Training matches: Lindén scores 5
Kopparbergs/Göteborg - Dalsjöfors 5 - 2 (2-0)
Göteborg (starters): Maria Edman - Maria Karlsson, Maria Nilsson, Sofia Karlsson, Elin Dahl-Örn - Emmelie Farfa, Lisa Ek, Anna Andén, Sofie Andersson - Sara Lindén, Frida Svensson
Goals: 1-0 Sara Lindén (28), 2-0 Sara Lindén (35), 3-2 Sara Lindén (62), 4-2 Sara Lindén (83), 5-2 Sara Lindén (90)
Göteborg's striker Sara Lindén scored 5 against her old team Dalsjöfors (1st division) in a match that was much harder for Göteborg than the figures would imply. Coach Pringle, who was without four of his most important players (Lotta Schelin, Salina Olsson, Marlene Sjöberg and Ingvild Stensland, all in Algarve), has big expectations for his new striker. She joined the team already last year, but has now got used to the premier league pace and should be able to take the next step.
Göteborgsposten: Lindén hade uppvisning för Göteborg
Göteborg FC:
Sunnanå - Umeå Södra 2 - 1 (0-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Kicki Viklund, Sandra Berggren, Rebecca Smith, Maggie Esseryd - Johanna Lindahl (Emma Jonsson), Anna Bodén, Carina Holmberg, Maria Nordbrandt - Lina Johansson, Mirjam Marklund (Alexandra Nilsson)
Goals: 1-0 Maria Nordbrant, 2-1 Lina Johansson
Four players (Hanna Marklund and 3 U19 players) away on national team assignments, but Sunnanå was still strong enough to defeat 1st division top side Umeå Södra. Good performances from Maria Nordbrant, who scored one and set up the other, and Anna Bodén.
Damfotboll.com: Sunnanå - Umeå Södra 2-1
Malmö FF - Husie 3 - 0
Malmö: Helena Ivarsson (82 Linnéa Söderström) - Jenny Engwall, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Nera Smajic - Emelie Ölander (55 Therese Frostander), Therese Jönsson, Lina Nilsson, Emma Stålhammar - Manon Melis, Louise Östman
Goals: 1-0 Emma Stålhammar (70), 2-0 Therese Jönsson (75), 3-0 Therese Jönsson (85)
The remnants of Malmö, reinforced by players from their farm team, played well in spite of having 7 players in Algarve. Husie fought back well in the defense, but didn't manage much in the attack. Still, it took time for a makeshift Malmö team to wear the 1st division side down and score the goals. Midfielder Lina Nilsson and Dutch forward Manon Melis were singled out by their coach Jörgen Pettersson.
Damfotboll.com: Träningsderby i Skåne
Malmö FF: Husie enkel match för nykomponerat Malmö FF.
Gauthiod - Falköping 1 - 2
Goals: Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson
Göteborg (starters): Maria Edman - Maria Karlsson, Maria Nilsson, Sofia Karlsson, Elin Dahl-Örn - Emmelie Farfa, Lisa Ek, Anna Andén, Sofie Andersson - Sara Lindén, Frida Svensson
Goals: 1-0 Sara Lindén (28), 2-0 Sara Lindén (35), 3-2 Sara Lindén (62), 4-2 Sara Lindén (83), 5-2 Sara Lindén (90)
Göteborg's striker Sara Lindén scored 5 against her old team Dalsjöfors (1st division) in a match that was much harder for Göteborg than the figures would imply. Coach Pringle, who was without four of his most important players (Lotta Schelin, Salina Olsson, Marlene Sjöberg and Ingvild Stensland, all in Algarve), has big expectations for his new striker. She joined the team already last year, but has now got used to the premier league pace and should be able to take the next step.
Göteborgsposten: Lindén hade uppvisning för Göteborg
Göteborg FC:
Sunnanå - Umeå Södra 2 - 1 (0-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Kicki Viklund, Sandra Berggren, Rebecca Smith, Maggie Esseryd - Johanna Lindahl (Emma Jonsson), Anna Bodén, Carina Holmberg, Maria Nordbrandt - Lina Johansson, Mirjam Marklund (Alexandra Nilsson)
Goals: 1-0 Maria Nordbrant, 2-1 Lina Johansson
Four players (Hanna Marklund and 3 U19 players) away on national team assignments, but Sunnanå was still strong enough to defeat 1st division top side Umeå Södra. Good performances from Maria Nordbrant, who scored one and set up the other, and Anna Bodén.
Damfotboll.com: Sunnanå - Umeå Södra 2-1
Malmö FF - Husie 3 - 0
Malmö: Helena Ivarsson (82 Linnéa Söderström) - Jenny Engwall, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Nera Smajic - Emelie Ölander (55 Therese Frostander), Therese Jönsson, Lina Nilsson, Emma Stålhammar - Manon Melis, Louise Östman
Goals: 1-0 Emma Stålhammar (70), 2-0 Therese Jönsson (75), 3-0 Therese Jönsson (85)
The remnants of Malmö, reinforced by players from their farm team, played well in spite of having 7 players in Algarve. Husie fought back well in the defense, but didn't manage much in the attack. Still, it took time for a makeshift Malmö team to wear the 1st division side down and score the goals. Midfielder Lina Nilsson and Dutch forward Manon Melis were singled out by their coach Jörgen Pettersson.
