attack , Rebecca Johnson heading in the return from Anna Nilsson's shot. But Örebro was stronger and Pavlina Scasna could create a goal almost on her own only five minutes later. Early in the second half Örebro exploited a misyunderstanding between Qbik's midfielders and could take the lead. Qbik tried to get an equaliser, but had problems creating scoring opportunities and Örebro, testing Qbik's keeper Maria Yatrakis sevreral times, won a deserved victory.
Örebro's Holmlund wasn't entirely pleased with what his team managed "but we won, and that's what counts" and thought Scasna ought to have scored more with the chances she got, "but Qbik had a fantastic goalkeeper". Qbik's Jansson has started counting points to escape relegation: "We need to defeat Hammarby and Falköping and take a point from either Malmö or Göteborg". A tall order.
Värmlands Folkblad: Måltorkan över - ändå ny Qbikförlust
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Mål ? men nu ser det mörkt ut, Qbik
Nerikes Allehanda: Magnusson sköt KIF Örebro till seger
Sunnanå SK - Bälinge 1 - 0 (0-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Mirjam Marklund (90 Johanna Lindahl), Alexandra Nilsson - Maria Nordbrandt (67 Rebecca Smith), Anna Bodén, Josefin Johansson, Kristina Wiklund (88 Sanna Frostevall) - Lina Johansson, Perpetua Nkwocha,
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Nina Engström, Annette Kent, Malin Ericsson (70 Linda Blom), Alexandra Höglund (69 Lisa Lantz), Emma Lindqvist, Moa Eriksson, Katri Nokso-Koivisto (81 Julia Lyckberg), Anne Mäkinen
Goals: 1-0 Own goal (76)
Attendance: 1,074
Sunnanå showed already from srart which was the strongest side and had most of the possession while Bälinge had big problems even getting into Sunnanå's defensive half. Perpetua Nkwocha kept Bälinge's defense busy, but Sunnanå still had unexpected problems creating any real scoring chances. A hard working Bälinge managed to fend off Sunnanå until the 15 minutes from the end, when a botched attempt to clear a Perpetua Nkwocha cross ended up in an own goal. Anna Bodén and Josefin Johansson helped Sunnanå dominate the midfield while goalkeeper Maja Åström saved Bälinge from a much bigger defeat.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Självmål sänkte Bälinge
Norra Västerbotten: Självmål räddade Sunnanå
Marta talks contract, Caroline Jönsson extends
Marta's agent Fabiano Farah will travel to Umeå with the Brazilian national team. Umeå's Roland Arnqvist has set up a meeting to discuss Marta's contract with him. "We will do everything to keep Marta", he says. "She is our main priority". Umeå wants to sign a long-term contract with Marta and they would prefer to finish negotiations before the World Cup.
Umeå will also negotiate an extension of Elaine's contract. "She is very important for us. We would really like to keep both of them for the next season".
Västerbottenskuriren: Martas agent hit för att diskutera framtiden i UIK
LDB FC Malmö has signed an extended contract with their 30 year old goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson including the 2009 season and with an option for 2010. "We are very pleased that "Carre" has decided to sign an extended contract with us", comments general manager Kenny Jönsson.
LDB FC Malmö: LdB FC fortsätter att kontraktera nyckelspelare
Umeå will also negotiate an extension of Elaine's contract. "She is very important for us. We would really like to keep both of them for the next season".
Västerbottenskuriren: Martas agent hit för att diskutera framtiden i UIK
LDB FC Malmö has signed an extended contract with their 30 year old goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson including the 2009 season and with an option for 2010. "We are very pleased that "Carre" has decided to sign an extended contract with us", comments general manager Kenny Jönsson.
LDB FC Malmö: LdB FC fortsätter att kontraktera nyckelspelare
More Damallsvenskan players called up for World Cup teams
Djurgården's Dorte Dalum Jensen has been picked for Denmark's team in the World Cup, while Malmö's Nanna Johansen was one of three that was cut from the 24 player list.
3f: Danmarks VM-hold klar
Nigeria will be on camp in Germany August 25 to September 4 to prepare for the World Cup. Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnanå), Cynthia Uwak (Falköping) and Linköping's Maureen Mmadu and Faith Ikidi has been called up.
Damfotboll.com: Sveriges VM-motståndare träningsspelar i Tyskland
3f: Danmarks VM-hold klar
Nigeria will be on camp in Germany August 25 to September 4 to prepare for the World Cup. Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnanå), Cynthia Uwak (Falköping) and Linköping's Maureen Mmadu and Faith Ikidi has been called up.
Damfotboll.com: Sveriges VM-motståndare träningsspelar i Tyskland
SEK 100,000 for a gold
Should Sweden win the World Cup, a SEK 100,000 bonus will be paid to each player. "We are pretty satisfied with that" said team captain Victoria Svensson, who, together with Frida Östberg, has negotiated with the Football Association. "It's a big raise compared to previous championships." Bonuses will be paid out for every level the team advances, starting with advancing from the group play.
Expressen: VM-damernas rekordbonus
Expressen: VM-damernas rekordbonus
Eleven healthy pair of feet needed
A few days before he released his final selection for the World Cup, national team coach Thomas Dennerby was asked if there would be any surprises in the team. "No, if you follow women's football, there will be nothing to surprise you". And most of the post-event commentary seemed to agree; This is as good as it gets. We can put together a pretty decent starting eleven, but no more injuries please. There is some good back-up among the defenders, and some of them can double as midfielders, but as a whole the bench is worringly thin.
This also means that the expectations from our football columnists aren't that high. In view of the tough opposition in the group, already advancing to the quarter-finals could be seen as a success.
A starting eleven will probably look like it has done the last year. Everybody seems to be hoping for goalie Hedvig Lindahl to get fit enough to take the starting position. Anna Paulsson, Hanna Marklund and Stina Segerström looks set in defense, joined by either Frida Östberg or Sara Thunebro on the left side. Caroline Seger, Nilla Fischer and Therese Sjögran has been the midfield trio since Dennerby introduced the new 4-3-3 while Lotta Schelin and Victoria Svensson probably will be joined by Sara Johansson in the attack. Hanna Ljungberg in full fitness is something to wish for, but it''s more likly that we will see her in second half appearences as some kind of "super-sub". Newbies Kristin Hammarström, Madeleine Edlund and Linda Forsberg of course got a lot of attention, but they probably won't see much playing time, if any at all.
There wasn't really that much ado about the 9 players that was cut. Someone had liked Maria Nordbrandt as this World Cup version of the 2003 Josefine Öqvist and Maria Bergqvist and Carola Söberg were vocally disappointed but otherwise not much.
This is derived from a lot of TV, radio and newspaper commentary. For once, I'd like your permission to be lazy and not post all the links. Thank you.
By the way, when I watched the players starting to walk up one after the other to be introduced, I couldn't help thinking "damn, that's a lot of blondes". It got a bit better when we moved from defenders to attackers (and why is that?), but still. I guess there are some fake blondes, though. I remember a Frida Östberg self-presentation on Umeå's website (?) some years ago, where she described her hair colour as "variable".
And by all means, feel free to complain about the song.
Svensk Fotboll: player presentation (video clip from the presentation show)
This also means that the expectations from our football columnists aren't that high. In view of the tough opposition in the group, already advancing to the quarter-finals could be seen as a success.
A starting eleven will probably look like it has done the last year. Everybody seems to be hoping for goalie Hedvig Lindahl to get fit enough to take the starting position. Anna Paulsson, Hanna Marklund and Stina Segerström looks set in defense, joined by either Frida Östberg or Sara Thunebro on the left side. Caroline Seger, Nilla Fischer and Therese Sjögran has been the midfield trio since Dennerby introduced the new 4-3-3 while Lotta Schelin and Victoria Svensson probably will be joined by Sara Johansson in the attack. Hanna Ljungberg in full fitness is something to wish for, but it''s more likly that we will see her in second half appearences as some kind of "super-sub". Newbies Kristin Hammarström, Madeleine Edlund and Linda Forsberg of course got a lot of attention, but they probably won't see much playing time, if any at all.
There wasn't really that much ado about the 9 players that was cut. Someone had liked Maria Nordbrandt as this World Cup version of the 2003 Josefine Öqvist and Maria Bergqvist and Carola Söberg were vocally disappointed but otherwise not much.
This is derived from a lot of TV, radio and newspaper commentary. For once, I'd like your permission to be lazy and not post all the links. Thank you.
By the way, when I watched the players starting to walk up one after the other to be introduced, I couldn't help thinking "damn, that's a lot of blondes". It got a bit better when we moved from defenders to attackers (and why is that?), but still. I guess there are some fake blondes, though. I remember a Frida Östberg self-presentation on Umeå's website (?) some years ago, where she described her hair colour as "variable".
