Damallsvenskan Newsblog

- "It's a mix of old and new, lots of experience but also youthful enthusiasm", characterized Thomas Dennerby his 30 player squad, that will be cut down to 21 before taking the trip to China. Biggest surprise: Kristin Bengtsson, who retired from the national team after the World Cup qualifier against Portugal in November 2005.

Goalkeepers:
Kristin Hammarström (Örebro), Hedvig Lindahl (Linköping), Sofia Lundgren (AIK), Carola Söberg (Umeå).
Defenders:
Kristin Bengtsson (Djurgården), Maria Bergkvist (Umeå), Sara Larsson (Linköping), Hanna Marklund (Sunnanå), Anna Paulsson (Umeå), Charlotte Rohlin (Linköping), Stina Segerström (Örebro), Marlene Sjöberg (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Sara Thunebro (Djurgården), Jane Törnqvist (Djurgården), Karolina Westberg (Umeå), Frida Östberg (Linköping)
Midfielders and forwards:
Maria Aronsson (Linköping), Madelaine Edlund (Umeå), Nilla Fischer (Malmö), Sara Johansson (Hammarby), Linda Forsberg (Djurgården), Hanna Ljungberg (Umeå), Therese Lundin (Malmö), Maria Nordbrandt (Sunnanå), Frida Nordin (Malmö), Salina Olsson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Lotta Schelin (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Caroline Seger (Linköping), Therese Sjögran (Malmö), Victoria Svensson (Djurgården)
Aftonbladet: Första truppen till fotbolls-VM presenterad
Svensk Fotboll: Dennerbys 30-trupp lämnad till FIFA

Caroline Jönsson has been Sweden's first choice goalkeeper since she ousted Ulrika Karlsson just before the 2000 Olympics (with an exception for a period before and during the 2005 European Championships). Replacing her after her recent ACL injury will not be an easy decision.

Linköping's Hedvig Lindahl, who was Sweden's starting keeper 2005, has just returned from an ACL injury and only played two league matches so far this year. She is confident herself and says that she has completely revovered from the knee injury. She also points to her experience, "but I would like to be picked because I'm the better goalkeeper". Sofia Lundgren, who had her ACL injury 2004, has made very ambitious committment to her national team career. She changed clubs from champions Umeå to newcomers AIK, since that would give her a bigger challenge as a goalkeeper, and has weekly extra training sessions with AIK's junior (men's) team. "I am ready", she says.

National team coach Thomas Dennerby doesn't say much so far, but admits that experience is important. He also says that it is important for Lindahl to play as many matches as possible before the team goes to China.
Expressen. Uppdrag: Rädda VM
Dagens Nyheter: Sofia Lundgren redo i målet

For LDB FC Malmö the choice seems easier. Their back-up keeper Stéphanie Öhrström (2 caps for Sweden's U21 this season) will come back from her loan to 1st division side Husie. "She's been around for some time now and you can see that she is getting experienced" commented Caroline Jönsson, who had joined her team at the season restart camp in Ronneby. But they need to find a new back-up. "It's not hard to find a goalkeeper, but it's hard to find the right one", commented club coach Jörgen Pettersson.
Sydsvenskan: LDB FC Malmö letar ersättare

Malin Moström will go to China. She makes the journey as part of her extra job as an expert for Svenska Spel, the leading Swedish gambling company. She will serve as host for Svenska Spel costumers who has won tickets to the WWC in China and write match analysis.
Västerbottenskuriren: Moström klar för VM i Kina

Another former World Cup player, Malin Swedberg (bronze winner 1991), will also go. She has for several years worked as a football commentator with Sweden's public service broadcaster Svt, but now transfers to the main competitor TV4: "I want to do more women's football and TV4 has the broadcasting rights for the World Cup".
Aftonbladet: TV 4 värvar ny SVT-profil

Göteborg's Lotta Schelin has signed an according to media reports "very lucurative" 4 year shoe deal with Puma, leaving her previous attachment to Nike. Lotta has been able to make a living from football for the last two years, but the Puma deal, reportedly the biggest sponsor deal ever for a Swedish female footballer, makes it much easier for her to continue her committment. "She feels perfect for us", says Puma representative Fredrika Schlasberg, "She is like Fredrik Ljungberg, but in women's football". Does that mean we will get to see her in her underwear on billboards?
Expressen: "Hon är som Ljungberg"

Bälinge's general manager Conny Sjöberg explains the reason why they had to let star midfielder Kacey White go to AIK: "We couldn't afford to keep her". Initially White was contracted for June and July, but when she, missing out on USA's World Cup squad, decided she wanted to spend the rest of the season in Sweden, Bälinge didn't have the money to compete with AIK.
Upsala Nya Tidning:  Kacey White lämnar Bälinge

Malin Moström and Djurgården winger Elin Ekblom got married. No, not with each other.

Malmö's and Sweden's starting goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson had a knee injury during training last Thursday. A medical examination yesterday confirmed that it is an ACL tear. The 29 year old will miss the rest of the season.

"This is very unfortunate" comments national team coach Thomas Dennerby. "She has played every important national team match since 2005 and should have been our first choice in the World Cup."

Jönsson, who understandably is very sad and hasn't spoke to any media, writes in a press release that this is an extremely bad time for an injury: "I will miss the Damallsvenskan finish, where we definitely are in the running for a top position, the Swedish Cup semifinal and of course the World Cup. There is really nothing else to do than face the facts and look forward to the next season."

