Damallsvenskan Newsblog

The Swedish Football Association today decided that the matches, that will be affected by Brazilian players in Swedish clubs being called up for the Olympic Qualifier on April 19, can be moved to other dates. The matches concerned are Linköping's away match at Malmö April 17 and Umeå's at Göteborg April 16 and at home against Malmö April 20.
The decision that the matches can be moved doesn't mean they will be. It's a very tight match program in the league, says Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist and he can see problems finding suitable dates, even if he of course wants to move the matches. Linköping's has the same view - they will see what they can do, but it will be difficult finding a date. And I guess that LDB FC Malmö being involved in two of the three matches doesn't make it any easier. The club's sport director Kenny Jönsson comments that this comes very late, all the travel arrangements are already made.
Dagens Nyheter: Marta kan spela alla matcher för Umeå
Damfotboll.com: Problemen hopar sig för Umeå IK

Umeå IK goes to Lyon for the UEFA Women's Cup semifinal on Sunday with their entire team, except Hanna Ljungberg. Not, as you would think, because of an injury, but due to a cold. And, explains coach Andrée Jeglertz, not because that she is that ill, but he doesn't want to risk her passing on the infection to any other players. Otherwise has Hanna, except for a minor thing in her thigh, had her best pre-season for a very long time. The prescription has been, says Hanna, to train less and rest more.

Umeå IK has never played Olympique Lyon before, but they are not taking anything for granted. Assistant coach Steve Galloway went to Lyon to watch OL play Montpellier a few weeks ago and came back impressed. Even if the surroundings around the match wasn't the best - it was played on a training field without any stands, so he really didn't get the best view of the game, and there wasn't any match program or even a line-up - Galloway saw enough not to underestimate the French side: "It was a long time since I saw a team where everyone were that comfortable with the ball". In particular Camilla Abily caught his eye, but "everyone was good, technical and comfortable with the ball". Lyon plays an offensive 4-3-3, quite a bit like Umeå, and Galloway predicted that the Umeå audience will love to watch them.
Västerbottenskuriren: Hanna Ljungberg stannar hemma
Västerbottens Folkblad: Lyon blir ingen lätt match

FCR 2001 Duisburg - AIK 1 - 2
AIK:
Goals: 1-1 Lisa de Vanna, 1-2 Lisa de Vanna
AIK, on spring training camp in Germany, took the opportunity to play the currently second placed Bundesliga team FCR 2001 Duisburg. Australia's Lisa de Vanna has rejoined the team after playing a series of matches against New Zealand with the Australian national team, this time, as far as I understand, together with her Matildas teammate Kate Gill. This time, just like the last in Stockholm in February, she showed that she has what it takes to help AIK move away from the Damallsvenskan relegation zone.
Damfotboll.com: Lisa De Vanna gjorde båda AIK-målen

AIK - Danmarks IF 7 - 0 (5-0)
AIK:
Goals:
Earlier in the week AIK played the Swedish second tier team Danmarks IF, who also was on camp in Germany. It was play against one goal and the Australians de Vanna and Gill impressed greatly on Danmark's coach Max Andersson.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Danmark utan chans mot AIK 
AIK's usually very detailed and up-to-date website has been alarmingly quiet during their German camp. Hope we get more news when players and coaches return to Sweden.

Glasgow City - Kif Örebro 0 - 3 (0-1)
Örebro:
Goals: Elin Magnusson, Hanna Pettersson, Stina Segerström
Kif Örebro, on camp in Scotland, played the Scottish league leaders and won a convincing victory against a very physical team.
Damfotboll.com: Glasgow City - KIF Örebro 0-3


Bälinge - Gusk 1 - 1
Bälinge:
Goals: 1-1 Moa Mattsson
Bälinge only managed to reach a very disappointing draw against local 2nd division side Gusk. Gusk showed a lot more will than the Damallsvenskan side and created a lot of problems for Bälinge's defense, where team captain Emma Lindqvist, a forward, had the unusual position as centre back. One of Bälinge's three American players, Noelle Keselica, has arrived and played 45 minutes. She showed that she is comfortable with the ball and has good vision, but hasn't found her place with the team yet. Bälinge has matches against Kristianstad and AIK before the league kick-off, and it looks like they will need them.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Gusk snäppet bättre än Bälinge 

With only a couple of days before the transfer window closes, Kristianstads DFF has reached an agreement with Scotland international Ifeoma Dieke to join the club for the 2008 season. Sport director Ulf Berglund commented that "we have been working on this since the stone ages", but stressed that the club has been very careful when they have been looking at prospective players. The 27 years defender Dieke, with experience from WUSA and Damallsvenskan, comes highly recommended from Scotland's assistant coach Ann-Helen Grahm, who is an old aquaintance of Berglund since she coached Stattena in the Swedish 1st division. In particular her recent performance in the Cyprus Cup impressed.