Damfotboll.com: Träningsderby i Skåne
Malmö FF: Husie enkel match för nykomponerat Malmö FF.
Gauthiod - Falköping 1 - 2
Goals: Elin Osbeck, Emma Eriksson
Player interviews: Ma, Sjögran, Sjögren and others
Tabloid Expressen got hold of Umeå's Ma Xiaoxu just before her arrival in Sweden tomorrow, Monday. She tells the papaer that she got informed about Umeå's interest in late January and wasn't unfamiliar with the name. She knew Umeå is Sweden's leading women's football club and that Marta and Hanna Ljungberg plays there. It is a big step to move to Sweden, but she thinks her young age is an advantage: "When you'tre young you adapt more quickly. It is also easier to learn a new language." She will miss her friends in China, but makes the move to develop as a player. And so far she has not considered a possible extension of her stay in Sweden. "I will think about that in six months".
Expressen: Ma - den största sedan Marta
Göteborgsposten has, as far as I know, the only media representative in Algarve apart from the news agancy TT. And when you're there, you've got to do more stories than just match reports. Player interviews:
Kopparbergs/Göteborg fullback Marlene Sjöberg works as a trainee at Volvo and has spent the time from the end of the Damallsvenskan season last year until a couple of weeks ago interning at Volvo affiliates in North America and Australia. "I could run and work out, but I didn't play football at all during my stay abroad", she explains and she was surprised when Thomas dennerby called her just two days after her return to Sweden. So far she has been brought in for the last 20 minutes or so in the Algarve Cup matches, but Dennerby still seems impressed: "She has been looking very alert". In spite of club and national team assignments, Sjöberg still plans to work full-time the spring and summer. But she hopes to get the opportunity to request a leave of absence for the World Cup.
Göteborgsposten: Sjöberg siktar stenhårt på VM
Therese Sjögran, Malmö FF midfielder, is probably as close to a successor to Malin Moström as we will get. "Of course it is fun, and I feel some expectations", she comments the fact that Thomas Dennerby mentioned her name first when Moström announced her retirement. The 29 year old has played for the national team in 10 years and has over 100 caps, but she still hasn't really settled. "It's been up and down over the years, but it feels great now. I get more responsibility now and I like that." But she doesn't really replace Moström "My role is more of a playmaker, Malin was much more attacking". Thomas Dennerby has no problems pointing to Sjögran's strong sides, but also says "Sometimes it is a little bit too much short-passing and play on small areas. But a technician [like Sjögran] can make magic happen and as a coach you don't want to change that."
Göteborgsposten: Sjögran tar över huvudrollen
Malmö FF's Caroline Jönsson was the first choice for goalkeeper for several years, but 2005 she lost that spot to Linköping's Hedvig Lindahl. "We hadn't done that well in the Olympics the year before and it was a tough period for me. I wasn't completely focused either and sometimes it is important to reflect over if this is worth all the time you put in." Eventually she decided to keep on and regained her starting position last season and since Hedvig Lindahl's injury she is even more important. "My aim is always to be the starting keeper, otherwise I might as well quit."
Göteborgsposten: Jönsson tillbaka i startelvan
Finally the tired journalist does the old twenty-random-questions-picked-from-a-box-celebrity-interview with Victoria Svensson, Djurgården's 29 years old forward. You get to know that her favourite movie is The Shawshank Redemption, but doesn't like horror movies. She isn't much of a party-girl, but preferes to stay home and cook dinner (she is a trained cook). She likes all kinds of domestic work except window cleaning and wants to have two kids.
Göteborgsposten: Victoria Svensson: "Jag gillar inte skräckfilmer"
Finally, US Soccer has brought the former teammates Lotta Schelin and Hope Solo together in front of a video camera. Watch the talk at http://www.ussoccer.com/sights/index.jsp_videoGallery-288-1.html, because you really don't want me to try to summarize that.
Expressen: Ma - den största sedan Marta
Göteborgsposten has, as far as I know, the only media representative in Algarve apart from the news agancy TT. And when you're there, you've got to do more stories than just match reports. Player interviews:
Kopparbergs/Göteborg fullback Marlene Sjöberg works as a trainee at Volvo and has spent the time from the end of the Damallsvenskan season last year until a couple of weeks ago interning at Volvo affiliates in North America and Australia. "I could run and work out, but I didn't play football at all during my stay abroad", she explains and she was surprised when Thomas dennerby called her just two days after her return to Sweden. So far she has been brought in for the last 20 minutes or so in the Algarve Cup matches, but Dennerby still seems impressed: "She has been looking very alert". In spite of club and national team assignments, Sjöberg still plans to work full-time the spring and summer. But she hopes to get the opportunity to request a leave of absence for the World Cup.