Caroline Jönsson's injury comes at a really bad time for Sweden. With a new playing system, a completely revamped midfield and a fairly new combination in defense her calm and experience would have been needed. Together with Öqvist's recent injury and Jönsson's natural replacement Hedvig Lindahl just coming off a long rehabilitation period following her ACL injury, this can hurt Sweden's chances in the World Cup a lot.
Sydsvenskan: Caroline Jönsson skadad - missar VM
Aftonbladet: Knäskadad - missar VM, Hedvig & Sofia - nu ska en av dem stiga fram, Förbannelse över landslaget - chanserna att skrälla i VM är små

Thomas Dennerby has submitted the preliminary 30 player list for the World Cup to FIFA. The list isn't public, but rumour has it that Hedvig Lindahl, in spite of only having played two Damallsvenskan matches since her injury, is on that list. The other frontrunner to replace Jönsson is AIK's Sofia Lundgren.
Corren: Hedvig i första VM-truppen

Song of the day: "Fan, fan, fan" - Joakim Thåström

In addition to those mentioned in the post from the 15th, we have a few new player sightings:

Ma Xiaoxu (Umeå) is in China, showing her stuff to national team coach Marika Lyfors Domanski. I believe this is the first time she gets a first hand look at the young star player.
CCTV International: Chinese women footballers train for World Cup, with video

Sunnanå defender Rebecca Smith is in Australia, captaining her New Zealand team in two friendlies against Australia. First one, played earlier today, was a 3-0 defeat. Next game will be played July 22.
NZ soccer: NEW ZEALAND UNDONE BY MATILDAS LATE SHOW


And an few updates on the others:

Marta (Umeå) scored 4 when Brazil routed Ecuador 10-0 in the PanAm games. Both Marta and her club team mate Elaine played 90 minutes, Elaine in defense. Next match is against Canada on Friday.
Brazilian FA: Seleção Feminina goleia Equador: 10 a 0

In the All Africa games, Nigeria defeated Algeria in the semifinal with 5-0. Both Cyntia Uwak (Falköping) and Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnanå) played, Uwak heading in the 5-0 goal. Nigeria will meet South Africa in the final on Sunday.
Damfotboll.com: Cynthia-mål för Nigeria

Umeå's June Pedersen played 74 minutes in Norway's 1-0 loss to USA in the U-23 Nordic Cup.
Norway's FA: - Leter etter en spiss

At the same time Sweden played an unofficial warm-up game with Germany, winning the 3x20 minutes match 2-0 after goals by Emmelie Farfa (Göteborg) and Madeleine Edlund (Umeå).
Damfotboll.com: Sveriges U23 värmde upp mot Tyskland


Many thanks to David at Women's Football Forum, to Jeremy at The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website and to Karyn at USA Women's Soccer, who all, knowingly or unknowingly, makes keeping up with international events much easier.

Damallsvenskan is now on a three week break, matches will resume the first weekend in August. While most players, coaches and offices will be on vacation, some are playing elsewhere:

Pan American Games
The Pan American Games in Rio, Brazil, features a women's football competition with Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Jamaica, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and a U20 selection from the United States. Umeå's Marta and Elaine both played in Brazil's 5-0 win over Jamaica, Marta scoring on a penalty kick. If I remember correctly, this was Marta's first match for Brazil since the Olympic Games 2004. The match was Brazil's second in the group. The first, played before the Umeå players had arrived, was also a win, 4-0 over Uruguay. The group games will finish July 20, and will be followed by semifinals July 23 and a final the 26th.
XV Pan American Games Rio 2007

All Africa Games
Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnanå) and Cynthia Uwak (Falköping) both plays for Nigeria in the 9th All Africa Games in Algeria. Nigeria has so far played a 2-2 draw with South Africa and defeated Ethiopia 3-0, which qualifies them for the semifinals. The other competing teams are Ghana, Algeria and Senegal. Semis are scheduled for July 18 and the final the 22nd.
CAF: 9th ALL AFRICAN GAMES - ALGERS 2007

U23 Nordic Cup
The open Nordic Championships for U23 teams takes place in Finland between July 18 and 24, this time a 6 team tournament. Finland, Norway and Sweden are joined by England, Germany and USA. Besides the players in the Swedish team, that was announced a couple of days ago, Umeå's June Pedersen will play for Norway.

Friendlies
Two international friendlies with possible (I haven't seen any roster announced yet) Damallsvenskan appearences will be played during the league break. Holland plays North Korea in Volendam July 29th and Malmö's Manon Melis is usually a starter for Holland. Germany and Denmark has scheduled a friendly July 29 in Magdeburg, Germany. We should see Djurgården's Ariane Hingst and Dorte Dalum Jensen playing against each other and might also see Malmö's Nanna Johansen.