Kristianstad have also been looking for a second international player. They were in close talks with the promising young American forward Tiffany Weimer, but it came to nought. The most probable signing is now a defensive American player with experience from the USA U21 team.

Norra Skåne: Landslagsspelare till KDFF
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF förstärker med två utländska spelare

Umeå - Djurgården 3 - 0 (2-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulson, Karolina Westberg, Johanna Frisk, June Pedersen - Frida Östberg, Emmelie Konradsson (65 Mami Yamaguchi), Lisa Dahlkvist - Johanna Rasmussen (56 Ramona Bachman 74 red card after two yellows), Madelaine Edlund, Marta Vieria da Silva
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Malin Engdahl (46 Anne-Marie Norlin), Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde (84 Madelene Göras), Sara Thunebro - Marijke Callebaut, Linda Forsberg, Anna Hall, Linda Sällström - Jennifer Meier (46 Rebecca Johnson), Victoria Svensson
Goals: 1-0 Marta (4), 2-0 Madeleine Edlund (27), 3-0 Mami Yamaguchi (90)
Umeå played like champions in the first half, controlling the match and a two goal lead after 45 minutes felt a bit too little. Marta, who scored the first and gave the ball to Madeleine Edlund in a can't miss-position for the second goal, was great and the relentless Madeleine Edlund were a constant threat to Djurgården's goal. But the whole team played impressingly well for this time of the year.
Djurgården's new coach Anders Johansson was very dissatisfied with his team's performance, in particular the defense, and made two changes at halftime. This, and probably also a truth or two he told the team in the locker-room, made Djurgården look considerably better in the second. Nadine Angerer made some great saves and Anne-Marie Norlin was surprisingly successfull in keeping Marta from coming forward with speed. Djurgården began to win one-on-ones and managed to hold on to the ball in the offensive part of the field. When Ramona Bachmann got sent off the field after two yellow cards it even looked like Djurgården had a chance getting closer on the score-sheet, but Umeå's defense worked great and their closest chance was when Anna Paulsson had to clear the ball at the gaol-line after a set piece.
Umeå subbed in two young players in the second half with two very different endings. Ramona Bachmann came in for injured Johanna Rasmussen after 56 minutes. She was according to the rumour not pleased being benched and looked very determined to make an impression. Only seconds after she came on, she was free with Djurgården's goalkeeper, but Angerer made a great save. After that, Bachmann's determination made her unnecessary aggressive and earned herself a yellow card with a careless tackle only minutes later. Then, after a scramble for the ball ended with her and a Djurgården defender falling over each other, she pushed down the Djurgården player as she was trying to get up. A second yellow was unavoidable and Bachmann left with a very unhappy face. The other sub was the new japanese signing Mami Yamaguchi, who, one minute into extratime, took great care of a Marta pass when she turned and scored surrounded by Djurgården players.
Umeå's new team captain Frida Östberg, who did a very strong performance in midfield, was very happy with her team after the match while Djurgården's coach Anders Johansson stressed that his team is in transition and should not be regarded as a championship contender this season: "You can see that we have lost 800 Damallsvenskan matches worth of experience".
Aftonbladet: Martas sköna revansch
SVT: Umeå försvarade Supercuptiteln (video)
Västerbottens Folkblad: Superspel av Madde gav UIK segern
Svensk Fotboll: Imponerande Umeå vann igen

Linköpings FC - Linköping Kenty DFF 12 - 0 (4-0)
Linköping:
Goals: Cristiane (3), Jessica Landström (2), Josefine Öqvist, Ann Westermark, Charlotte Rohlin, Petra Larsson, Maja Krantz, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen, Daniela
Linköping decided to play their own farm team as part of their preparations for the season kick-off in two weeks. And the two divisions difference showed. Linköping were more or less unchallenged the whole match and got plenty of opportunities to try out different ways of attacking - 9 of their players scored.
Linköping FC: Storseger för LFC