Göteborgsposten: Sjöberg siktar stenhårt på VM
Therese Sjögran, Malmö FF midfielder, is probably as close to a successor to Malin Moström as we will get. "Of course it is fun, and I feel some expectations", she comments the fact that Thomas Dennerby mentioned her name first when Moström announced her retirement. The 29 year old has played for the national team in 10 years and has over 100 caps, but she still hasn't really settled. "It's been up and down over the years, but it feels great now. I get more responsibility now and I like that." But she doesn't really replace Moström "My role is more of a playmaker, Malin was much more attacking". Thomas Dennerby has no problems pointing to Sjögran's strong sides, but also says "Sometimes it is a little bit too much short-passing and play on small areas. But a technician [like Sjögran] can make magic happen and as a coach you don't want to change that."
Göteborgsposten: Sjögran tar över huvudrollen
Malmö FF's Caroline Jönsson was the first choice for goalkeeper for several years, but 2005 she lost that spot to Linköping's Hedvig Lindahl. "We hadn't done that well in the Olympics the year before and it was a tough period for me. I wasn't completely focused either and sometimes it is important to reflect over if this is worth all the time you put in." Eventually she decided to keep on and regained her starting position last season and since Hedvig Lindahl's injury she is even more important. "My aim is always to be the starting keeper, otherwise I might as well quit."
Göteborgsposten: Jönsson tillbaka i startelvan
Finally the tired journalist does the old twenty-random-questions-picked-from-a-box-celebrity-interview with Victoria Svensson, Djurgården's 29 years old forward. You get to know that her favourite movie is The Shawshank Redemption, but doesn't like horror movies. She isn't much of a party-girl, but preferes to stay home and cook dinner (she is a trained cook). She likes all kinds of domestic work except window cleaning and wants to have two kids.
Göteborgsposten: Victoria Svensson: "Jag gillar inte skräckfilmer"
Finally, US Soccer has brought the former teammates Lotta Schelin and Hope Solo together in front of a video camera. Watch the talk at http://www.ussoccer.com/sights/index.jsp_videoGallery-288-1.html, because you really don't want me to try to summarize that.
Algarve Cup: Last minute goal takes Sweden to group final
Sweden - China 1 - 0 (0-0)
Sweden: Caroline Jönsson - Anna Paulson, Charlotte Rohlin, Stina Segerström, Frida Östberg (69 Marlene Sjöberg) - Caroline Seger (82 Salina Olsson), Victoria Svensson, Therese Sjögran (69 Nilla Fischer) - Lotta Schelin, Therese Lundin (69 Sara Johansson), Josefine Öqvist (78 Frida Nordin)
Goals: 1-0 Charlotte Rohlin (90)
Two late substitutions proved to be decisive when Sweden defeated China with a last minute goal. Salina Olsson earned a free-kick as she was tripped not far from China's penalty area and Frida Nordin executed the free-kick with precision for Charlotte Rohlin to tap in.
Sweden started well and created much more than China the first half and could have been a couple of goals up with better finishing. China gained more ground late in the first half, playing rather physical and close and making good use of set pieces. A couple of minutes before Sweden's goal they had their best chance, saved on the goalline by Marlene Sjöberg.
Sweden had, as common in Algarve Cup, made changes in the starting 11 from the match against Finland, but continues with the modified 4-3-3 formation. It seems to work ok, better against Finland than China, but still doesn't inspire complete confidence. Moving down Svensson to the attackning mid position, that Sjögran had against Finland, and replacing her with Lundin on top didn't really work out for either of them. On the other hand, Rohlin and Segerström as centre-backs made you realize that Hanna Marklund isn't completely indispensable.
Svensk Fotboll: Rohlins tåtouch gav ny svensk seger
Damfotboll.com: Rohlin avgjorde med tåspetsen
Aftonbladet: Succédebutant fixade svensk seger, Bank: Svenskt post- moströmskt trauma
Dagens Nyheter: Succédebutant fixade seger
Sweden: Caroline Jönsson - Anna Paulson, Charlotte Rohlin, Stina Segerström, Frida Östberg (69 Marlene Sjöberg) - Caroline Seger (82 Salina Olsson), Victoria Svensson, Therese Sjögran (69 Nilla Fischer) - Lotta Schelin, Therese Lundin (69 Sara Johansson), Josefine Öqvist (78 Frida Nordin)
Goals: 1-0 Charlotte Rohlin (90)
Two late substitutions proved to be decisive when Sweden defeated China with a last minute goal. Salina Olsson earned a free-kick as she was tripped not far from China's penalty area and Frida Nordin executed the free-kick with precision for Charlotte Rohlin to tap in.