"Linköping are gambling with their players health" was club physician Jan Ekstrand's final verdict as he decided to leave his position with the club. His decision was prompted by the clubs refusal to support his position that Josefine Öqvist should wait with her knee surgery until the swelling has subsided rather than doing it immediately. But he also stated that four serious knee injuries cannot be explained by bad luck. "The club says that they want the medical team to take part in the injury prevention work, but we have no influence at all". Ekstrand said he would have liked to have a say concerning e.g. season planning and choice of turf, but if the club management don't listen to advice, there is no point in staying.
Linköping's management dismissed the allegations, claiming it was preposterous to accuse the club of not caring about their players. "Our cooperation [with the medical team] has been excellent" said general manager Anders Mäki and suggested that Ekstrand left because Josefine Öqvist preferred another physician to perform her knee surgery.
Corren: "LFC gamblar med spelarnas hälsa", Nu slår LFC tillbaka
Expressen: Storbråk kring Öqvists skada

Josefine Öqvist, who had her knee surgery last Wednesday, also criticized her club "It's really important to find time to rest and not just train and train". She thought that the lack of rest could be to blame for her team mate Anna-Kaisa Rantanen's injury: "She played four full matches in Algarve Cup and was really tired, but still had to play and injured herself". Linköping's head coach Daniel Pettersson commented that it was Rantanen's own choice to play. He also claimed that you really can't train too much, but agreed that it is very important to find the time to recover.
Expressen: Öqvists attack på klubben, "Man kan aldrig träna för mycket"

When Chinese star Ma Xiaoxu joined Umeå early this spring, she was described as a "super talent" and "already a world class player". But so far she has not been able to fulfil the expectations and Umeå's management has not yet decided if they want to sign a new contract with her when the current expires in August. "If we had been certain that we wanted to keep her, we would have made her an offer already", commented Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist.
Ma has been considered to have been somewhat pampered in China and not working hard enough on matches and in traning in Umeå. She also had to take extra fitness training sessions in the spring. "I'm not saying we're not satisfied with her, but she has another level that we haven't been able to bring out of her", says Arnqvist. Umeå's other young foreign talent, Swiss Ramona Bachman, has managed to cope with the transition better. Coach Jeglertz thinks that is because she's younger and more receptive to instructions.
Expressen: Superlöftet kan sparkas

Umeå is already looking forward to the next season and beyond. Two young 1st division talents, Lina Frank (Gideonsberg) and Sara Fröjdfeldt (Eskilstuna United) has joined Umeå for a summer try-out. But Jeglertz says the club will not try to get any reinforcements before the World Cup, but might try to sign a player from one of the European World Cup teams after the championships.
Västerbottenskuriren: UIK testar spelare men avvaktar VM

Bottom-dweller Qbik has signed Scotland international Nicky Grant (98 caps). She got in touch with the club through her Scotland team mate Ifeoma Dieke. Coach Jansson points out that she is not a player of the same class as the international players that has been with Qbik earlier, "but she is good enough to compete for a spot on the team". Grant, who is a teacher, will stay with the team for 7 weeks during her summer holidays.
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Lärarinna med landslagsmeriter förstärker Qbik

Malin Moström's return to Umeå IK opened for a flood of speculation on her future, including a possible World Cup aoppearence. National team coach Thomas Dennerby even had a talk with her. But when Malin now finished her short time contract with Umeå, playing three of the five matches, she stressed that "this is it. I know what it takes to play a World Cup ... When I decided to quit [last december] I felt it was the right thing to do and I still think so". Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist commented that the deal was that Malin should help out the team for two weeks and it is now fullfilled: "If she would come tomorrow or next week and say that she wants to play, I would be really happy. You don't turn down someone like Malin, but we won't try to persuade her."
Sydsvenskan: Moström: Nu är det slut

And anyways, she's gonna get married to her long-time ice-hockey playing boyfriend Jesper Jäger in July.
Expressen: Moströms nya fullträff

Bälinge - Umeå IK 1 - 2 (0-0)
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Lisa Lantz, Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats - Linda Blom, Anne Mäkinen, Moa Eriksson (61 Julia Lyckberg), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (65 Heidi Matinlassi) - Emma Lindqvist (55 Annette Kent), Kacey White,
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Maria Bergkvist (72 Emma Berglund), Elaine, Karolina Westberg, Anna Paulsson -  Malin Moström, Lise Klaveness, Lisa Dahlqvist (62 Emmelie Konradsson) - Ramona Bachmann, Madelaine Edlund (80 Erika Karlsson), Marta
Goals: 0-1 Elaine (58), 0-2 Ramona Bachmann (70), 1-2 Heidi Matinlassi (90)
Attendance: 2,352
When Bälinge plays Umeå, it usually results in lots of goals for Umeå. But not this time. Bälinge followed their defensive tactics and tried to make the best use of their counters. Umeå dominated and Marta made her raids on the left side, but always got stuck in the penalty area. Finally the pressure paid off for Umeå as Elaine could score from short range after a corner-kick and then yet another Marta raid created a no-miss opportunity for Ramona Bachman to make it 0-2. Umeå lost pace a little after that, but Bälinge was in spite of their late consolation goal never close.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Tappert Bälinge föll mot Umeå
Västerbottens Folkblad: Malin Moström fick vinna sin sista match
Västerbottenskuriren: UIK firade vilan med seger


Hammarby IF - Kopparbergs Göteborg FC 2 - 3 (0-1)
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Annica Svensson, Elin Sölveskog, Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom - Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman - Marijke Callebaut (46 Daniella Chamoun), Louise Fors, Sara Johansson - Jessica Landström
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg, Jenny Engwall, Maria Nilsson, Maria Karlsson - Sofie Andersson (64 Lisa Ek), Salina Olsson, Ingvild Stensland, Emelie Farfa - Lotta Schelin, Sara Lindén,
Goals: 0-1 Lotta Schelin (33), 0-2 Lotta Schelin (47), 1-2 Louise Fors (52), 2-2 Jessica Landström (65), 2-3 Sara Lindén (81)
Attendance: 389
As so often this season, Lotta Schelin decided the match. A hard working Hammarby, fighting against relegation, took advantage of the dip Göteborg made after getting two goals up and could tie the match after goals by forwards Fors and Landström. Göteborg once again decided to change their tactics to a more offensive 4-3-3 and managed to get a late winner.
Dagens Nyheter: Lotta Schelin upp i skytteligatopp
Göteborgsposten: Lindén avgjorde för Göteborg
Hammarby: Förlust hemma mot Göteborg