And by all means, feel free to complain about the song.
Svensk Fotboll: player presentation (video clip from the presentation show)
Swedish Cup: Marta wins final for Umeå
AIK - Umeå IK 3 - 4 (0-3)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Bohlin, Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Sofia Simonsson (66 Nazanin Vaseghpanah), Jessica Julin, Camilla Ulander Nilsson, Kacey White - Ingrid Bohlin, Laura Kalmari
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund, Maria Bergkvist - Lisa Dahlqvist, Elaine, Lise Klaveness - Ramona Bachmann (74 Erika Karlsson), Madeleine Edlund, Marta
Goals: 0-1 Marta (10), 0-2 Marta (14), 0-3 Madeleine Edlund (40), 1-3 Laura Kalmari (46), 2-3 Frida Höglund (53), 3-3 Frida Höglund (80), 3-4 Marta (86)
Attendance: 1,310
After losing three consecutive Swedish Cup finals, it looked all set for Umeå to finally regain the Swedish Cup, playing bottom dweller AIK in the final. And it started well, Marta scoring twice within 15 minutes and Umeå pretty much running the show. After an additional goal by Madeleine Edlund Umeå could go to the break with what looked like a comfortable three goal lead.
But AIK could reduce immediately following halftime, Laura Kalmari scoring from short distance after a AIK corner-kick. The whole team seemed to lift themselves after that, more focused, more aggressive and physical in one-on ones and not giving Marta anything like the space she got in the first half. Umeå proved to be vulnerable at set pieces as AIK defender Frida Höglund scored twice from a free-kick and a corner-kick, equalizing with only ten minutes left of regulation time. But in the last minutes they slipped in their close attention to Marta, who could steal the ball close to AIK's goal and score the winner.
It was, looking at the match as a whole, a fully deserved victory for Umeå, but AIK's second half was impressive, with the team running more and working harder the longer the game went.
It was expected that Hanna Ljungberg should get some playing time, and she started to get ready to leave the bench at about 10 minutes from the end. But she had doctor's orders to play at the most 10-15 minutes, and when AIK equalized, making 30 minutes overtime a distinct possibility, she had to return to the bench.
Aftonbladet: Marta frälste Umeå
Expressen: Räddade Umeå från tidernas kollaps
Svenska Dagbladet: Fjärde gången gillt för Umeå
SVT: Martas hattrick sänkte AIK, match clip
Nordby, Stensland and Klaveness to World Cup with Norway
Three Norwegian players in Damallsvenskan; Bente Nordby (Djurgården), Ingvild Stensland (Göteborg) and Lise Klaveness (Umeå), were named for Norway's World Cup team, that was announced earlier today.
Norway's FA: - Kjempegøy å bli tatt ut
Another future Damallsvenskan World Cup player, Sunnanå's Rebecca Smith, has captained her New Zealand team in two matches in USA the last days. First a 6-1 defeat against USA, where Smith scored the consolation goal for the Kiwis on a penalty kick, and then a 1-0 defeat against WPSL champions FC Indiana.
New Zealand Football: US HAND NZ WORLD CUP WAKE-UP CALL, TIRED NEW ZEALAND DOWNED BY INDIANA
Norway's FA: - Kjempegøy å bli tatt ut
Another future Damallsvenskan World Cup player, Sunnanå's Rebecca Smith, has captained her New Zealand team in two matches in USA the last days. First a 6-1 defeat against USA, where Smith scored the consolation goal for the Kiwis on a penalty kick, and then a 1-0 defeat against WPSL champions FC Indiana.
New Zealand Football: US HAND NZ WORLD CUP WAKE-UP CALL, TIRED NEW ZEALAND DOWNED BY INDIANA
Sweden's World Cup team roster announced
Sweden's World Cup team roster was announced at a big live TV event in Stockholm Tuesday evening. No big surprises, but two uncapped players (Kristin Hammarström and Madeleine Edlund) and one who played her first national team match only a few months ago (Linda Forsberg) gives the selection a youthful edge.
Sweden's World Cup squad | Date of birth | Caps | Goals | U21 | U19 | U17 | |
| Kristin Hammarström | Kif Örebro | 820329 | - | - | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Hedvig Lindahl | Linköpings FC | 830429 | 20 | - | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Sofia Lundgren | AIK | 820920 | 19 | - | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Sara Larsson | Linköpings FC | 790513 | 69 | 6 | 12 | 8 | - |
| Hanna Marklund | Sunnanå SK | 771126 | 112 | 6 | 24 | - | 11 |
| Anna Paulson | Umeå IK | 840229 | 9 | - | 21 | 22 | 7 |
| Charlotte Rohlin | Linköpings FC | 801202 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - |
| Stina Segerström | Kif Örebro | 820617 | 17 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 7 |
| Sara Thunebro | Djurgården | 790426 | 18 | 2 | 32 | 9 | 10 |
| Karolina Westberg | Umeå IK | 780516 | 117 | - | 23 | - | 9 |
| Frida Östberg | Linköpings FC | 771210 | 56 | 2 | 3 | - | - |
| Madelaine Edlund | Umeå IK | 850915 | - | - | 18 | 7 | 1 |
| Nilla Fischer | LDB FC Malmö | 840802 | 19 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 12 |
| Linda Forsberg | Djurgården | 850619 | 1 | - | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| Sara Johansson | Hammarby IF | 800123 | 23 | 7 | 29 | 1 | - |
| Hanna Ljungberg | Umeå IK | 790108 | 119 | 69 | 3 | - | 9 |
| Therese Lundin | LDB FC Malmö | 790303 | 48 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 11 |
| Lotta Schelin | Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 840227 | 41 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Caroline Seger | Linköpings FC | 850319 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 12 |
| Therese Sjögran | LDB FC Malmö | 770408 | 112 | 11 | 21 | - | 2 |
| Victoria Svensson | Djurgården | 770518 | 136 | 58 | 31 | - | 8 |
This is of course major news on all the sports pages and I'll try to put together some reactions later today.
Svensk Fotboll: VM-truppen nominerad
SVT: VM-truppen presenterades (video)
Transfer talk: Örebro wants Östberg and Asllani and everybody wants Scasna
"It starts early this year", commented Linköping's sport director Bengt Ekblom when Umeå's announcing their interest for Frida Östberg was followed by Örebro's Richard Holmlund declaring interest in Linköping's team captain as well as in their teenage talent Kosovare Asllani.
18 year old Asllani, who joined Linköping from 2nd division Vimmerby last year, isn't a first team player yet but has made several successful appearences as a substitute, and is generally considered one of Sweden's most promising young players. Linköping wants to keep her.
Bengt Ekblom also declares his interest in Örebro's Pavlina Scasna. Scasna is rumoured to have attracted interest from "everyone except Falköping and Qbik", which might be an overstatement but so far we have Umeå, Linköping and Örebro. In other unconfirmed news Linköping's Nigerian defender Faith Ikidi will probably get a contract offer for 2008, while Maureen Mmadu will not.
Corren: LFC jagar Scasna - men kan tappa Asllani
It does start early, by the way. Both Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist and Malmö's Kenny Jönsson has stressed the importance of settling their teams before the Women's World Cup starts next month. Malmö could a few days ago announce that they have done just that, while Umeå is rumoured to be in contract talks with most of their players, including Marta. A contributing factor to the hurry is probably that the new American professional league is supposed to make their definite start-up announcement in immediate connection to the World Cup. Signing your key players before there is an American league for them to talk to seems like a good idea. I still think it will be a problem for Umeå to hold on to Marta. Or, to put it the other way around, I think it will be seen as a big failure for the new American league if they don't manage to get Marta.
Frida Nordin with bad news, Hanna Ljungberg with better
LDB FC Malmö's winger Frida Nordin, one of the players on the 30 player list for the World Cup squad, had to limp off the field in the match against Falköping after a little more than half an hour. After an examination by the team physician, she had to pass on the bad news to national team coach Thomas Dennerby: she has a thigh muscle rupture and will not be able to go to China. The 25 year old Nordin would probably not have been a starter, but has been picked in every national team selection this year, played 8 of the 9 matches and scored one goal.
Dennerby was unhappy enough to use curse-words when he complained about having to re-shuffle the team, that is to be presented tomorrow, again. On the other, happier, hand he is expecting Hanna Ljungberg to make her comeback after her long injury period in the Swedish Cup final on Wednesday. I think it's a safe bet that she'll be on his list tomorrow.