Sweden started well and created much more than China the first half and could have been a couple of goals up with better finishing. China gained more ground late in the first half, playing rather physical and close and making good use of set pieces. A couple of minutes before Sweden's goal they had their best chance, saved on the goalline by Marlene Sjöberg.
Sweden had, as common in Algarve Cup, made changes in the starting 11 from the match against Finland, but continues with the modified 4-3-3 formation. It seems to work ok, better against Finland than China, but still doesn't inspire complete confidence. Moving down Svensson to the attackning mid position, that Sjögran had against Finland, and replacing her with Lundin on top didn't really work out for either of them. On the other hand, Rohlin and Segerström as centre-backs made you realize that Hanna Marklund isn't completely indispensable.
Svensk Fotboll: Rohlins tåtouch gav ny svensk seger
Damfotboll.com: Rohlin avgjorde med tåspetsen
Aftonbladet: Succédebutant fixade svensk seger, Bank: Svenskt post- moströmskt trauma
Dagens Nyheter: Succédebutant fixade seger
Algarve Cup: Confident Swedish win over Finland
Sweden - Finland 3 - 0 (2-0)
Sweden: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Paulson, Frida Östberg, Charlotte Rohlin, Sara Thunebro (65 Marlene Sjöberg) - Caroline Seger (65 Salina Olsson), Therese Sjögran (75 Therese Lundin), Nilla Fischer - Lotta Schelin (79 Sara Johansson), Victoria Svensson (75 Maria Aronsson), Josefine Öqvist (79 Frida Nordin).
Goals: 1-0 Therese Sjögran (22), 2-0 Victoria Svensson (34), 3-0 Frida Nordin (90+1)
Sweden were unchallenged by a young Finnish team (missing Mäkinen, Valkonen and Kalmari) and won a comfortable victory. Coach Dennerby was as a whole satisfied, more with the first half than the second, and the players seems to get more used to the new 4-2-1-3 system. Therese Sjögran in the offensive midfield position did a good job holdning and distributing the ball, and also scored 1-0 with a great looking goal from the edge of the area. "We keep nagging on her to shoot more" said Dennerby. Sjögran has yet not 10 goals in over 100 national team matches. "I've always been looking for a good pass first, but I've been working on my goal shoot for a while now".
Vicrotia Svensson seemed to like her target player position in the centre of the thre player forward line, both scored and created much of Sweden's chances. Öqvist had a better day than Schelin this time, but both are happy with attacking on the outsides.
Bad news: Sweden created 12 corner shots, but not a single one even developed to anything remotely dangerous for the Finnish defense
Good news: the improvised back-line (Marklund called in sick the same morning) worked fine and Rohlin's debut was immaculate, but she was on the other hand not really tested either.
Aftonbladet: Sjögran passar även som målskytt
Göteborgsposten: Sverige övertygade mot Finland, Schelin trivdes på sin kant
Svt: Klar svensk seger över Finland (video)
Corren: Lyckad debut av Rohlin
Svensk Fotboll: Klara 3-0 mot Finland
Sweden: Sofia Lundgren - Anna Paulson, Frida Östberg, Charlotte Rohlin, Sara Thunebro (65 Marlene Sjöberg) - Caroline Seger (65 Salina Olsson), Therese Sjögran (75 Therese Lundin), Nilla Fischer - Lotta Schelin (79 Sara Johansson), Victoria Svensson (75 Maria Aronsson), Josefine Öqvist (79 Frida Nordin).
Goals: 1-0 Therese Sjögran (22), 2-0 Victoria Svensson (34), 3-0 Frida Nordin (90+1)
Sweden were unchallenged by a young Finnish team (missing Mäkinen, Valkonen and Kalmari) and won a comfortable victory. Coach Dennerby was as a whole satisfied, more with the first half than the second, and the players seems to get more used to the new 4-2-1-3 system. Therese Sjögran in the offensive midfield position did a good job holdning and distributing the ball, and also scored 1-0 with a great looking goal from the edge of the area. "We keep nagging on her to shoot more" said Dennerby. Sjögran has yet not 10 goals in over 100 national team matches. "I've always been looking for a good pass first, but I've been working on my goal shoot for a while now".
Vicrotia Svensson seemed to like her target player position in the centre of the thre player forward line, both scored and created much of Sweden's chances. Öqvist had a better day than Schelin this time, but both are happy with attacking on the outsides.
Bad news: Sweden created 12 corner shots, but not a single one even developed to anything remotely dangerous for the Finnish defense
Good news: the improvised back-line (Marklund called in sick the same morning) worked fine and Rohlin's debut was immaculate, but she was on the other hand not really tested either.