Kif Örebro - Falköpings KIK 3 - 0 (1-0)
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Stina Segerström, Malin Nilsson (75 Ingrid Ericson), Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Hodan Siid-Ahmed (75 Elin Rydberg), Elin Magnusson, Emelia Erixon (84 Hanna Pettersson), Marina Pettersson
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Charlotte Abrahamsson, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson (87 Anna Larsson), Therese Larsson (71 Rebecka Blennow), Sandra Krantz, Madeleine Tegström, Josefine Alfsson, Camilla Sanderheim, Sofia Fröjdstedt, Linnea Liljegärd
Goals: 1-0 Pavlina Scasna (15), 2-0 Marie Hammarström (48), 3-0 Elin Rydberg (84)
Attendance: 904
One of Falköping's two wins this season was against Örebro in April, but they never managed to challenge in the return match. A safe win for Örebro, where stand-out Pavlina Scasna finally managed to score, not just setting up goals for her team mates.
Nerikes Allehanda: Enkel seger för KIF - Scasna dominerade, Första målet för nya fyndet Elin, Tre månaders väntan är över för Pavlina


Linköpings FC - Djurgården 2 - 3 (0-1)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Frida Östberg, Charlotte Rohlin, Faith Ikidi, Marie-Louise Skålberg (80 Maria Lindström) - Ann Westermark, Sara Larsson, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson - Maria Aronsson, Maureen Mmadu (59 Kosovare Asllani),
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Jane Törnqvist, Elin Ekblom, Sara Thunebro, Linda Forsberg, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Kristin Bengtsson (79 Anna Lagerberth), Anna Hall (79 Annemarie Norlin), Victoria Svensson, Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde
Goals: 0-1 Sara Thunebro (30), 0-2 Linda Forsberg (48), 0-3 Linda Forsberg (68), 1-3 Kosovare Asllani (76), 2-3 Caroline Seger (90)
Attendance: 1,924
Linköping started really good with a pacy and offensive play, but Sara Thunebro scored the leader for Djurgården with what seemed like a misdirected cross and in the second half Linda Forsberg could score twice in 20 minutes to give the guests a solid lead. Just like in some earlier matches, the picture changed as Linköping subbed in Kosovare Asllani. Linköping found back to their fast and aggressive game, but too little too late.
Linköping: Uddamålsförlust mot DIF, pictures

LDB FC Malmö - AIK 3 - 0 (3-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Therese Jönsson, Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Emma Stålhammar (64 Asthildur Helgadottir) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis (81 Dora Stefansdottir),
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Madelene Göras, Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Sofia Simonsson, Jessica Juhlin, Camilla Ulander (64 Lina Hedqvist), Nazanin Vaseghpanah - Ingrid Bohlin (67 Anna Lundin), Freja Egerbrant (75 Madeleine Wedin)
Goals: 1-0 Nilla Fischer (21), 2-0 Frida Nordin (27), 3-0 Manon Melis (44)
Attendance: 505
A "bigger, stronger and better" Malmö, to quote AIK head coach Jörgen Zetterström, didn't have any problems defeating AIK. Malmö's winger Frida Nordin, who has had a great season so far, scored one, set up another and was the driving force in Malmö's attacks. AIK, again missing Kalmari who has been feeling her old inury, didn't manage to create anything to bother Malmö's Caroline Jönsson in goal.
Sydsvenskan: Världsklass lockar få


Sunnanå SK - Qbik 4 - 0 (1-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson, Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Rebecca Smith, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund, Maria Nordbrandt (69 Sanna Frostevall), Lina Johansson (64 Mirjam Marklund), Perpetua Nkwocha (83 Johanna Lindahl), Alexandra Nilsson
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Ifeoma Dieke, Lisa Mellberg (86 Julia Spetsmark), Jenny Hallstenson, Rebecca Johnson (51 Anna Nilsson), Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren, Therése Björk, Elin Sandgren (70 Nicky Grant, 85 Red card), Jennifer Meier
Goals: 1-0 Kristina Wiklund (PK 12), 2-0 Mirjam Marklund (68), 3-0 Perpetua Nkwocha (80), 4-0 Josefin Johansson (90)
Attendance: 1,014
Perpetua Nkwocha's long awaited début for Sunnanå ended with standing ovations when she left the field with only minutes left to play. Before that she had created the penalty, that Kristina Wiklund converted, set up Mirjam Marklund's 2-0 and finally scored 3-0 with a great volley shot. Four goals was probably a little too much in a match where Qbik put up a good fight, but lacked the edge Nkwocha provided for Sunnanå.
Värmlands Folkblad: Mardrömmen: 28:e bortamatchen utan vinst
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Ännu en förlust för Qbik
Västerbottens Folkblad: Nwkocha gjorde strålande debut
Norra Västerbotten: Perpetuashow

Predictably, Djurgården stumbled just when they had caught up with leaders Umeå. But Sunnanå has shown great strength this season, defeating Umeå and drawing both Malmö and Djurgården in the league and knocking out Djurgården from the Swedish Cup. Djurgården are now trailing three points and a lot of goals behind Umeå and must once again rely on other teams to take points from the ruling champions.