Sydsvenskan: Frida Nordin missar VM
Göteborgsposten: Hanna redo för comeback
Dennerby was unhappy enough to use curse-words when he complained about having to re-shuffle the team, that is to be presented tomorrow, again. On the other, happier, hand he is expecting Hanna Ljungberg to make her comeback after her long injury period in the Swedish Cup final on Wednesday. I think it's a safe bet that she'll be on his list tomorrow.
Sydsvenskan: Frida Nordin missar VM
Göteborgsposten: Hanna redo för comeback
Damallsvenskan round 17: Örebro upsets Djurgården
Kif Örebro - Djurgården 2 -1 (0-1)
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Elin Rydberg, Marina Pettersson
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Jane Törnqvist, Elin Ekblom, Sara Thunebro, Linda Forsberg, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Kristin Bengtsson, Anna Hall, Victoria Svensson, Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde
Goals: 0-1 Ariane Hingst (19), 1-1 Hanna Pettersson (57), 2-1 Pavlina Scasna (78 PK)
Attendance: 1,031
Djurgården got as expected the upper hand, scoring already after 19 minutes when Sara Thunebro served Ariane Hingst a perfect pass. They continued to press against Örebro's goal, hitting the woodwork and testing World Cup squad hopeful Kristin Hammarström in Örebro's goal. But Örebro continued to work hard and Pavlina Scasna could set up Hanna Pettersson to equalise on a counter attack. A somewhat debatable penalty-kick late in the match decided the match - Stina Segerström went down in Djurgården's penalty area, but the referee couldn't find out who was to blame and no card was given.
Since Örebro last year managed to draw a top three side, one of their main goals this season was to defeat a top three side. Mission accomplished.
Nerikes Allehanda: KIF Örebro skrev historia, pictures
Djurgården: Förlust mot KIF Örebro
SVT Tvärsnytt: Emelia berättar om skadan (video interview with injured striker Emelia Erixon and some match sequences)
Hammarby - Umeå IK 0 - 1 (0-1)
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Annica Svensson, Elin Sölveskog, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom - Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman (66 Therese Sandström) - Marijke Callebaut, Louise Fors (73 Daniella Chamoun), Sara Johansson - Jessica Landström
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Elaine, Maria Bergkvist - Lisa Dahlqvist, Lise Klaveness, Emmelie Konradsson (60 June Pedersen) - Ramona Bachmann (79 Erika Karlsson), Madelaine Edlund, Marta
Goals: 0-1 Ramona Bachman (7)
Attendance: 1,811
Yet another sleepy performance from Umeå made for an exciting finish of the match, where Hammarby played both efficient and gutsy against the champions. Umeå created most and had the most dangerous scoring opportunities, but their only goal was a gift from Hammarby's defense (a misguided back pass to the keeper, intercepted by Ramona Bachmann). Marta had less success than usual, heavily guarded by Hammarby's Anna Lindblom, while the hosts repeated long balls to Sara Johansson could have resulted. Still, a single goal win is never secure, but as a whole the somewhat lack-lustre Umeå was the better side even if Hammarby probably did one of their best matches this season, hard-working and respectless.
Expressen: Umeå tog tre poäng mot Hammarby
Västerbottenskuriren: UIK gjorde sin plikt i sömnig tillställning
Västerbottens Folkblad: Fullträff av Bachmann
Hammarby: Förlust mot Umeå hemma på Kanalplan
SVT: match clip
Bälinge - Qbik 0 - 0 (0-0)
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats, Linda Blom (60 Heidi Matinlassi), Alexandra Höglund (60 Annette Kent), Emma Lindqvist, Julia Lyckberg (58 Moa Eriksson), Anne Mäkinen, Katri Nokso-Koivisto, Lisa Lantz
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke, Anna Nilsson, Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Rebecca Johnson, Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren, Therése Björk, Elin Sandgren
Attendance: 432
"The best we have played so far this season", commented a pleased Qbik manager Janne Jansson, who gave special mention to his Scotch national team player Ifeoma Dieke, this time playing in a forward position. Qbik dominated more or less the entire match, out-shooting Bälinge 6-0 in the first half and pressing Bälinge's goalkeeper Maja Åström to several good saves. Qbik's problem, and Bälinge's luck, was that in spite of 13 qualified scoring chances Qbik didn't manage to convert a single one.
Qbik work much harder then their hosts and you could see that the match much more important to the relegation candidates. Bälinge's Zaine Söderlund made several substitutions in the second half, trying to turn the game, but was very disappointed in the performance from most of his players.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Oavgjort på Studenternas
Värmlands Folkblad: Mållöst för Qbik
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbiktränaren: ?Årets bästa match?
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - AIK 3 - 1 (2-1)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg, Jenny Engwall, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson - Sofie Andersson, Ingvild Stensland, Salina Olsson, Emelie Farfa - Sara Lindén, Lotta Schelin,
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Jessica Juhlin, Linda Lekander, Frida Höglund, Kacey White, Sofia Simonsson, Ingrid Bohlin (62 Camilla Ulander Nilsson), Sanna Valkonen, Laura Kalmari, Anna Bohlin, Freja Egebrand
Goals: 0-1 Jessica Juhlin (1), 1-1 Lotta Schelin (8), 2-1 Maria Karlsson (15), 3-1 Maria Karlsson (81)
Attendance: 518
After the huge dip Göteborg took in the match against Malmö, they now seem to be back on track. AIK's Jessica Juhlin gave the hosts a scare as she chipped goalie Sandra Bjurteg already in the first minute, but after that the difference in quality was obvious and Göteborg played great football.
Göteborgsposten: Karlsson visade vägen framåt
Linköping FC - Sunnanå SK 2 - 2 (1-1)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Marie-Louise Skålberg, Faith Ikidi, Charlotte Rohlin, Maria Lindström - Ann Westermark (67 Kosovare Asllani), Petra Larsson, Frida Östberg, Maureen Mmadu - Maria Karlsson (79 Sandra Landberg-Carlzon), Maria Aronsson
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson, Sandra Berggren (78 Johanna Lindahl), Hanna Marklund, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund (Sanna Frostevall), Maria Nordbrandt (78 Magdalena Esseryd), Mirjam Marklund, Lina Johansson, Perpetua Nkwocha, Alexandra Nilsson
Goals: 1-0 Maria Karlsson (1), 1-1 Maria Nordbrandt (42), 2-1 Maria Aronsson (46), 2-2 Lina Johansson (90)
Attendance: 1,036
Linköping, starting without key player Caroline Seger (nothing serious, just a throat infection), opened each of the halfes with a goal after less than one minute of playing time. But Sunnanå (missing defender Rebecca Smith, who was playing USA with her New Zealand team) worked themselves back into the match both times with a lot of patience and the even result was a fair representation of the match.
Corren: LFC tappade segern i slutsekunderna
Västerbottens Folkblad: Sunnanå sänktes inte av två snabba smällar
Norra Västerbotten: Lina poängräddare i slutsekunderna
LDB FC Malmö - Falköping KIK 3 - 0 (3-0)
Malmö: Thora Helgadottir - Therese Jönsson (73 Lina Nilsson), Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Dora Stefansdottir - Frida Nordin (31 Nanna Johansen), Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Emma Stålhammar (81 Cecilia Kotte) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis,
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Nettan Hofling, Elin Osbeck, Sandra Krantz, Madeleine Tegström, Camilla Sanderheim (68 Therese Larsson), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Cynthia Uwak, Jill Oakes, Erin Ramsey, Linnea Liljegärd (46 Rebecka Blennow)
Goals: 1-0 Therese Lundin (6), 2-0 Dora Stefansdottir (36), 3-0 Therese Lundin (40)
Attendance: 850
In spite of his team winning 3-0 and never really being challenged by relegation candidate Falköping, Malmö's head coach Jörgen Pettersson was disappointed with the performance: "We had been talking about keeping up the pace and not allow ourselves to fall into Falköping's lower tempo". They still did and the second half was probably rather boring from a Malmö fan point of view. Goalscorer Dora Stefansdottir admitted to a local radio station that they more or less just played off the second half: "We usually have higher intensity on our trainings than we had here".
Falköping's Christer Engström was on the other hand pleased with his team: "If we can keep this up, we've got a good chance against AIK and Qbik" and said that his brand new recruits Oakes and Ramsey "contributed with positive energy".