Aftonbladet: Sjögran passar även som målskytt
Göteborgsposten: Sverige övertygade mot Finland, Schelin trivdes på sin kant
Svt: Klar svensk seger över Finland (video)
Corren: Lyckad debut av Rohlin
Svensk Fotboll: Klara 3-0 mot Finland
Dennerby: The build-up for the World Cup starts now
"The Cyprus camp was about training. Now it is time to form the team and make it work in competitive matches" says national team coach Thomas Dennerby from Algarve. One of the things he will work on is the 4-3-3 formation, or maybe rather 4-2-1-3 with one offensive midfielder behind the forwards, that he tried out against Scotland. "We had a more interesting attack against Scotland than in the Japan match [where Sweden played the more traditional 4-2-2]", he explains but adds that Japan of course is a better team than Scotland.
He is also not decided on the new, post-Malin Moström midfield. He was impressed by Salina Olsson's performance against Scotland and has a problem with Lotta Schelin, because "she is just so good anywhere she plays". He hasn't decided whether to put her on the wing or in the attack.
For the World Cup, he thinks qualifying for the 2008 Olympics is a reasonable goal. That means Sweden must finish amiong the best three European teams. But, he adds, he has talked to most of the players and among those who played in 2003, the ambitions hasn't been lowered.
Göteborgsposten: Nu börjar Dennebys VM-år
Dagens Nyheter: Mycket på spel för damlandslaget
He is also not decided on the new, post-Malin Moström midfield. He was impressed by Salina Olsson's performance against Scotland and has a problem with Lotta Schelin, because "she is just so good anywhere she plays". He hasn't decided whether to put her on the wing or in the attack.
For the World Cup, he thinks qualifying for the 2008 Olympics is a reasonable goal. That means Sweden must finish amiong the best three European teams. But, he adds, he has talked to most of the players and among those who played in 2003, the ambitions hasn't been lowered.
Göteborgsposten: Nu börjar Dennebys VM-år
Dagens Nyheter: Mycket på spel för damlandslaget
Umeå lost SEK 1,7 millions 2006
Umeå IK's financial report for 2006 shows a SEK 1,7 million loss. The big drop in match attendance - from a 3,271 average in 2005 to 1,685 in 2006 - accounts for about SEK 1 million of the defecit. Higher wage expenditure, both for players and staff, and less earnings in connection with TV-matches also contributed to the big loss. Umeå still has money in the bank (approximately SEK 900,000), but they can't afford another year like that.
"We will turn this around" says manager Roland Arnqvist and points to a lower wage budget as several older, high-earning players have left and been replaced by younger, cheaper ones. It also seems like they will get at least three home games televised (against Hammarby, Linköping and Malmö), compared to only one last year.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Umeå IK:s damer gick back med 1,7 miljoner
"We will turn this around" says manager Roland Arnqvist and points to a lower wage budget as several older, high-earning players have left and been replaced by younger, cheaper ones. It also seems like they will get at least three home games televised (against Hammarby, Linköping and Malmö), compared to only one last year.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Umeå IK:s damer gick back med 1,7 miljoner
Training matches: "Mediocre" Umeå defeats Sunnanå
Sunnanå SK - Umeå IK 0 -3 (0-1)
Sunnanå:
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Emma Berglund, Johanna Frisk, Anna Paulsson, Maria Bergkvist - Ramona Bachman, Lisa Dahlqvist (55 Emelie Konradsson), Lise Klaveness, Elaine (46 Erika Karlsson) - Marta, Madeleine Edlund
Goals: 0?1 Madelaine Edlund (30), 0?2 Marta (54), 0?3 Ramona Bachman (63).
Umeå's coach Jeglertz called his team's performance "mediocre", playing still-standing and owning the ball without creating very much. Defense worked well, though, and Anna Paulsson was yet again the best Umeå had to offer. But since Sunnanå, according to their coach Kega Israelsson, played "passive" and with a huge percentage missed passes in midfield, Umeå took an easy win.
Norra Västerbotten: Madde vann mot Sunnanå
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK bäst i derbyt utan att bjuda på skönspel
Malmö FF - BK Skjold 2 - 0 (1-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Therese Jönsson, Dóra Stefánsdóttir, Emma Wilhelmsson, Nera Smajic - Nanna Johansen (46 Emma Stålhammar), Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Frida Nordin - Manon Melis (65 Louise Östman), Therese Lundin
Goals: 1-0 Nanna Johansen, 2-0 Therese Lundin
Malmö, just back from a refreshing training camp on the Spanish south coast, had no problems defeating Danish premier division side Skjold. The Danish team concentrated on defending and made things a bit difficult for Malmö, that could have been more patient in their attacks. Malmö's defense contained Skjold's few attacks and Caroline Jönsson in goal didn't get a single shot. Dutch striker Melis set up both goals.
Sydsvenskan: Succé för ny MFF-stjärna
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - Kif Örebro 1 - 3 (0-2)
Göteborg: Maria Edman - Maria Karlsson, Maria Nilsson, Marlene Sjöberg, Catrin Johansson (60 Lisa Ek) - Emmelie Farfa, Sofia Karlsson, Salina Olsson, Sofie Andersson - Sara Lindén, Lotta Schelin
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström ? Marina Pettersson, Stina Segerström (Emelie Brodin), Malin Nilsson, Ingrid Ericson ? Emelia Erixon (Qarolina Nähl), Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Elin Magnusson (Moa Åkesson) ? Hodan Siid Ahmed (Linda Höglund), Hanna Pettersson.