Djurgården - Sunnanå SK 1 - 1 (0-1)
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Dorte Dalum Jensen, Therese Brogårde, Jane Törnqvist, Sara Thunebro - Elin Ekblom, Ann-Marie Norlin (84 Mia Jalkerud), Anna Hall (46 Kristin Bengtsson), Linda Forsberg - Emma Lundh (64 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson,
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson (85 Magdalena Esseryd), Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Rebecca Smith, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund, Maria Nordbrandt (63 Sanna Frostevall), Mirjam Marklund, Lina Johansson (51 Johanna Lindahl), Alexandra Nilsson
Goals: 0-1 Mirjam Marklund (14), 1-1 Anna Lagerberth (70)
Attendance: 573
Little sister Marklund scored the early opener for Sunnanå with a nice finish from a Lina Johansson cross and had a great chance to get a last minute winner when she caught a stray ball and was alone with Nordby in Djurgården's goal but, as she confessed, was too tired to manage a good finish. Between that it was mostly Djurgården with numerous missed opportunities.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Marklund fixade poängen ? men det kunde blivit tre
Dagens Nyheter: Vilka missar, Djurgården!


Falköpings KIK - Bälinge 0 - 3 (0-3)
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Charlotte Abrahamsson, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson, Therese Larsson (68 Rebecka Blennow), Sandra Krantz, Madeleine Tegström, Josefine Alfsson, Camilla Sanderheim, Sofia Fröjdstedt, Linnea Liljegärd (87 Cecilia Abrahamsson)
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats, Linda Blom, Emma Lindqvist (68 Alexandra Höglund), Kacey White, Moa Eriksson (56 Annette Kent), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (76 Heidi Matinlassi), Lisa Lantz, Anne Mäkinen
Goals: 0-1 Anne Mäkinen (17), 0-2 Emma Lindkvist (28), 0-3 Anne Mäkinen (37)
Attendance: 605
Apart from the first 10 minutes Bälinge dominated on the waterdrenched pitch, keeping Falköping on the defense almost the entire match.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge vann i Falköping


Kopparbergs Göteborg FC - KIF Örebro 3 - 3 (0-2)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Elin Dahl Örn (76 Lisa Ek), Maria Nilsson, Jenny Engwall, Maria Karlsson - Sofie Andersson (69 Marlene Sjöberg), Salina Olsson, Ingvild Stensland, Emelie Farfa - Lotta Schelin, Sara Lindén
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Stina Segerström, Malin Nilsson, Lena Andersson (77 Hanna Pettersson), Marie Hammarström (59 Hodan Siid-Ahmed), Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Elin Magnusson, Emelia Erixon, Marina Pettersson
Goals: 0-1 Emelia Erixon (34), 0-2 Keeley Dowling (36), 0-3 Emelia Erixon (52), 1-3 Lotta Schelin (56), 2-3 Sara Lindén (83), 3-3 Salina Olsson (85)
Attendance: 413
It started good for Göteborg, getting a good hold over the match and challenging Örebro's goal. But Örebro's dangerous striker Emelia Erixon exploited a defensive mistake to score 0-1. Göteborg started to play confused and unorganised, while Örebro were efficient and could get what seemed comfortable 3 goal lead. In the middle of the second half Örebro lost two midfielders to smaller injuries and Göteborg's coach Pringle changed to an offensive 4-3-3 and managed to turn the tide. Two goals in the last 10 minutes saved a point for the hosts.
Göteborgsposten: Tre på topp - en lyckad taktik


LDB FC Malmö - Hammarby IF 4 - 0 (1-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Therese Jönsson, Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Therese Sjögran, Nilla Fischer, Nanna Johansen (46 Dora Stefansdottir) - Therese Lundin (64 Asthildur Helgadottir), Manon Melis (64 Emma Stålhammar)
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Josefin Christensen, Elin Sölveskog, Jennie Jonsson, Karolina Rinman (70 Daniella Chamoun), Jessica Landström (79 Lisa Björkvik), Lousie Fors, Sara Johansson (58 Therese Sandström), Malin Nykvist, Anna Lindblom, Annica Svensson, Therese Dahlberg
Goals: 1-0 Nilla Fischer (9), 2-0 Emma Stålhammar (71), 3-0 Emma Stålhammar (75), 4-0 Dora Stefansdottir (86)
Attendance: 751
Malmö got an early lead from a bouncing long shot, but otherwise Hammarby played a nice, fast short-passing game and stood up well against the hosting favourites. The match weasn't really decided until Malmö's coaches decided to change both their forwards after two thirds of the match. Substitute Emma Stålhammar scored twice in five minutes, once as Malmö could take advantage of Hammarby's, otherwise good, new goalkeeper Lehmann as she has followed her team very far up in the field. Stefansdottir's 4-0 goal was a roaring shot from 25 meters, that pleased the crowd greatly.
Sydsvenskan: Årets inhopp av Stålhammar


AIK - Qbik 0 - 0 (0-0)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Madelene Göras, Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Jessica Juhlin, Camilla Ulander, Anna Lundin (86 Lina Hedqvist) - Ingrid Bohlin (72 Sofia Simonsson), Laura Kalmari
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Jenny Hallstenson, Charlotte Nygren - Rebecca Johnson, Therése Björk, Elin Sandgren, Ifeoma Dieke - Lisa Mellberg (57 Anna Nilsson), Jennifer Meier (90 Nicky Grant)
Attendance: 483
"Good defense and good goalkeepers" was Qbik coach Janne Jansson's explanation why a good game where both sides created several scoring chances still ended goalless. In particular Qbik's Yatrakis had a match deciding performance as she won her encounters with AIK's Kalmari.
Värmlands Folkblad: Qbiks målvakt Maria Yatrakis ordnade poäng borta mot AIK
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Yatrakis blev poängräddare
AIK: Kryss på regnigt Skytteholm