Kif Örebro - Eskilstuna United 10 - 0 (6-0)
Örebro:
Goals: Kim Ekebom (4), Hanna Pettersson (2), Elin Magnusson, Lena Puuranen, Sanna Valkonen, Caroline Näfver.
Eskilstuna United is usually considered one of the better sides in the 1st division, but they didn't show much of that when they guested Kif Örebro. Former Eskilstuna player Kim Ekebom had a great day when Örebro almost could score at will against a timid Eskilstuna.
Nerikes Allehanda: Målkalas för KIF Örebro
Eskilstunakuriren: Utspelat United åkte på en riktig påsksmäll


LDB FC Malmö - Bröndby 1 - 1 (0-0)
Malmö: Stéphanie Öhrström - Therese Jönsson (46 Emelie Ölander), Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Manon Melis, Nilla Fischer, Frida Nordin (46 Aylin Yaren), Therese Lundin, Therese Sjögran (46 Maria Aronsson) - Emma Stålhammar
Goals: 0-1 Mia Olsen (75), 1-1 Maria Aronsson (77)
LDB FC's second match against the Danish champions this year ended in a draw. Even if the score was meager, and the play sometimes fairly mediocre, coach Jörgen Pettersson was pleased that his attack is looking better than last year. Malmö's equalizer was a product of the cooperation between two of his new offensive signings; Aylin Yaren setting up Maria Aronsson.
Malmö's Czech forward Pavlina Scasna is expected to make her debut for her new team in next weekend's match against 1st division club Jitex.
LDB FC: Trögt när LdB spelade lika mot Bröndby
Sydsvenskan: Sköna besked för LDB-tränaren


Sunnanå - Umeå Södra FF 4 - 0 (1-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Alexandra Nilsson (83 Magdalena Esseryd), Miriam Marklund, Sanna Frostevall, Carina Holmberg (45 Sandra Berggren) - Johanna Lindahl (76 Matilda Forslund), Anna Bodén, Josefin Johansson, Kicki Viklund - Lina Johansson (76 Linn Lundmark), Lisa Renberg
Umeå Södra: Minna Merilouto - Maria Wictorsson (46 Ragna Lestander), Moa Westermark (78 Elina Sormunen), Petra Vaelma, Anna Forss (78 Kristin Åberg) - Maria Lundqvist (46 Vanessa Mångsén), Emma Sundberg, Hanna Folkesson, Victoria Forsmark (30 Anna Rehn) - Linda Fransson, Terese Andersson (78 Mathilda Varmin)
Goals: 1-0 Alexandra Nilsson (15), 2-0 Kicki Wiklund (58), 3-0 Lina Johansson (62), 4-0 Lina Johansson (74)
Newcomers Umeå Södra was very much one size to small against last year's Damallsvenskan number 5. Even if Södra kept close on the score-sheet the first 60 minutes, Sunnanå had the match in their hands. Umeå Södra were mostly in defense and only managed to challenge Sunnanå's goal a few times.
Norra Västerbotten: Lina Johansson sänkte nykomlingarna Umeå Södra, Sunnanå hetast i kylan
Västerbottens Folkblad: Sunnanå var numret större än Umeå Södra


Limassol - Kristianstad 0 - 8 (0-3)
Kristianstad:
Goals: Veronica Persson (2), Vlora Bajraktaraj (2), Erla Arnardóttir, Victoria Falk, Maria Nilsson, Ulrika Severin.
Kristianstad's second match against a Cypriot team looked a lot like the first, even if the club team from Limassol looked a bit better organized than the national side they played earlier during their training camp.
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF tog en ny storseger med ett helt nytt lag

Brazil, who finished second in the South American qualifiers last year, faces a play-off against Africa's second, Ghana to decide which team goes to the Olympic games. The match will be played in China on April 19. Brazil's national team are now gathering for their pre-match camp in Brazil and plans to pick up the European based players April 13 on route to China. Between the 13th and 21st there are three match-days in Damallsvenskan, so this will concern both Umeå (Marta) and Linköping (Cristiane and Daniela).