Sydsvenskan: LDB FC vann trots dålig inställning
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Elin Rydberg, Marina Pettersson
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Jane Törnqvist, Elin Ekblom, Sara Thunebro, Linda Forsberg, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Kristin Bengtsson, Anna Hall, Victoria Svensson, Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde
Goals: 0-1 Ariane Hingst (19), 1-1 Hanna Pettersson (57), 2-1 Pavlina Scasna (78 PK)
Attendance: 1,031
Djurgården got as expected the upper hand, scoring already after 19 minutes when Sara Thunebro served Ariane Hingst a perfect pass. They continued to press against Örebro's goal, hitting the woodwork and testing World Cup squad hopeful Kristin Hammarström in Örebro's goal. But Örebro continued to work hard and Pavlina Scasna could set up Hanna Pettersson to equalise on a counter attack. A somewhat debatable penalty-kick late in the match decided the match - Stina Segerström went down in Djurgården's penalty area, but the referee couldn't find out who was to blame and no card was given.
Since Örebro last year managed to draw a top three side, one of their main goals this season was to defeat a top three side. Mission accomplished.
Nerikes Allehanda: KIF Örebro skrev historia, pictures
Djurgården: Förlust mot KIF Örebro
SVT Tvärsnytt: Emelia berättar om skadan (video interview with injured striker Emelia Erixon and some match sequences)
Hammarby - Umeå IK 0 - 1 (0-1)
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Annica Svensson, Elin Sölveskog, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom - Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman (66 Therese Sandström) - Marijke Callebaut, Louise Fors (73 Daniella Chamoun), Sara Johansson - Jessica Landström
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Elaine, Maria Bergkvist - Lisa Dahlqvist, Lise Klaveness, Emmelie Konradsson (60 June Pedersen) - Ramona Bachmann (79 Erika Karlsson), Madelaine Edlund, Marta
Goals: 0-1 Ramona Bachman (7)
Attendance: 1,811
Yet another sleepy performance from Umeå made for an exciting finish of the match, where Hammarby played both efficient and gutsy against the champions. Umeå created most and had the most dangerous scoring opportunities, but their only goal was a gift from Hammarby's defense (a misguided back pass to the keeper, intercepted by Ramona Bachmann). Marta had less success than usual, heavily guarded by Hammarby's Anna Lindblom, while the hosts repeated long balls to Sara Johansson could have resulted. Still, a single goal win is never secure, but as a whole the somewhat lack-lustre Umeå was the better side even if Hammarby probably did one of their best matches this season, hard-working and respectless.
Expressen: Umeå tog tre poäng mot Hammarby
Västerbottenskuriren: UIK gjorde sin plikt i sömnig tillställning
Västerbottens Folkblad: Fullträff av Bachmann
Hammarby: Förlust mot Umeå hemma på Kanalplan
SVT: match clip
Bälinge - Qbik 0 - 0 (0-0)
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats, Linda Blom (60 Heidi Matinlassi), Alexandra Höglund (60 Annette Kent), Emma Lindqvist, Julia Lyckberg (58 Moa Eriksson), Anne Mäkinen, Katri Nokso-Koivisto, Lisa Lantz
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke, Anna Nilsson, Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Rebecca Johnson, Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren, Therése Björk, Elin Sandgren
Attendance: 432
"The best we have played so far this season", commented a pleased Qbik manager Janne Jansson, who gave special mention to his Scotch national team player Ifeoma Dieke, this time playing in a forward position. Qbik dominated more or less the entire match, out-shooting Bälinge 6-0 in the first half and pressing Bälinge's goalkeeper Maja Åström to several good saves. Qbik's problem, and Bälinge's luck, was that in spite of 13 qualified scoring chances Qbik didn't manage to convert a single one.
Qbik work much harder then their hosts and you could see that the match much more important to the relegation candidates. Bälinge's Zaine Söderlund made several substitutions in the second half, trying to turn the game, but was very disappointed in the performance from most of his players.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Oavgjort på Studenternas
Värmlands Folkblad: Mållöst för Qbik
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbiktränaren: ?Årets bästa match?
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - AIK 3 - 1 (2-1)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg, Jenny Engwall, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson - Sofie Andersson, Ingvild Stensland, Salina Olsson, Emelie Farfa - Sara Lindén, Lotta Schelin,
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Jessica Juhlin, Linda Lekander, Frida Höglund, Kacey White, Sofia Simonsson, Ingrid Bohlin (62 Camilla Ulander Nilsson), Sanna Valkonen, Laura Kalmari, Anna Bohlin, Freja Egebrand
Goals: 0-1 Jessica Juhlin (1), 1-1 Lotta Schelin (8), 2-1 Maria Karlsson (15), 3-1 Maria Karlsson (81)
Attendance: 518
After the huge dip Göteborg took in the match against Malmö, they now seem to be back on track. AIK's Jessica Juhlin gave the hosts a scare as she chipped goalie Sandra Bjurteg already in the first minute, but after that the difference in quality was obvious and Göteborg played great football.
Göteborgsposten: Karlsson visade vägen framåt
Linköping FC - Sunnanå SK 2 - 2 (1-1)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Marie-Louise Skålberg, Faith Ikidi, Charlotte Rohlin, Maria Lindström - Ann Westermark (67 Kosovare Asllani), Petra Larsson, Frida Östberg, Maureen Mmadu - Maria Karlsson (79 Sandra Landberg-Carlzon), Maria Aronsson
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson, Sandra Berggren (78 Johanna Lindahl), Hanna Marklund, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund (Sanna Frostevall), Maria Nordbrandt (78 Magdalena Esseryd), Mirjam Marklund, Lina Johansson, Perpetua Nkwocha, Alexandra Nilsson
Goals: 1-0 Maria Karlsson (1), 1-1 Maria Nordbrandt (42), 2-1 Maria Aronsson (46), 2-2 Lina Johansson (90)
Attendance: 1,036
Linköping, starting without key player Caroline Seger (nothing serious, just a throat infection), opened each of the halfes with a goal after less than one minute of playing time. But Sunnanå (missing defender Rebecca Smith, who was playing USA with her New Zealand team) worked themselves back into the match both times with a lot of patience and the even result was a fair representation of the match.
Corren: LFC tappade segern i slutsekunderna
Västerbottens Folkblad: Sunnanå sänktes inte av två snabba smällar
Norra Västerbotten: Lina poängräddare i slutsekunderna
LDB FC Malmö - Falköping KIK 3 - 0 (3-0)
Malmö: Thora Helgadottir - Therese Jönsson (73 Lina Nilsson), Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Dora Stefansdottir - Frida Nordin (31 Nanna Johansen), Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Emma Stålhammar (81 Cecilia Kotte) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis,
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Nettan Hofling, Elin Osbeck, Sandra Krantz, Madeleine Tegström, Camilla Sanderheim (68 Therese Larsson), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Cynthia Uwak, Jill Oakes, Erin Ramsey, Linnea Liljegärd (46 Rebecka Blennow)
Goals: 1-0 Therese Lundin (6), 2-0 Dora Stefansdottir (36), 3-0 Therese Lundin (40)
Attendance: 850
In spite of his team winning 3-0 and never really being challenged by relegation candidate Falköping, Malmö's head coach Jörgen Pettersson was disappointed with the performance: "We had been talking about keeping up the pace and not allow ourselves to fall into Falköping's lower tempo". They still did and the second half was probably rather boring from a Malmö fan point of view. Goalscorer Dora Stefansdottir admitted to a local radio station that they more or less just played off the second half: "We usually have higher intensity on our trainings than we had here".
Falköping's Christer Engström was on the other hand pleased with his team: "If we can keep this up, we've got a good chance against AIK and Qbik" and said that his brand new recruits Oakes and Ramsey "contributed with positive energy".
Sydsvenskan: LDB FC vann trots dålig inställning
Umeå hunting Östberg and Scasna
Umeå's general manager Roland Arnqvist reveals to local media that Örebro's Czech forward Pavlina Scasna and former Umeå player Frida Östberg, now with Linköping, are two of his main targets for his 2008 team.
"It would almost be a crime not trying to sign her", says Arnqvist on Scasna, who he calls "a world class player". The Czech attacker impressed greatly for Örebro in Umeå last week.
Arnqvist has already been in touch with Östberg and her club. Even if Östberg wants to focus on more important things now, Arnqvist got the impression that no doors were closed.
Umeåhas in both cases announced their interest to the players clubs.
Västerbottenskuriren: Umeå IK jagar tjeckisk stjärna
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK vill ha tillbaka Östberg
Corren: Umeå vill ha hem Östberg
"It would almost be a crime not trying to sign her", says Arnqvist on Scasna, who he calls "a world class player". The Czech attacker impressed greatly for Örebro in Umeå last week.
Arnqvist has already been in touch with Östberg and her club. Even if Östberg wants to focus on more important things now, Arnqvist got the impression that no doors were closed.
Umeåhas in both cases announced their interest to the players clubs.