Goals: 0-1 Hanna Pettersson (3), 0-2 Malin Nilsson (37), 1-2 Emmelie Farfa (56), 1-3 Lena Andersson (69)
What seemed to be a rather unfocused Göteborg was chocked by Örebro's start and coach Pringle decided to change formation already after 15 minutes, from their experimental 3-5-2 to a more defensive 4-4-2. It still didn't help much against Pia Sundhage's players, that used fast counters and a defense that managed to keep Lotta Schelin from scoring.
Kopparbergs/Göteborg
Kif Örebro
Linköping FC - Bälinge IF 3 - 0 (1-0)
Linköping: Maria Cederholm (46 Jenny Olsson) - Marie-Louise Skålberg (62 Maria Lindström), Frida Östberg, Charlotte Rohlin, Maria Karlsson - Petra Larsson, Caroline Seger, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen - Ann Westermark (45 Maja Krantz), Maria Aronsson (77 Frida Carlswärd), Josefine Öqvist (77 Sandra Landberg-Carlzon)
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Petra Vaelma, Nina Engström - Jenny Jansson, Mikaela Björklund, Karolina Mats, Katri Nokso-Koivisto - Linda Blom, Mikaela Bengtsson.
Goals: 1-0 Maria Aronsson (42), 2-0 Josefine Öqvist (68), 3-0 Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (89)
A big improvement from the draw against Hammarby, concluded Linköping's coach Danierl Petterson and 3 goals could have been more. Bälinge, playing without Anne Mäkinen, didn't manage to threaten Linköping's new goalkeepers Maria Cederholm and Jenny Olsson, who played a half each.
Corren: Positivt för LFC: "Allt var bättre"
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge förlorade i årsdebuten
Hammarby - Gideonsberg 3 - 1 (1-1)
Hammarby:
Goals: 1-0 Malin Nyqvist, 2-1 Marijke Callebaut, 3-1 Marijke Callebaut
Falköping - QBIK 0 - 3
Sunnanå:
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Emma Berglund, Johanna Frisk, Anna Paulsson, Maria Bergkvist - Ramona Bachman, Lisa Dahlqvist (55 Emelie Konradsson), Lise Klaveness, Elaine (46 Erika Karlsson) - Marta, Madeleine Edlund
Goals: 0?1 Madelaine Edlund (30), 0?2 Marta (54), 0?3 Ramona Bachman (63).
Umeå's coach Jeglertz called his team's performance "mediocre", playing still-standing and owning the ball without creating very much. Defense worked well, though, and Anna Paulsson was yet again the best Umeå had to offer. But since Sunnanå, according to their coach Kega Israelsson, played "passive" and with a huge percentage missed passes in midfield, Umeå took an easy win.
Norra Västerbotten: Madde vann mot Sunnanå
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK bäst i derbyt utan att bjuda på skönspel
Malmö FF - BK Skjold 2 - 0 (1-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Therese Jönsson, Dóra Stefánsdóttir, Emma Wilhelmsson, Nera Smajic - Nanna Johansen (46 Emma Stålhammar), Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Frida Nordin - Manon Melis (65 Louise Östman), Therese Lundin
Goals: 1-0 Nanna Johansen, 2-0 Therese Lundin
Malmö, just back from a refreshing training camp on the Spanish south coast, had no problems defeating Danish premier division side Skjold. The Danish team concentrated on defending and made things a bit difficult for Malmö, that could have been more patient in their attacks. Malmö's defense contained Skjold's few attacks and Caroline Jönsson in goal didn't get a single shot. Dutch striker Melis set up both goals.
Sydsvenskan: Succé för ny MFF-stjärna
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - Kif Örebro 1 - 3 (0-2)
Göteborg: Maria Edman - Maria Karlsson, Maria Nilsson, Marlene Sjöberg, Catrin Johansson (60 Lisa Ek) - Emmelie Farfa, Sofia Karlsson, Salina Olsson, Sofie Andersson - Sara Lindén, Lotta Schelin
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström ? Marina Pettersson, Stina Segerström (Emelie Brodin), Malin Nilsson, Ingrid Ericson ? Emelia Erixon (Qarolina Nähl), Lena Andersson, Marie Hammarström, Elin Magnusson (Moa Åkesson) ? Hodan Siid Ahmed (Linda Höglund), Hanna Pettersson.
Goals: 0-1 Hanna Pettersson (3), 0-2 Malin Nilsson (37), 1-2 Emmelie Farfa (56), 1-3 Lena Andersson (69)
What seemed to be a rather unfocused Göteborg was chocked by Örebro's start and coach Pringle decided to change formation already after 15 minutes, from their experimental 3-5-2 to a more defensive 4-4-2. It still didn't help much against Pia Sundhage's players, that used fast counters and a defense that managed to keep Lotta Schelin from scoring.