This has prompted strong reactions from Linköping's sport director Bengt Ekholm: "I can't imagine we're letting our two new Brazilian players leave the same day they should be playing our home opener in Damallsvenskan". And he could have a strong position here. The match date is not protected in FIFA women's coordinated international calendar for 2008. National team's can still call up players for additional dates, but that is "provided that the association concerned gives at least 30 days' notice". No such notice seems to have been given. Bengt Ekholm says that he has to talk this over with his players, "they have of course mixed loyalties here", but adds that Linköping will take the matter to FIFA for a conclusion.

There was a similar conflict a couple of years ago, when Qbik, backed up by a FIFA decision, refused to release three Nigerian players. The players went AWOL and were later fired by the club. Umeå has also at one instance refused to release Marta (for the 2006 U20 World Championship).
Damfotboll.com: Svenska brassetrion kan missa tre matcher, Cristiane och Daniela missar OS-planet till Kina

Kristianstad's young back-up goalkeeper Emelie Karström has, after much deliberation, agreed to join the Finnish league's Åland United.
Kristianstadsbladet: Emelie Karström flyttar till Åland


LDB FC Malmö has signed a four year contract with their promising defender Emelie Ölander. Ölander, a home-grown player, is on Sweden's U-19 team and appeared in 8 Damallsvenskan matches last year.
Skånska dagbladet: Backtalang stannar i LDB FC i fyra år


Umeå IK's Mami Yamaguchi talks in an interview with a local newspaper about how she was signed. She had been in contact with the club for some time, but came as a surprise when Umeå coach Andrée Jeglertz mailed her in February, saying that he had an injured player and needed Maia to replace her. Maia reveals that everyone - father, coach, teammates and even her own common sense - advised against leaving college. But she couldn't resist the feeling that she wanted to play with Umeå: "My dream has always been to play football professionally".
Västerbottens Folkblad: En dröm har blivit verklighet

Kif Örebro's Emilia Erixon, who was her team's top goalscorer with 11 goals when she tore her ACL in the 16th damallsvenskan match last season, has suffered a severe setback. The 20 year old hurt her knee during rehab training and it has been established that she has once again torn her ACL.
Nerikes Allehanda: Emelias korsband avslitet - igen

Annica Svensson, influental fullback with Hammarby, and Umeå's Brazilian Elaine, who both got injured in January, have now started the first part of their rehab training.
Hammarby: Kryckorna har åkt ut genom fönstret
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inställd på en snabb återkomst

Malmö's Pavlina Scasna and Caroline Jönsson, both injured late last summer, are getting close to match fitness. Scasna is in full training and Jönsson doesn't seem to be far from, even if she experienced a minor set-back during the team's winter camp in South Africa.

Cyprus - Kristianstad 0 - 10 (0-3)
Kristianstad: Maria Edman (46 Sandra Wahldén) - Johanna Jönsson, Johanna Rosén, Maria Åhlund (50 Vlora Bajraktaraj), Carolin Eriksson - Therese Björck (70 Marie Åstedt), Sofia Persson, Erla Arnadottir, Angelika Sandberg (Elin Bjerre) - Susanne Moberg, Frida Peterson
Goals: Susanne Moberg (2), Angelique Sandberg (2), Elin Bjerre (2), Frida Pettersson, Johanna Jönsson, Erla Arnardottír, Therese Björck
Kristianstad are having their spring training on Cyprus and met the national team of the Mediterranean island. They started a bit coutious, since they really had no idea what they were up against, but at halftime they decided to change to a 3-4-3 set-up and take every chance to practice their finishing. With a tiring Cyprus team, Kristianstad's dominance became even more evident and coach Ulf Palmquist could summarize "We were pretty efficient up front".
Women's football on Cyprus is still in it's infancy and they don't even appear on FIFA's ranking list, which would suggest that they haven't played any actual internationals yet. But there is a league, concisting of nine teams, one of which Kristianstad will meet later this week.
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF krossade landslag