Västerbottenskuriren: Umeå IK jagar tjeckisk stjärna
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK vill ha tillbaka Östberg
Corren: Umeå vill ha hem Östberg
Malmö contracts entire starting eleven for 2008
LDB FC Malmö announced at a press conference today, that they have signed contracts for 2008, and in most cases one or more years beyond that, for ten players. This impressing showing of financial muscle includes 4 Swedish national team players: Therese Sjögran (until 2009), Nilla Fischer (2010), Frida Nordin (2008) and Therese Lundion (2008); five Sweden U21 players: Emma Wilhelmsson (2010), Lina Nilsson (2010), Malin Levenstad (2009), Nera Smajic (2009) and Emma Stålhammar (2008); and Dutch national team forward Manon Melis (2009). Already last year Caroline Jönsson and Therese Jönsson signed contracts for 2008, so this means that all Malmö's starters already are tied to the club for 2008 or longer.
Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson says the contracts are ground-breaking: "Earlier all clubs has worked with short contracts. This gives both the club and the players a security they've never had before."
LDC FC Malmö: Tio spelare signerade för framtiden
Sydsvenskan: Tio landslagsspelare klara för LDB
Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson says the contracts are ground-breaking: "Earlier all clubs has worked with short contracts. This gives both the club and the players a security they've never had before."
LDC FC Malmö: Tio spelare signerade för framtiden
Sydsvenskan: Tio landslagsspelare klara för LDB
Hanna Ljungberg uncertain about World Cup spot
Hanna Ljungberg tells public service broadcaster Svt, that she is by no means certain that she will be on Thomas Dennerby's squad for the World Cup in China. Hanna is slowly coming back from her injuries and has started with ball exercises on training, but has yet to play. There is a small chance that she will participate in the Swedish Cup final next week, but "my only chance is to get completely fit first". She is not up to taking any risks.
Svt: Hanna osäker på plats i VM-truppen
Other comments on the 30 player list:
Sunnanå's Maria Nordbrandt is thrilled to be on the preliminary 30 player list, but doesn't dare to hope that she will get to China - "that seems really far away". Her coach Kenneth Isaksson is really happy for her and says that she has developed a lot this year, but to reach the next level, to become an international top player, "she has to believe more in herself".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Maria Nordbrandt uttagen i VM-truppen
Norra Västerbotten: Nordbrandt mot VM i Kina
Örebro's coach Richard Holmlund talks to Umeå fan-site uikfans.se and thinks his defender Stina Segerström is an obvious choice, Sweden's best besides Hanna Marklund. He also rates Örebro goalie Kristin Hammarström over Carola Söberg and Hedvig Lindahl, "only Sofia Lundgren is better". He is sceptical to Hedvig Lindahl's possibilities to get her timing and coordination back in time for the tournament.
uikfans.se: I morgon återvänder han ...
Carola Söberg, who joined Umeå from Mallbacken this winter, is pleased to be on the list and admits that she will be disappointed if she doesn't get to go to China. A problem for Carola is that she has been benched at Umeå for some of the summer matches. "That doesn't benefit her chances", comments national team coach Thomas Dennerby.
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Carola en av fyra VM-kandidater
Malmö's head coach Jörgen Pettersson reacted surly to Dennerby's decision to pick veterans Kristin Bengtsson and Jane Törnqvist for the 30 player list. Of the 12 defensive players on Dennerby's list no one is from Malmö. Malmö's young defense has the fewest goals against of all teams in the league. "I was really surprised to see that no one from our defense line was picked".
Thomas Dennerby answers Pettersson's critic in an interview at damfotboll.com: "This is the World Cup and I have hard to imagine picking players without prior national team experience ... What would you do if for instance Hanna Marklund got injured. Would you put that responsibility on the young shoulders of [Malmö's 18 year old defender] Malin Levenstad?" Bengtsson and Törnqvist are on the list as back-ups, he says, and points out that if this was a European qualification match, he would have picked more "players for the future".
Malmö: Dennerby har lämnat sin 30-mannatrupp
Damfotboll.com: Veteraner avdammade i preliminär VM-trupp
Svt: Hanna osäker på plats i VM-truppen
Other comments on the 30 player list:
Sunnanå's Maria Nordbrandt is thrilled to be on the preliminary 30 player list, but doesn't dare to hope that she will get to China - "that seems really far away". Her coach Kenneth Isaksson is really happy for her and says that she has developed a lot this year, but to reach the next level, to become an international top player, "she has to believe more in herself".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Maria Nordbrandt uttagen i VM-truppen
Norra Västerbotten: Nordbrandt mot VM i Kina
Örebro's coach Richard Holmlund talks to Umeå fan-site uikfans.se and thinks his defender Stina Segerström is an obvious choice, Sweden's best besides Hanna Marklund. He also rates Örebro goalie Kristin Hammarström over Carola Söberg and Hedvig Lindahl, "only Sofia Lundgren is better". He is sceptical to Hedvig Lindahl's possibilities to get her timing and coordination back in time for the tournament.
uikfans.se: I morgon återvänder han ...
Carola Söberg, who joined Umeå from Mallbacken this winter, is pleased to be on the list and admits that she will be disappointed if she doesn't get to go to China. A problem for Carola is that she has been benched at Umeå for some of the summer matches. "That doesn't benefit her chances", comments national team coach Thomas Dennerby.
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Carola en av fyra VM-kandidater
Malmö's head coach Jörgen Pettersson reacted surly to Dennerby's decision to pick veterans Kristin Bengtsson and Jane Törnqvist for the 30 player list. Of the 12 defensive players on Dennerby's list no one is from Malmö. Malmö's young defense has the fewest goals against of all teams in the league. "I was really surprised to see that no one from our defense line was picked".
Thomas Dennerby answers Pettersson's critic in an interview at damfotboll.com: "This is the World Cup and I have hard to imagine picking players without prior national team experience ... What would you do if for instance Hanna Marklund got injured. Would you put that responsibility on the young shoulders of [Malmö's 18 year old defender] Malin Levenstad?" Bengtsson and Törnqvist are on the list as back-ups, he says, and points out that if this was a European qualification match, he would have picked more "players for the future".
Malmö: Dennerby har lämnat sin 30-mannatrupp
Damfotboll.com: Veteraner avdammade i preliminär VM-trupp
Falköping and Qbik finds reinforcements overseas
Falköpings KIK has announced that they have signed Jill Oakes and Erin Ramsey, transfer cleared for both of them earlier this week.
Jill Oakes was on trial with Falköping this spring and was offered a contract, but opted to play for Vancouver Whitecaps in the American W-league instead. The W-league season is now finished and Oakes will continue her 2007 season in Falköping. Oakes, who has one cap for the full USA national team, is a midfielder and was part of the winning US teams at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and the 2005 U-21 Nordic Cup.
Erin Ramsey is a defender, who has appeared once for the Canadian national team. She has played with Oakes in Vancouver this last season.
Falköping: Jill Oakes spelklar, Erin Ramsey till FKIK
Qbik has arranged with Irish national team forward Michelle O´Brien to join the team for the last four matches after the World Cup. O'Brien played in the American W-league with the Long Island Rough Riders and comes to Qbik on a recommendation from Qbik goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis, who has played with O'Brien. "It's a bit of a long-shot", says Qbik coach Janne Jansson, "but we really need a good forward".
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbik gjorde målet ? tyvärr i fel målbur
Finnish national team defender Petra Vaelma has left Bälinge for the 1st division promotion contender Eskilstuna United. Vaelma has had problems finding enough playing time in Bälinge.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Vaelma lämnar Bälinge
Hammarby has added 17 year old Jessica Karlsson to their team, a fast midfielder. Jessica, who comes from 3rd division Rävåsen, is described as a player for the future by manager Annelie Norén.
Hammarby: Jessica Karlsson förstärker Hammarby
Jill Oakes was on trial with Falköping this spring and was offered a contract, but opted to play for Vancouver Whitecaps in the American W-league instead. The W-league season is now finished and Oakes will continue her 2007 season in Falköping. Oakes, who has one cap for the full USA national team, is a midfielder and was part of the winning US teams at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and the 2005 U-21 Nordic Cup.
Erin Ramsey is a defender, who has appeared once for the Canadian national team. She has played with Oakes in Vancouver this last season.
Falköping: Jill Oakes spelklar, Erin Ramsey till FKIK
Qbik has arranged with Irish national team forward Michelle O´Brien to join the team for the last four matches after the World Cup. O'Brien played in the American W-league with the Long Island Rough Riders and comes to Qbik on a recommendation from Qbik goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis, who has played with O'Brien. "It's a bit of a long-shot", says Qbik coach Janne Jansson, "but we really need a good forward".