Umeå IK - Linköpings FC 4 - 0 (0-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Elaine, Maria Bergkvist - Lisa Dahlqvist (73 Emmelie Konradson), Malin Moström, Ma Xiaoxu - Madelaine Edlund, Erika Karlsson (67 June Pedersen), Marta
Linköping: Jenny Olsson - Frida Östberg, Faith Ikidi, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Petra Larsson (68 Kosovare Asllani), Sara Larsson, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson (77 Maureen Mmadu) - Ann Westermark, Maria Aronsson,
Goals: 1-0 Madelaine Edlund (70), 2-0 June Pedersen (72), 3-0 Anna Paulsson (78), 4-0 Emmelie Konradsson (86)
Attendance: 1,742
It took Umeå 70 minutes to wear down the injury-ridden Linköping side. "It was tough and even for 70 minutes", commented national team coach Thomas Dennerby, who made a guest appearance as commentator in the broadcast of the match. Umeå's Jeglertz still wasn't satisfied with his team's performance - not enough movement, too many balls without address.
Västerbottenskuriren: Seg start men vinst ändå
Västerbottens Folkblad: Kolla, Emma - här har du ditt mål
Expressen: Umeå inte nöjda - trots 4-0

It was the quarterfinals in the Swedish Cup, but it is still seen as an opportunity to give your tired key players some rest and to try out the reserves, at least by some clubs. AIK fielded an almost unrecognisable starting eleven against a Bälinge with Mäkinen and Sembrandt missing. Göteborg started with Stensland and Schelin on the bench. Once again: if the clubs don't seem to care that much, why should we, the ticket payers?

AIK - Bälinge 4 - 1 (3-0)
AIK: Jenny Lundqvist - Anna Bohlin, Hanna Jöhnk, Camilla Ulander Nilsson, Madeleine Wedin - Anna Lundin (75 Madeleine Göras), Nazanin Vaseghpanah (70 Ingrid Bohlin), Lina Hedkvist (79 Jessica Julin), Linda Lekander - Sofia Simonsson, Freja Egebrant
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Mikaela Björklund (55 Emma Lindqvist ), Lina Andersson, Nina Engström, Petra Vaelma (71 Lisa Vikner) - Jenny Jansson (57 Alexandra Höglund), Heidi Matinlassi, Kacey White, Katri Nokso-Koivsto - Linda Blom, Anette Kent
Goals: 1-0 Camilla Ulander-Nilsson (35), 2-0 Nazanin Vaseghpanah (PK 37), 3-0 Sofia Simonsson (40), 3-1 Alexandra Höglund (82), 4-1 Linda Lekander (83)
Attendance: 102
A fairly uneventfull first 30 minutes was followed by 3 AIK goals in 5 minutes that decided the match; Ulander-Nilsson headed in a corner-kick, Vaseghpanah took the penalty shoot and Sofia Simonsson turned and shot from the edge of the area. Bälinge had problems getting back from that and AIK's mostly reserve team seemed thrilled getting the chance to play and show that they really should be starters.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Storförlust för Bälinge i cupen
AIK: Fem heta minuter tog AIK vidare


LDB FC Malmö - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 3 - 0 (0-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Therese Jönsson, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Dora Stefansdottir (52 Lina Nilsson) - Nanna Johansen, Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Emma Stålhammar (59 Frida Nordin) - Manon Melis, Therese Lundin
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Elin Dahl Örn, Maria Karlsson, Jenny Engwall, Marlene Sjöberg - Sofie Andersson, Lisa Ek (70 Ingvild Stensland), Salina Olsson, Emmelie Farfa (70 Lotta Schelin), Sofia Karlsson (81 Anna Andén) - Sara Lindén
Goals: 1-0 Therese Lundin (72), 2-0 Frida Nordin (78), 3-0 Nanna Johansen (89)
Attendance: 566
Both sides played almost a little bit laid-back until they somewhere around the 60 minute mark began to realise that this was a cup match and couldn't end 0-0. Göteborg subbed in Schelin and Stensland, who immideately found each other and created a scare in Malmö's defense. But it was Malmö that could make use of the increased intensity in the match to get a 2-0 lead. When then Caroline Jönsson saved a Lotta Schelin penalty kick in the 79th minute the match was lost for Göteborg.
Göteborgsposten: Malmö - ett spöke för Göteborg
Sydsvenskan: LDB FC Malmö till semi
Göteborg: KGFC utslagna i Svenska cupen
Malmö: Härligt ketchupeffekt när LdB fick fart på målskyttet


Linköpings FC - KIF Örebro 0 - 2 (0-1)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Frida Östberg, Faith Ikidi, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Petra Larsson (Maureen Mmadu), Sara Larsson, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson - Kosovare Asllani (Sandra Landberg-Carlzon), Maria Aronsson
Örebro:
Goals: 0-1 Stina Segerström (24), 0-2 Keeley Dowling (47)
Attendance: 459
Örebro got a good telling-off by coach Holmlund after the home defeat against Malmö. It was deserved and it worked, said team captain Stina Segerström. Örebro was simply the better side the whole match, admitted Linköping's coach Daniel Pettersson. Still, both Örebro goals were made by defenders from set pieces and one of the keys to the victory was that Örebro goalkeeper Kristin Hammarström managed to out-shine Linköping's Lindahl.
Nerikes Allehanda: KIF Örebro i semifinal - för andra gången, Keeleys sköna 4 juli-kupp
Linköping: Cupmästarinnorna är utslagna, pictures
Corren: LFC utslaget ut cupen