Umeå - Rossiyanka 1 - 0 (0-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - June Pedersen (60 Emma Berglund), Karolina Westberg, Johanna Frisk, Anna Paulson - Lisa Dahlkvist (75 Emma Åberg Zingmark), Frida Östberg, Emmelie Konradsson (60 Mami Yamaguchi) - Marta, Madelaine Edlund, Johanna Rasmussen (60 Sofia Jakobsson).
Goals: 1-0 Marta (78)
In Umeå's third match against Russian top side Rossiyanka, they finally managed to win after two goals. They almost out-played the Russians in the first half, with a very stable defense, exact passes and fast attacks. Marta, who headed in the winner on an assist from Madeleine Edlund, said after the match that she ought to have scored two in the first half, but panicked a bit in the crowded Russian defense. Rossiyanka stepped up for a while around the hour mark, but never really threatened. The well working defense was also the thing coach Jeglerz was most satisfied with.
Both Ramona Bachmann and Hanna Ljungberg rested with minor ailments, but should be fit to play in the Super Cup against Djurgården on Easter Monday.
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK:s första seger mot Rossiyanka


Kopparbergs/Göteborg 1 - 0 (0-0)
Göteborg: Jenny Olsson - Marlene Sjöberg, Jenny Hallstensson, Maria Nilsson, Elin Dahl-Örn - Amelie Rybäck (55 Ingvild Stensland), Catrin Johansson, Lisa Ek - Sofie Andersson (65 Linnea Liljegärd), Frida Svensson, Emmelie Farfa (65 Sara Lindén)
Goals: 1-0 Linnéa Liljegärd (80)
Göteborg played their second training match in Turkey against Rostov from the Russian premier league.
Lotta Schelin, who really wanted to play but were stopped by her cautious coach, rested as well as several of those that started against Umeå.
Göteborg FC: Seger mot Rostov FC
Göteborgsposten: Göteborg vann i Turkiet


Hammarby - Tyresö 8 - 3 (3-1)
Hammarby:
Goals: Daniella Chamoun (3), Karin Lissel (2), Kicki Bengtsson, Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Lisa Björkvik
Hammarby played their last home friendly before taking off to spring camp in Italy. The cold and snow probably made them wish they were already there. Tyresö, by many held as favourites to win the 1st division, had a good first half but couldn't keep up with Hammarby's pace in the second.
Damfotboll.com: Målrikt mellan Hammarby och Tyresö


Djurgården - Bälinge 6 - 0 (1-0)
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Madelene Göras (55 Malin Engdahl), Ariane Hingst, Therese Brogårde (73 Anne-Marie Norlin), Sara Thunebro - Marijke Callebaut, Linda Forsberg (73 Anna Lagerberth), Anna Hall, Rebecca Johnson (46 Linda Sällström) - Victoria Svensson, Jennifer Meier
Bälinge:
Goals: 1-0 Jennifer Meier, 2-0 Linda Forsberg, 3-0 Marijke Callebaut, 4-0 Victoria Svensson, 5-0 Sara Thunebro, 6-0 Victoria Svensson
Djurgården's last match before the Super Cup final against Umeå on Easter Monday gave some longed-for answers. That they should wear down a young Bälinge side was nothing unexpected. But Linda Forsberg looked almost completely fit after her injury and Victoria Svensson and Jennifer Meier worked really good together at top while Marijke Callebaut continurs to convince in midfield.
Bälinge's coach Zaine Söderlund was disappointed in how his team, just like against Linköping, didn't manage to stand up physically and instead lost almost every one-on-one against Djurgården.
Damfotboll.com: Djurgården - Bälinge 6-0
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge utklassat av Djurgården

The new American professional league has begun to emerge. Just before the World Cup last year the name, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), seven clubs and plans to start in April 2009 was revealed. And in January this sort of idea of a league was materialised a bit, with a logo, a website and clubs beginning to announce the hirings of managers and coaches.

And at Algarve Cup there were actual coaches from the league, scouting real life players. The New York/New Jersey franchise Sky Blue Soccer were present in Algarve with both their newly signed head coach Ian Sawyers and the coach for their W-League team Denise Reddy. Sawyers told Swedish media that he tried to keep a low profile "it's just good that they [the players] don't know who I am", but he was there to find players to his WPS team. But just watching: "When the right time comes, we will contact the clubs to get permission to talk to the players". And he does of course not mention any names, but says that there are half a dozen Swedish players that are interesting.