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbik gjorde målet ? tyvärr i fel målbur
Finnish national team defender Petra Vaelma has left Bälinge for the 1st division promotion contender Eskilstuna United. Vaelma has had problems finding enough playing time in Bälinge.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Vaelma lämnar Bälinge
Hammarby has added 17 year old Jessica Karlsson to their team, a fast midfielder. Jessica, who comes from 3rd division Rävåsen, is described as a player for the future by manager Annelie Norén.
Hammarby: Jessica Karlsson förstärker Hammarby
Damallsvenskan players in World Cup squads
Germany has announced their squad for the Women's World Cup in China. Djurgården's Ariane Hingst is among the chosen.
Frauenfussball-News: Neid legt sich auf WM-Kader fest
Germany, with Hingst playing 90 minutes, played Czech republic in a friendly just before announcing the WWC team, comfortably winning 5-0. Örebro's Pavlina Scasna did not show up for the Czech team.
Fansoccer: Ein bequemes Training endet 5:0
Brazil has also announced their team, Umeå's Marta and Elaine both on the list.
Brazil FA
Denmark called up 24 players for a short training camp in Copenhagen August 8-9. The Danish players in Damallsvenskan, Djurgården's Dorte Dalum Jensen and Malmö's Nanna Johansen, were both there. The final squad list is supposed to be released next week.
3f: 24 spillere til VM-træning
Frauenfussball-News: Neid legt sich auf WM-Kader fest
Germany, with Hingst playing 90 minutes, played Czech republic in a friendly just before announcing the WWC team, comfortably winning 5-0. Örebro's Pavlina Scasna did not show up for the Czech team.
Fansoccer: Ein bequemes Training endet 5:0
Brazil has also announced their team, Umeå's Marta and Elaine both on the list.
Brazil FA
Denmark called up 24 players for a short training camp in Copenhagen August 8-9. The Danish players in Damallsvenskan, Djurgården's Dorte Dalum Jensen and Malmö's Nanna Johansen, were both there. The final squad list is supposed to be released next week.
3f: 24 spillere til VM-træning
Injured Sara Larsson uncertain for China
Linköping's Sara Larsson, who didn't play in the match against Qbik last week, suffers from a tendon inflammation in a foot, a typical overstraining injury. Sara, who is one of the 30 prospective players for the World Cup squad, would need three months rest and rehabilitation to get rid of the problem. But national team coach Thomas Dennerby doesn't count her as a definite injury casualty yet: "As long as I know for sure that she can't play, she is in the mix" he says. He will discuss the situation with Sara Larsson and her club and see if they can postpone the rehabilitation until after the World Cup. "You can play with an injury like this, it just hurts a lot.
Corren: Sara Larsson riskerar att missa VM
Expressen: Ännu en skada i Linköping
Värmlands Folkblad: Förbundskaptenen ger inte upp hoppet om Larsson
Larsson's Linköping team mate Josefine Öqvist's has been hit by complications after her ACL surgery. She got a bacterial infection that kept her in hospital for two weeks. This has of course demolished her plans for a speedy recovery (after her last ACL injury, it only took her 3 and a half months to come back) and she now just hopes to be able to participate in preseason training next year.
Corren: Öqvist drabbades av allvarlig bakterie
And, to continue on the subject, Örebro's prolific striker Emelie Erixon, who had to leave the match in Umeå last week, has now been diagnosed with an ACL tear, ending her season. The 19 year old has scored 11 Damallsvenskan goals this season.
Aftonbladet: Jättelöfte slet av korsbandet
Nerikes Allehanda: Korsbandet av - Emelias säsong över
Corren: Sara Larsson riskerar att missa VM
Expressen: Ännu en skada i Linköping
Värmlands Folkblad: Förbundskaptenen ger inte upp hoppet om Larsson
Larsson's Linköping team mate Josefine Öqvist's has been hit by complications after her ACL surgery. She got a bacterial infection that kept her in hospital for two weeks. This has of course demolished her plans for a speedy recovery (after her last ACL injury, it only took her 3 and a half months to come back) and she now just hopes to be able to participate in preseason training next year.
Corren: Öqvist drabbades av allvarlig bakterie
And, to continue on the subject, Örebro's prolific striker Emelie Erixon, who had to leave the match in Umeå last week, has now been diagnosed with an ACL tear, ending her season. The 19 year old has scored 11 Damallsvenskan goals this season.
Aftonbladet: Jättelöfte slet av korsbandet
Nerikes Allehanda: Korsbandet av - Emelias säsong över
Damallsvenskan round 16: Malmö on the roll
Umeå and Djurgården just barely salvaged their three points against midtable teams, while Malmö seems to have improved on the already great form they showed before the break. The 7-2 defeat of Göteborg obviously killed all hopes for a top three finish for Martin Pringle's team.
Djurgården - Bälinge 2 - 1 (1-0)
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Jane Törnqvist, Elin Ekblom, Sara Thunebro, Linda Forsberg, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Kristin Bengtsson, Anna Hall (85 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson, Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats (46 Nina Engström), Linda Blom, Emma Lindqvist, Julia Lyckberg, Moa Eriksson (54 Alexandra Höglund), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (74 Annette Kent), Lisa Lantz, Anne Mäkinen
Goals: 1-0 Victoria Svensson (26), 1-1 Annette Kent (77), 2-1 Linda Forsberg (88)
Attendance: 487
Djurgården's higher pace and more resolute play gave them a big advantage over a timid Bälinge. Victoria Svensson scored a great goal from distance, and there were plenty chances for a bigger lead at half-time. But after the break, Bälinge seemed to shape up while Djurgården lost in tempo. When Bälinge substitution Annette Kent equalized, assisted by Kacey White's midfield replacement 17 year old Julia Lyckberg, it looked a lot like a repeat of the 1-1 result in the last match between the teams. But close to the end Kristin Bengtsson could serve Linda Forsberg to a header, that made it 2-1.
Djurgården: Seger i omstarten
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge föll i slutminuterna
Falköpings KIK - Hammarby IF 0 - 2 (0-0)
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Nettan Hofling, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson, Therese Larsson (49 Sandra Krantz), Madeleine Tegström, Josefine Alfsson, Camilla Sanderheim (73 Rebecka Blennow), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Cynthia Uwak, Linnea Liljegärd
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Elin Sölveskog, Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman, Jessica Landström, Louise Fors (78 Therese Sandström), Marijke Callebaut (73 Daniella Chamoun), Sara Johansson, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom, Annica Svensson (85 Therese Dahlberg)
Goals: 0-1 Malin Nykvist (56), 0-2 Daniella Chamoun (79)
Attendance: 558
The extremely important match for the two relegation candidates started slow and cautious, but with the ball mostly on Falköpings half. Hammarby seemes to get their nerves more in order since getting the lead after a corner-kick in the beginning of the second half and Sara Johansson set up the second goal for junior Daniella Chamoun to tap in, her first Damallsvenskan goal.
Hammarby: Seger borta mot Falköping
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - LDB FC Malmö 2 - 7 (0-4)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg (55 Anna Rehnlund) - Marlene Sjöberg, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson, Jenny Engwall - Lisa Ek, Ingvild Stensland (79 Sofia Karlsson), Salina Olsson - Emelie Farfa,Lotta Schelin (74 Sofie Andersson), Sara Lindén
Malmö: Thora Helgadottir - Therese Jönsson, Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Therese Sjögran (73 Dora Stefansdottir), Nilla Fischer (82 Emma Herbring), Nanna Johansen (64 Emma Stålhammar) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis
Goals: 0-1 Therese Sjögran (11 PK), 0-2 Nilla Fischer (26), 0-3 Lina Nilsson (44), 0-4 Frida Nordin (45), 1-4 Salina Olsson (66), 1-5 Manon Melis (68), 1-6 Therese Lundin (70), 2-6 Sofia Karlsson (88), 2-7 Therese Lundin (90)
Attendance: 618
The Malmö team machine started in high gear. With a high pace and constant pressure they often won the ball in Göteborg's defensive third, creating lots of scoring chances. Göteborg's new 4-3-3 formation didn't work out very well and coach Pringle made some adjustments in half-time, but to no avail.
Göteborgsposten: Göteborg borta från tätstriden
Sydsvenskan: Enkel seger för LDB FC Malmö
Umeå IK - Kif Örebro 2 - 1 (2-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund (69 June Pedersen), Lisa Dahlqvist, Madelaine Edlund, Lise Klaveness, Emmelie Konradsson, Elaine, Marta, Maria Bergkvist
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Sandra Linder, Marina Pettersson (46 Emelia Erixon, 73 Elin Rydberg), Malin Nilsson
Goals: 1-0 Marta (21), 2-0 Madelaine Edlund (25), 2-1 Pavlina Scasna (56)
Attendance: 1,394
"I don't know what happened, we just seemed really tired" commented team captain Karolina Westberg after the lucky win over Örebro. The first half still worked pretty well, with Marta in great form, creating most of Umeå's attacking play, and Anna Paulsson in an unusual position as a forward. But Örebro played much more aggressive in the second half and Pavlina Scasna posed a constant threat to Umeå's defense. "Sleepwalking" and "uninspired" was the verdict from the local media over Umeå's second half. Örebro (and former Umeå) coach Richard Holmlund said that when his team play like they did in the second half, "we can defeat any team in this league".