Umeå IK - Sunnanå SK 3 - 1 (0-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnblom - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Elaine, Maria Bergkvist (66 Emma Berglund ) - Lisa Dahlqvist (85 Erika Karlsson), Ma Xiaoxu (79 Emelie Konradsson), Malin Moström - June Pedersen, Madeleine Edlund, Marta.
Sunnanå:
Goals: 1-0 Malin Moström (63), 2-0 Marta (PK 73), 3-0 Marta (81), 3-1 Johanna Lindahl (90)
Attendance: 2,098
Only a few days after Umeå's defeat to Sunnanå, the match was played in the village of Vilhelmina as part of the inauguration of a new football arena. It became obvious fairly early in the match, that the Sunnanå players were the ones suffering most from the weekand match, while Umeå seemed to have reghained their missing fighting spirit. Still Sunnanå managed to hold back Umeå for more than an hour, when Malin Moström, playing for the first time in her comeback, scored on a nice pass from Marta. The match was finally decided when Umeå got a questionable penalty following a Hanna Marklund tackle on Madeleine Edlund. "No other team than Umeå would have been awarded a penalty from something like that", commented an outraged Sunnanå coach after the match.
Västerbottenskuriren: Sunnanå: "Domarna är så fega när det kommer till UIK", Malin Moström hjälte i comebacken
Västerbottens Folkblad: Moström målskytt när UIK tog revansch, Kega: ?Domaren avgör matchen?
SVT: goal clip, Moström interview


The draw for the semifinals was made the day after. We will see AIK hosting Örebro and Umeå taking on Malmö at home. At the same time it was decided that the winner of the Örebro - AIK match will host the final.

The fight for the Swedish championship tightened even more when Umeå somewhat unexpected lost away to Sunnanå, leaving Djurgården only one point away. Interesting to note is that the last time Umeå lost to their local rivals in 2003, it was the same Anna Bodén that scored the winner. The defeat ultimately cost Umeå the championship that time. In the bottom of the league, AIK finally found where the goal is and doubled their season tally in one match.

AIK - Hammarby 3 - 2 (2-0)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Madelene Göras, Frida Höglund, Sanna Valkonen, Linda Lekander - Anna Lundin (83 Sofia Simonsson), Jessica Juhlin, Camilla Ulander, Nazanin Vaseghpanah - Ingrid Bohlin, Laura Kalmari
Hammarby: Katarina Wicksell - Annica Svensson, Josefin Christensen, Elin Sölveskog, Anna Lindblom - Jennie Jonsson - Lousie Fors (76 Josefine Wejner), Malin Nykvist, Therese Sandström (83 Andrea Comaneci) - Lisa Björkvik (55 Sara Johansson), Jessica Landström
Goals: 1-0 Camilla Ulander (14), 2-0 Laura Kalmari (43), 3-0 Anna Lundin (47), 3-1 Jessica Landström (49), 3-2 Josefin Weijner (84)
Attendance: 587
In a match bnetween two nervous teams, both starved for points, Laura Kalmari's return to AIK after her injury proved decisive. She both scored a great looking goal from distance and played a big role in AIK's attacking game. Hammarby still managed to threaten AIK all the way to the final whistle. "We're not used to being ahead, so I think we got a bit nervous in the second half", explained AIK's goalkeeper Sofia Lundgren.
Dagens Nyheter: Kalmaris drömmål avgjorde derbyt


Linköpings FC - Falköpings KIK 3 - 0 (1-0)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Frida Östberg, Charlotte Rohlin, Faith Ikidi, Marie-Louise Skålberg (66 Maria Lindström) - Petra Larsson (83 Madelene Nordén), Sara Larsson, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson - Maria Aronsson, Maureen Mmadu (46 Kosovare Asllani),
Falköping: Malin Andersson - Charlotte Abrahamsson, Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson, Sandra Krantz, Madeleine Tegström (83 Rebecka Blennow), Josefine Alfsson, Cecilia Abrahamsson (62 Therese Larsson), Camilla Sanderheim (70 Cynthia Uwak), Sofia Fröjdstedt, Linnea Liljegärd
Goals: 1-0 Petra Larsson (8), 2-0 Kosovare Asllani (48), 3-0 Maria Aronsson (61)
Attendance: 624
Hedvig Lindahl's comeback after her ACL injury was the most rememberable from this match. Linköping dominated completely and Lindahl was never challenged in goal. Linköping coped with the absence of Josefine Öqvist by moving Sara Larsson to midfield and Mmadu to the attack, but their offense never got really working until they substituted Mmadu for teenage talent Kosovare Asllani, whose speed and ball control created a lot.
Corren: Lätt seger i Hedvigs comeback