This is mostly speculation from my part, but if you piece together snippets from articles, interviews, blogs and forum discussions I think you can get a picture of what recruiting potential the new league has.
The ambition is "to be the premier women's soccer league in the world, and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured" and anything else would be selling themselves short. But we are not talking about WUSA expenditures here.
Team budgets should according to reliable information be between USD 1,5 to 2,5 millions. In the lower end that is slightly less than the budget Umeå has (at the present exchange rate, if the free fall of the dollar continues it will soon be Linköping's budget).
We shouldn't expect any outrageous wage bids. Typical player salaries should be between USD 25,000 and 50,000 per season, which isn't out of reach for Swedish clubs either. The league commissioner Tonya Antonucci has, primarily with regards to Marta, said that "we're going to have to be competitive and creative to bring them over". Marta's present salary, which should translate to something like USD 150,000, might not be over-bid by any WPS club, but there are other ways for a player like Marta to make money in a market like the USA.
It also seems like there will be a cap on foreign players, possibly 4 per team. That would be 28 foreign players with 7 teams. It's not like the WPS will drain the European market, but on the other hand picking a few really big names (say Marta, Schelin and Ljungberg) could be enough to affect the popularity of the Swedish league.

And how interested are the Swedish players? Mildly interested would be the answer if you judge from what national team players in Algarve told the press. Older players like Victoria Svensson and Therese Sjögran declared they will stay with their present clubs while younger ones like Lotta Schelin and Caroline Seger are interested but in no hurry. One of the problems are the European Championships next summer, that might not be possible to combine with playing in the WPS.

By the way, Ian Sawyers didn't talk to any players, but his travel partner Denise Reddy certainly did. But she has a bunch of former team mates and house mates on the Swedish national team since her Malmö days, so it comes more natural for her. You can find her travel report at Sky Blue's website.

Dagens Nyheter: På jakt efter spelare till damernas proffsliga i USA
Aftonbladet: Svenska spelarna nobbar proffsligan

Kopparbergs/Göteborg - Umeå IK 0 - 2 (0-0)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Marlene Sjöberg, Maria Nilsson, Jane Törnqvist, Amelie Rybäck (70 Elin Dahl-Örn) - Maria Karlsson, Ingvild Stensland, Johanna Almgren (82 Lisa Ek) - Sofie Andersson (73 Linnea Liljegärd), Sara Lindén, Emmelie Farfa (75 Frida Svensson)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - June Pedersen, Johanna Frisk, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund (45 Anna Paulsson) - Emma Åberg-Zingmark (45 Lisa Dahlkvist), Frida Östberg (45 Mami Yamaguchi), Hanna Ljungberg (45 Emmelie Konradsson) - Marta, Madelaine Edlund (45 Sofia Jakobsson), Johanna Rasmussen (45 Ramona Bachmann)
Goals: 0-1 Lisa Dahlkvist, 0-2 Marta
Göteborg and Umeå escaped the current Swedish snow-storm and met in spring-like weather in southern Turkey. After a fairly equal first half, Umeå showed much more gusto in the second. Göteborg, missing injured Lotta Schelin, had to focus on defense where Jane Törnqvist and Marlene Sjöberg impressed. Umeå's latest signing, Japanese Mami Yamaguchi, made a good showing in her first match with the team, in spite of playing in an unfamiliar defensive midfield position. "She is well educated", commented coach Jeglertz.
Västerbottens Folkblad: 2-0-seger för UIK mot Göteborg


Team Strømmen - Kif Örebro 3 - 2 (3-0)
Örebro:
Goals: 3-1 Stina Segerström, 3-2 Maria Nordbrandt
Kif Örebro suffered their first defeat this preseason after having travelled to Norway. "In the first half it looked like we were still on the bus", said coach Richard Holmlund. The team showed up in a much more aggressive mood after the recess and almost managed to equalise against Norwegian top four clun Team Strømmen.
Nerikes Allehanda: Första förlusten för KIF Örebro

Asker - Kif Örebro 2 - 1 (1-0)
Örebro:
Goals: 2-1 Hanna Pettersson
Örebro stood up well against Norway's number three Asker, but squandered too many chances. Coach Holmlund was happy to be able get his entire team together after the many national team assignments lately.
Nerikes Allehanda: Ny uddamålsförlust för KIF i Norge