Örebro'äs top scorer Emelia Erixon had to leave the field in the middle of the second half with a knee injury.
Dagens Nyheter: Marta räddade Umeå IK
Västerbottens Folkblad: Marta bakom UIK:s seger, Richard Holmlund förlorade comebacken
Västerbottenskuriren: Sömnigt när UIK nickade till två gånger
Qbik - Linköpings FC 0 - 1 (0-1)
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke, Anna Nilsson (58 Rebecca Johnson), Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Therése Lückner (86 Jennifer Meier), Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren (55 Julia Spetsmark), Therése Björk, Lovisa Ericsson, Elin Sandgren
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Marie-Louise Skålberg, Faith Ikidi, Frida Östberg, Maria Lindström - Maureen Mmadu, Petra Larsson, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson - Ann Westermark (64 Kosovare Asllani), Maria Aronsson
Goals: 0-1 Own goal (25)
Attendance: 1,940
A 1-0 win on an own goal (a botched attempt by defender Amelie Rybäck to clear a Ann Westermark shot) over the last placed team doesn't sound much, but Linköping coach Daniel Pettersson was satisfied. His team dominated throughout the match and Hedvig Lindahl in goal was very rarely tested. The injury-ridden Linköping was hit by more bad news before the match, Sara Larsson with a foot injury and Lotta Rohlin with a fever, and had to improvise their defense line.
Värmlands Folkblad: Qbik gjorde enda målet - i fel bur
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbik gjorde målet ? tyvärr i fel målbur
Corren: Självmål gav LFC segern
Linköping: Ann bakom segern
AIK - Sunnanå SK 1 - 2 (0-2)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Bohlin, Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Jessica Juhlin, Lina Hedkvist (46 Camilla Ulander Nilsson), Kacey White - Ingrid Bohlin (46 Sofia Simonsson), Laura Kalmari
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson, Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund (62 Johanna Lindahl), Maria Nordbrandt (85 Magdalena Esseryd), Mirjam Marklund, Lina Johansson (90 Rebecca Smith), Perpetua Nkwocha, Alexandra Nilsson
Goals: 0-1 Anna Bodén (2), 0-2 Perpetua Nkwocha (42), 1-2 Nazanin Vaseghpanah (66 PK)
Attendance: 512
Sunnanå dominated AIK in the first half, winning almost all one-on-one situations, destroying any atttempts to a working passing play from the Stockholm side. Perpetua Nkwocha's constant movements in the attack gave hard work for the AIk defense and was awarded with a fine goal. Sunnanå lost some of the intensity in the second half, and AIK could create some dangerous counters, but needed a penalty kick to score. Kacey White made her first appearence in the AIK shirt after her recent shift from Bälinge and was named player of the match.
AIK: Förlust för damerna, men nära en poäng
Västerbottens Folkblad: Skön seger för Sunnanå
Djurgården - Bälinge 2 - 1 (1-0)
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Jane Törnqvist, Elin Ekblom, Sara Thunebro, Linda Forsberg, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Kristin Bengtsson, Anna Hall (85 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson, Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats (46 Nina Engström), Linda Blom, Emma Lindqvist, Julia Lyckberg, Moa Eriksson (54 Alexandra Höglund), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (74 Annette Kent), Lisa Lantz, Anne Mäkinen
Goals: 1-0 Victoria Svensson (26), 1-1 Annette Kent (77), 2-1 Linda Forsberg (88)
Attendance: 487
Djurgården's higher pace and more resolute play gave them a big advantage over a timid Bälinge. Victoria Svensson scored a great goal from distance, and there were plenty chances for a bigger lead at half-time. But after the break, Bälinge seemed to shape up while Djurgården lost in tempo. When Bälinge substitution Annette Kent equalized, assisted by Kacey White's midfield replacement 17 year old Julia Lyckberg, it looked a lot like a repeat of the 1-1 result in the last match between the teams. But close to the end Kristin Bengtsson could serve Linda Forsberg to a header, that made it 2-1.
Djurgården: Seger i omstarten
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge föll i slutminuterna
Falköpings KIK - Hammarby IF 0 - 2 (0-0)
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Nettan Hofling, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson, Therese Larsson (49 Sandra Krantz), Madeleine Tegström, Josefine Alfsson, Camilla Sanderheim (73 Rebecka Blennow), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Cynthia Uwak, Linnea Liljegärd
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Elin Sölveskog, Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman, Jessica Landström, Louise Fors (78 Therese Sandström), Marijke Callebaut (73 Daniella Chamoun), Sara Johansson, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom, Annica Svensson (85 Therese Dahlberg)
Goals: 0-1 Malin Nykvist (56), 0-2 Daniella Chamoun (79)
Attendance: 558
The extremely important match for the two relegation candidates started slow and cautious, but with the ball mostly on Falköpings half. Hammarby seemes to get their nerves more in order since getting the lead after a corner-kick in the beginning of the second half and Sara Johansson set up the second goal for junior Daniella Chamoun to tap in, her first Damallsvenskan goal.
Hammarby: Seger borta mot Falköping
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - LDB FC Malmö 2 - 7 (0-4)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg (55 Anna Rehnlund) - Marlene Sjöberg, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson, Jenny Engwall - Lisa Ek, Ingvild Stensland (79 Sofia Karlsson), Salina Olsson - Emelie Farfa,Lotta Schelin (74 Sofie Andersson), Sara Lindén
Malmö: Thora Helgadottir - Therese Jönsson, Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Therese Sjögran (73 Dora Stefansdottir), Nilla Fischer (82 Emma Herbring), Nanna Johansen (64 Emma Stålhammar) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis
Goals: 0-1 Therese Sjögran (11 PK), 0-2 Nilla Fischer (26), 0-3 Lina Nilsson (44), 0-4 Frida Nordin (45), 1-4 Salina Olsson (66), 1-5 Manon Melis (68), 1-6 Therese Lundin (70), 2-6 Sofia Karlsson (88), 2-7 Therese Lundin (90)
Attendance: 618
The Malmö team machine started in high gear. With a high pace and constant pressure they often won the ball in Göteborg's defensive third, creating lots of scoring chances. Göteborg's new 4-3-3 formation didn't work out very well and coach Pringle made some adjustments in half-time, but to no avail.
Göteborgsposten: Göteborg borta från tätstriden
Sydsvenskan: Enkel seger för LDB FC Malmö
Umeå IK - Kif Örebro 2 - 1 (2-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund (69 June Pedersen), Lisa Dahlqvist, Madelaine Edlund, Lise Klaveness, Emmelie Konradsson, Elaine, Marta, Maria Bergkvist
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Sandra Linder, Marina Pettersson (46 Emelia Erixon, 73 Elin Rydberg), Malin Nilsson
Goals: 1-0 Marta (21), 2-0 Madelaine Edlund (25), 2-1 Pavlina Scasna (56)
Attendance: 1,394
"I don't know what happened, we just seemed really tired" commented team captain Karolina Westberg after the lucky win over Örebro. The first half still worked pretty well, with Marta in great form, creating most of Umeå's attacking play, and Anna Paulsson in an unusual position as a forward. But Örebro played much more aggressive in the second half and Pavlina Scasna posed a constant threat to Umeå's defense. "Sleepwalking" and "uninspired" was the verdict from the local media over Umeå's second half. Örebro (and former Umeå) coach Richard Holmlund said that when his team play like they did in the second half, "we can defeat any team in this league".
Örebro'äs top scorer Emelia Erixon had to leave the field in the middle of the second half with a knee injury.