Sunnanå SK - Umeå IK 3 - 2 (2-1)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Josefin Johansson, Sandra Berggren, Hanna Marklund, Rebecca Smith, Anna Bodén, Kristina Wiklund (71 Sanna Frostevall), Maria Nordbrandt (78 Johanna Lindahl), Mirjam Marklund, Lina Johansson, Alexandra Nilsson
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Maria Bergkvist, Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, June Pedersen (53 Emma Berglund) - Lisa Dahlqvist, Elaine, Lise Klaveness - Ramona Bachmann (76 Erika Karlsson), Madelaine Edlund, Marta
Goals: 1-0 Maria Nordbrandt (35), 1-1 Madelaine Edlund (37), 2-1 Lina Johansson (40), 2-2 Marta (70), 3-2 Anna Bodén (86)
Attendance: 1,573
Already from start it was apparent that Sunnanå could win this. They opened high paced and had several chances to score before former Umeå player Maria Nordbrandt finally chipped the keeper. Even after Umeå had equalised twice - a Marta goal at 70 minutes usually tells the opposition that resistance is futile - Sunnanå stayed focused and midfielder Anna Bodén could (for the second time in her life) score the winner against Umeå.
Sunnanå's coach and players were understandably all smiles after the match. Umeå's coach Andrée Jeglertz on the other hand was very disappointed after the match against a Sunnanå that, he claimed, with the exception of Hanna Marklund didn't have a single player good enough to play for Umeå. He thought that a lot of the players lacked dedication and a will to win.
Västerbottenskuriren: Sunnanå skrällde mot UIK, Hård tränarkritik: "Alla ville inte vinna"
Västerbottens Folkblad: Bodén hjältinna - igen


Bälinge - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 2 - 7 (1-4)
Bälinge: Veronika Svensson - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Karolina Mats, Linda Blom (65 Annette Kent), Emma Lindqvist (22 Heidi Matinlassi), Kacey White, Petra Vaelma, Moa Eriksson, Katri Nokso-Koivisto (81 Lisa Lantz), Anne Mäkinen
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg, Elin Dahl Örn, Maria Karlsson (68 Sofia Karlsson), Maria Nilsson - Sofie Andersson (81 Anna Andén), Salina Olsson, Ingvild Stensland, Emelie Farfa - Lotta Schelin, Sara Lindén (75 Lisa Ek)
Goals: 1-0 Moa Eriksson (7), 1-1 Sofie Andersson (20), 1-2 Lotta Schelin (22), 1-3 Lotta Schelin (25), 1-4 Lotta Schelin (38), 1-5 Sofie Andersson (59), 2-5 Annette Kent (66), 2-6 Ingvild Stensland (71), 2-7 Lotta Schelin (81)
Attendance: 676
Bälinge had to see themselves completely outplayed by Göteborg on their own home turf. Bälinge started good and after their leader by Moa Eriksson, set up by Kacey White, Göteborg could see a repeat of the 4-0 defeat to Linköping. But after scoring three goals in 5 minutes, all with Lotta Schelin's signature to them, they owned the match. They used the wings a lot, where their fast attackers could get round Bälinge's defenders much too easy.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge utspelade av Göteborg
Göteborgsposten. L8 målfrossade i Bälinge - igen


Kif Örebro - LDB FC Malmö 1 - 3 (0-2)
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Stina Segerström, Lena Andersson (61 Hodan Siid-Ahmed), Marie Hammarström, Keeley Dowling, Pavlina Scasna, Caroline Näfver, Elin Magnusson, Sandra Linder (54 ), Marina Pettersson, Hanna Pettersson (46 Emelia Erixon)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Therese Sjögran, Emma Wilhelmsson, Malin Levenstad, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin (89 Dora Stefansdottir), Nilla Fischer, Therese Jönsson, Nanna Johansen (67 Emma Stålhammar) - Therese Lundin, Manon Melis,
Goals: 0-1 Nanna Johansen (7), 0-2 Nilla Fischer (31), 0-3 Frida Nordin (51), 1-3 Elin Magnusson (54)
Attendance: 933
Örebro were much too shy against the physical and resolute Malmö team. Malmö capitalized on a much too considerate and not always organised Örebro defense and dominated the first maybe 60 minutes. After Elin Magnusson's goal Örebro started to challenge more and were not far from another goal, while Malmö seemed content to preserve their lead. Malmö's Frida Nordin was the most impressive player, strong and fast in her runs down the right wing.
Nerikes Allehanda: KIF Örebro förlorade mot Malmö
Sydsvenskan: LDB FC Malmö fortsätter vinna


Qbik - Djurgården 0 - 3 (0-1)
Qbik: Maria Yatrakis - Anna Nilsson, Lisa Mellberg, Jenny Hallstenson, Therése Lückner, Amelie Rybäck, Charlotte Nygren (69 Malin Barrulf), Therése Björk, Lovisa Ericsson (46 Elin Ragnvaldsson), Elin Sandgren (61 Jennifer Meier), Ifeoma Dieke
Djurgården: Bente Nordby - Sara Thunebro, Jane Törnqvist, Therese Brogårde, Kristin Bengtsson (46 Malin Engdahl) - Elin Ekblom, Ann-Marie Norlin (55 Ariane Hingst), Anna Hall, Linda Forsberg - Anna Lagerberth (71 Emma Lundh), Victoria Svensson,
Goals: 0-1 Anna Lagerberth (17), 0-2 Anna Lagerberth (51), 0-3 Ariane Hingst (68)
Attendance: 402
In spite of losing again, Qbik were rather pleased with the improvement over the 8-1 defeat at Umeå. The main reason for that was goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis, now back from the suspension she served against Umeå.
Värmlands Folkblad: Yatrakis höll tätt mot Victoria Svensson - men Qbik föll ändå