Kopparbergs/Göteborg
Kif Örebro
Linköping FC - Bälinge IF 3 - 0 (1-0)
Linköping: Maria Cederholm (46 Jenny Olsson) - Marie-Louise Skålberg (62 Maria Lindström), Frida Östberg, Charlotte Rohlin, Maria Karlsson - Petra Larsson, Caroline Seger, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen - Ann Westermark (45 Maja Krantz), Maria Aronsson (77 Frida Carlswärd), Josefine Öqvist (77 Sandra Landberg-Carlzon)
Bälinge: Maja Åström - Linda Sembrant, Lina Andersson, Petra Vaelma, Nina Engström - Jenny Jansson, Mikaela Björklund, Karolina Mats, Katri Nokso-Koivisto - Linda Blom, Mikaela Bengtsson.
Goals: 1-0 Maria Aronsson (42), 2-0 Josefine Öqvist (68), 3-0 Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (89)
A big improvement from the draw against Hammarby, concluded Linköping's coach Danierl Petterson and 3 goals could have been more. Bälinge, playing without Anne Mäkinen, didn't manage to threaten Linköping's new goalkeepers Maria Cederholm and Jenny Olsson, who played a half each.
Corren: Positivt för LFC: "Allt var bättre"
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge förlorade i årsdebuten
Hammarby - Gideonsberg 3 - 1 (1-1)
Hammarby:
Goals: 1-0 Malin Nyqvist, 2-1 Marijke Callebaut, 3-1 Marijke Callebaut
Falköping - QBIK 0 - 3
Training matches: Djurgården defeats China
Djurgården - China 2 - 0 (1-0)
Djurgården: Bente Nordby (76 Sofia Åhman) - Dorte Dalum Jensen, Jane Törnqvist, Therese Brogårde, Sara Thunebro (46 Malin Engdahl) - Kristin Bengtsson, Anna Hall, Linda Forsberg, Elin Ekblom (46 Annemarie Norlin) - Emma Lundh (63 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson (76 Mia Jalkerud).
Goals: 1-0 Emma Lundh, 2-0 Victoria Svensson
Damfotboll.com reports that Djurgården won their training match in Algarve against China Friday evening. The first goal by Emma Lundh from close range and the other from a long-shot by Victoria Svensson. Djurgården's sport director Mikael Söderman thought his team had a good grip over the match, particulary in the second half and was very pleased with the defense, where Jane Törnqvist and Therese Brogårde was almost impenetrable in the centre and Sara Thunebro and Dorte Dalum Jensen took good care of the outside.
Damfotboll.com: Djurgården slog Kina!
Djurgården: Bente Nordby (76 Sofia Åhman) - Dorte Dalum Jensen, Jane Törnqvist, Therese Brogårde, Sara Thunebro (46 Malin Engdahl) - Kristin Bengtsson, Anna Hall, Linda Forsberg, Elin Ekblom (46 Annemarie Norlin) - Emma Lundh (63 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson (76 Mia Jalkerud).
Goals: 1-0 Emma Lundh, 2-0 Victoria Svensson
Damfotboll.com reports that Djurgården won their training match in Algarve against China Friday evening. The first goal by Emma Lundh from close range and the other from a long-shot by Victoria Svensson. Djurgården's sport director Mikael Söderman thought his team had a good grip over the match, particulary in the second half and was very pleased with the defense, where Jane Törnqvist and Therese Brogårde was almost impenetrable in the centre and Sara Thunebro and Dorte Dalum Jensen took good care of the outside.
Damfotboll.com: Djurgården slog Kina!
Holmalund players find Damallsvenskan clubs and Malmö finds back-up keeper
The 1st division side Holmalund (finished 7 of 12 last season) a few weeks ago decided to give up their place in the league for financial reasons. Most of the players have since tried to find new clubs and quite a few has ended up with Damallsvenskan sides:
Newcomers Falköpings KIK has found their first new signings in former Holmalund players Therese Larsson (forward) and Emma Eriksson (midfielder).
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC is looking at Sofia Karlsson (midfielder), Sanna Mikkola (goalkeeper), Helena Bernekil (defender) and Elin Dahl-Örn (defender). These players are not officially confirmed by Göteborg, but local newspaper Göteborgsposten lists the transfers as done.
Damfotboll.com: Holmalund förstärker Falköping
Göteborgsposten: Silly Season - Göteborg FC
Malmö FF has, as expected, signed Husie IF's goalkeeper Stephanie Öhrström as new back-up keeper. 20 year old Öhrström, who has over 20 caps for Sweden youth teams, will be loaned back to her old club Husie, that plays in the 1st division.
Even if Öhrström is signed as a back-up now, she might also have been brought to the team as a future replacement for Caroline Jönsson, who turns 30 later this year.