Dagens Nyheter: Marta räddade Umeå IK
Västerbottens Folkblad: Marta bakom UIK:s seger, Richard Holmlund förlorade comebacken
Västerbottenskuriren: Sömnigt när UIK nickade till två gånger
Qbik - Linköpings FC 0 - 1 (0-1)
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke, Anna Nilsson (58 Rebecca Johnson), Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Therése Lückner (86 Jennifer Meier), Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren (55 Julia Spetsmark), Therése Björk, Lovisa Ericsson, Elin Sandgren
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Marie-Louise Skålberg, Faith Ikidi, Frida Östberg, Maria Lindström - Maureen Mmadu, Petra Larsson, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson - Ann Westermark (64 Kosovare Asllani), Maria Aronsson
Goals: 0-1 Own goal (25)
Attendance: 1,940
A 1-0 win on an own goal (a botched attempt by defender Amelie Rybäck to clear a Ann Westermark shot) over the last placed team doesn't sound much, but Linköping coach Daniel Pettersson was satisfied. His team dominated throughout the match and Hedvig Lindahl in goal was very rarely tested. The injury-ridden Linköping was hit by more bad news before the match, Sara Larsson with a foot injury and Lotta Rohlin with a fever, and had to improvise their defense line.
Värmlands Folkblad: Qbik gjorde enda målet - i fel bur
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbik gjorde målet ? tyvärr i fel målbur
Corren: Självmål gav LFC segern
Linköping: Ann bakom segern
AIK - Sunnanå SK 1 - 2 (0-2)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Bohlin, Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Jessica Juhlin, Lina Hedkvist (46 Camilla Ulander Nilsson), Kacey White - Ingrid Bohlin (46 Sofia Simonsson), Laura Kalmari
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson, Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund (62 Johanna Lindahl), Maria Nordbrandt (85 Magdalena Esseryd), Mirjam Marklund, Lina Johansson (90 Rebecca Smith), Perpetua Nkwocha, Alexandra Nilsson
Goals: 0-1 Anna Bodén (2), 0-2 Perpetua Nkwocha (42), 1-2 Nazanin Vaseghpanah (66 PK)
Attendance: 512
Sunnanå dominated AIK in the first half, winning almost all one-on-one situations, destroying any atttempts to a working passing play from the Stockholm side. Perpetua Nkwocha's constant movements in the attack gave hard work for the AIk defense and was awarded with a fine goal. Sunnanå lost some of the intensity in the second half, and AIK could create some dangerous counters, but needed a penalty kick to score. Kacey White made her first appearence in the AIK shirt after her recent shift from Bälinge and was named player of the match.
AIK: Förlust för damerna, men nära en poäng
Västerbottens Folkblad: Skön seger för Sunnanå
Swedish Cup: AIK and Umeå to Cup final
AIK, constant underachiever in the league, has reached the Cup final. They have done this by winning more matches and scoring more goals in 4 cup matches than they have done over 15 rounds in the league. Impressing in a weird way, even if they have been favoured by their draw - avoiding all top 6 teams in their way to the final.
AIK - Kif Örebro 1 - 0 (1-0)
AIK: Jenny Lundqvist - Madelene Göras (19 Sofia Simonsson), Sanna Valkonen, Frida Höglund, Anna Bohlin - Nazanin Vaseghpanah (74 Camilla Ulander), Jessica Juhlin, Lina Hedkvist (79 Freja Egebrand), Linda Lekander - Laura Kalmari, Ingrid Bohlin
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Malin Nilsson, Marina Pettersson - Elin Magnusson (74 Hodan Siid-Ahmed), Marie Hammarström, Lena Andersson, Elin Rydberg (46 Caroline Näfver) - Pavlina Scasna, Emelia Erixon
Goals: 1-0 Nazanin Vaseghpanah (32)
Attendance: 486
AIK won with a header, scored by the probably shortest player on the field, 155 centimeter short Nazanin Vaseghpanah. Symptomatic, said Örebro coach Richard Holmlund - AIK showed much more will-power than an Örebro team that perhaps underestimated the opposition.
Nerikes Allehanda: Finaldrömmen krossad för KIF
AIK: Damerna i cupfinal, Damlaget efter cupsemi-seger (video interviews with happy cup finalists)
Umeå IK - LDB FC Malmö 4 - 2 (1-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulson, Karolina Westberg, Elaine, Maria Bergkvist - Lise Klaveness, Emelie Konradsson, Lisa Dahlqvist - Ramona Bachmann (June Pedersen), Madeleine Edlund, Marta
Malmö: Thora Helgadóttir - Therese Jönsson (78 Dora Stefansdottir), Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Emma Stålhammar (65 Nanna Johansen) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis
Goals: 1-0 Marta (44), 1-1 Manon Melis (67), 2-1 Madeleine Edlund (72), 3-1 Lise Klaveness (79), 3-2 Nanna Johansen (85), 4-2 Marta (88 PK)
Attendance: 1,498
Thank's to Marta, who scored two goals and created a third, Umeå qualified for their 7th straight cup final. "The world's best counter attack player", according to Malmö coach Jörgen Pettersson, decided an otherwise balanced game. On the other hand, Malmö had problems creating any real dangers except from set pieces. Umeå's Elaine, back from the Pan American games with maybe a little too much selfconfidence, almost gave away the match, losing the ball to Malmö's Melis at 1-1 and handballing in another tight situation, that escaped the referee.
Västerbottensnytt: Umeå IK klara för final i Svenska Cupen (video)
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta fixade finalplatsen
Västerbottens Folkblad: Klart för sjunde raka
Sydsvenskan: LDB förlorade semifinalen
AIK - Kif Örebro 1 - 0 (1-0)
AIK: Jenny Lundqvist - Madelene Göras (19 Sofia Simonsson), Sanna Valkonen, Frida Höglund, Anna Bohlin - Nazanin Vaseghpanah (74 Camilla Ulander), Jessica Juhlin, Lina Hedkvist (79 Freja Egebrand), Linda Lekander - Laura Kalmari, Ingrid Bohlin
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson, Stina Segerström, Malin Nilsson, Marina Pettersson - Elin Magnusson (74 Hodan Siid-Ahmed), Marie Hammarström, Lena Andersson, Elin Rydberg (46 Caroline Näfver) - Pavlina Scasna, Emelia Erixon
Goals: 1-0 Nazanin Vaseghpanah (32)
Attendance: 486
AIK won with a header, scored by the probably shortest player on the field, 155 centimeter short Nazanin Vaseghpanah. Symptomatic, said Örebro coach Richard Holmlund - AIK showed much more will-power than an Örebro team that perhaps underestimated the opposition.
Nerikes Allehanda: Finaldrömmen krossad för KIF
AIK: Damerna i cupfinal, Damlaget efter cupsemi-seger (video interviews with happy cup finalists)
Umeå IK - LDB FC Malmö 4 - 2 (1-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulson, Karolina Westberg, Elaine, Maria Bergkvist - Lise Klaveness, Emelie Konradsson, Lisa Dahlqvist - Ramona Bachmann (June Pedersen), Madeleine Edlund, Marta
Malmö: Thora Helgadóttir - Therese Jönsson (78 Dora Stefansdottir), Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Emma Stålhammar (65 Nanna Johansen) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis
Goals: 1-0 Marta (44), 1-1 Manon Melis (67), 2-1 Madeleine Edlund (72), 3-1 Lise Klaveness (79), 3-2 Nanna Johansen (85), 4-2 Marta (88 PK)
Attendance: 1,498
Thank's to Marta, who scored two goals and created a third, Umeå qualified for their 7th straight cup final. "The world's best counter attack player", according to Malmö coach Jörgen Pettersson, decided an otherwise balanced game. On the other hand, Malmö had problems creating any real dangers except from set pieces. Umeå's Elaine, back from the Pan American games with maybe a little too much selfconfidence, almost gave away the match, losing the ball to Malmö's Melis at 1-1 and handballing in another tight situation, that escaped the referee.
Västerbottensnytt: Umeå IK klara för final i Svenska Cupen (video)
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta fixade finalplatsen
Västerbottens Folkblad: Klart för sjunde raka
Sydsvenskan: LDB förlorade semifinalen
Malmö signs Iceland's national team goalkeeper
LDB FC Malmö has signed Iceland's national team goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir as a replacement for injured Caroline Jönsson. Malmö's head coach Jörgen Pettersson says Helgadottir is at the top European level for goalkeepers, strong and composed. Thora, who is Malmö striker Asthildur Helgadottir's younger sister, trained with and played a couple of friendlies for Malmö last year. She is tied to the Belgian club Anderlecht and will initially be on loan to Malmö, starting with today's Swedish Cup semifinal against Umeå, until the league breaks for the World Cup.
Coach Pettersson said it's good for Malmö's young reserve keeper Stéphanie Öhrström not to be thrown into a top match against Umeå in the Swedish Cup, but instead being able to ease in to her new role.
Sydsvenskan: Landslagsmålvakt till LDB FC
Coach Pettersson said it's good for Malmö's young reserve keeper Stéphanie Öhrström not to be thrown into a top match against Umeå in the Swedish Cup, but instead being able to ease in to her new role.
Sydsvenskan: Landslagsmålvakt till LDB FC