Sydsvenskan: MFF har klart med reservmålvakt
Newcomers Falköpings KIK has found their first new signings in former Holmalund players Therese Larsson (forward) and Emma Eriksson (midfielder).
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC is looking at Sofia Karlsson (midfielder), Sanna Mikkola (goalkeeper), Helena Bernekil (defender) and Elin Dahl-Örn (defender). These players are not officially confirmed by Göteborg, but local newspaper Göteborgsposten lists the transfers as done.
Damfotboll.com: Holmalund förstärker Falköping
Göteborgsposten: Silly Season - Göteborg FC
Malmö FF has, as expected, signed Husie IF's goalkeeper Stephanie Öhrström as new back-up keeper. 20 year old Öhrström, who has over 20 caps for Sweden youth teams, will be loaned back to her old club Husie, that plays in the 1st division.
Even if Öhrström is signed as a back-up now, she might also have been brought to the team as a future replacement for Caroline Jönsson, who turns 30 later this year.
Sydsvenskan: MFF har klart med reservmålvakt
Injured Westberg replaced by Johansson for Algarve Cup
Umeå's defender Karolina Westberg, who hurt her foot in the first friendly against Trondheim Ørn last weekend, has decided not to go to Algarve Cup with Sweden. She has also recently has surgery for a broken nose. In her place national team coach Thomas Dennerby has decided to pick Hammarby's striker Sara Johansson.
Svensk Fotboll: Sara Johansson ersätter Karolina Westberg i Algarve Cup
Most nations have now announced their Algarve Cup teams and there are several present and former Damallsvenskan players in the foreign squads:
Denmark: Dorte Dalum Jensen (Djurgården), Nanna Johansen (Malmö FF), Katrine Pedersen (Djurgården 2006)
Germany: Ariane Hingst (Djurgården in a few weeks), Bianca Rech (Sunnanå 2005), Anja Mittag (Qbik 2006)
Norway: Bente Nordby (Djurgården), Ingvild Stensland (Kopparbergs/Göteborg)
Finland: Petra Vaelma (Bälinge), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Bälinge), Jessica Julin (AIK), Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (Linköping), Sanna Malaska (Sunnanå 2004), Sanna Talonen (Bälinge)
USA: Kristine Lilly (Kif Örebro 2005), Hope Solo (Kopparbergs/Göteborg 2004)
Ma Xiaoxu (Umeå) should normally be on China's roster, but did not participate in China's 2-0 defeat to France yesterday and, as I understand it, will try to get acclimatized in Umeå instead of going to Algarve.
Svensk Fotboll: Sara Johansson ersätter Karolina Westberg i Algarve Cup
Most nations have now announced their Algarve Cup teams and there are several present and former Damallsvenskan players in the foreign squads:
Denmark: Dorte Dalum Jensen (Djurgården), Nanna Johansen (Malmö FF), Katrine Pedersen (Djurgården 2006)
Germany: Ariane Hingst (Djurgården in a few weeks), Bianca Rech (Sunnanå 2005), Anja Mittag (Qbik 2006)
Norway: Bente Nordby (Djurgården), Ingvild Stensland (Kopparbergs/Göteborg)
Finland: Petra Vaelma (Bälinge), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Bälinge), Jessica Julin (AIK), Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (Linköping), Sanna Malaska (Sunnanå 2004), Sanna Talonen (Bälinge)
USA: Kristine Lilly (Kif Örebro 2005), Hope Solo (Kopparbergs/Göteborg 2004)
Ma Xiaoxu (Umeå) should normally be on China's roster, but did not participate in China's 2-0 defeat to France yesterday and, as I understand it, will try to get acclimatized in Umeå instead of going to Algarve.
Changes in Umeå IK's coaching team
Steve Galloway, who was hired by Umeå last year, mainly to coach forwards, has been appointed to assistant manager. The previous assistant, Hans Aggling, will focus on Umeå?s newly started youth team.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Galloway tar över som assisterande tränare
Ma arrives to Umeå within short
Chinese teenage star Ma Xiaoxu will arrive in Umeå within short and gives a farewell interview to Goalchina.net. She reveals that she got three assignments from her national team coach Wang Haiming; study the strong sides of the Swedish players, keep away from injuries and bring back experiences from European football to China. Ma has a six month deal with Umeå and will return to China in time for the World Cup preparations.
The Shanghai Daily gives another version of Ma's deal with Umeå. According to a piece published on their website yesterday, Ma will join Umeå on loan from her club Dalian Shide FC and most of the US$ 5,000 a month will go to the club.
Damfotboll.com: Se upp för "spionen"!
Shanghai Daily: Ma 1st Chinese woman to play in Europe
The Shanghai Daily gives another version of Ma's deal with Umeå. According to a piece published on their website yesterday, Ma will join Umeå on loan from her club Dalian Shide FC and most of the US$ 5,000 a month will go to the club.
Damfotboll.com: Se upp för "spionen"!
Shanghai Daily: Ma 1st Chinese woman to play in Europe