Fortuna Hjörring - LdB FC Malmö 1 - 0 (1-0)
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Therese Jönsson, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin, Dora Stefansdottir (65 Nilla Fischer), Aylin Yaren (46 Dafina Memedov), Manon Melis (46 Antonia Göransson), Emma Stålhammar - Maria Aronsson (70 Therese Lundin)
LDB FC Malmö took to Denmark for a weekend match camp and started against current Danish league leaders Fortuna. Malmö used a lot of their younger, as they wanted to rest players like Therese Sjögran, who were used a lot in Algarve. A tight match was decided by Fortuna's Australian leftsider Heater Garriock, who both started and finished the attack that gave the hosts the only goal.
LBD FC: Bra genomkörare för LdB på nylagt konstgräs
Skånska Dagbladet: Förlust för LDB FC mot danskorna

Skovbakken - LDB FC Malmö 1 - 5 (0-2)
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Emelie Ölander (70 Lina Rehov), Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Antonia Göransson, Nilla Fischer (73 Therese Jönsson), Therese Lundin, Emma Stålhammar, Therese Sjögran - Maria Aronsson (46 Frida Nordin)
Goals: 0-1 Maria Aronsson, 0-2 Therese Lundin, 1-3 Therese Sjögran, 1-4 Frida Nordin, 1-5 Emma Stålhammar
Just two days after the match against Fortuna, Malmö took on the Danish league's number three, Skovbakken. Maria Aronsson scored her first goal for Malmö and coach Jörgen Pettersson commented that "in some sequences of the match our game looked really good".
LDB FC: Fem skyttar när LdB FC hade målkalas


Sunnanå - Alvik 6 - 0 (3-0)
Sunnanå:
Goals: 1-0 Lina Johansson, 2-0 Lina Johansson, 3-0 Carina Holmberg, 4-0 Lisa Renberg, 5-0 Carina Holmberg, 6-0 Carina Holmberg

Sunnanå SK - Piteå IF 5 - 1 (0-1)
Sunnanå:
Goals: 1-1 Lisa Renberg, 2-1 Lisa Renberg, 3-1 Carina Holmberg, 4-1 Alexandra Nilsson, 5-1 Lisa Renberg
Sunnanå continues to show high scoring results, but against rather weak resistance. "The result is fairly uninteresting in these matches", said coach Rainer Eskelinen. Finding the right set-up for the team is what matters at this time. he should be opleased with the number of players that scores though, the more since his main striker Perpetua Nkwocha will not join the team for a couple of weeks yet.
Norra Västerbotten: Sunnanå visar målform


Linköpings FC - Bälinge IF 2 - 1 (2-0)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Maja Krantz, Sara Larsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Ann Westermark, Petra Larsson, Daniela, Maria Karlsson - Jessica Landström, Lisa Nilsson
Bälinge:
Goals: 1-0 Maria Karlsson, 2-0 Jessica Landström, 2-1 Alexandra Höglund
Linköping were the much better side and it really should have been a much bigger scoreline with a 19-4 superiority for Linköping in scoring chances. Bälinge's coach Zaine Söderlund was still unsatisfied withy his team's first half performance, when they were much too nice in the defense.
Linköping's Josefine Öqvist and Anna-Kaisa Rantanen rested after Algarve Cup and Cristiane nursed a minor muscle injury.
Corren: För lite med två mål, LFC
Upsala Nya Tidning: Första halvleken sänkte Bälinge


Umeå Södra - GUIF P15 2 - 0 (1-0)
Umeå Södra: Jessica Lundberg - Maria Wictorsson, Moa Westermark, Petra Vaelma (46 Kristin Åberg), Anna Forss - Maria Lundqvist (72 Ragna Lestander), Hanna Folkesson, Emma Sundberg, Victoria Forsmark - Terese Andersson (61 Elina Sormunen), Linda Fransson (76 Mathilda Varmin)
Goals: 1-0 Terese Andersson (20), 2-0 own goal (72)
GUIF is a boy's team, that's all I know.

We are in the middle of march, just a few weeks from the league kick-off, and this is the time when most of the Damallsvenskan teams goes on camp. Sub-zero temperatures are still not uncommon in Sweden, particulary for the northern teams, and very few places in Sweden can sport a playable grass field. So the teams take a trip south.

First club to go south was LDB FC Malmö, who had their camp in South Africa in February. But that wasn't enough, so this weekend, they have travelled to Denmark for a short match camp, playing against Fortuna Hjørring and Skovlunde.

Djurgården had, for the second time, their spring camp in Algarve, just the week before the Algarve Cup. This year they were joined by Sunnanå. The place and time for the camp is convenient for the national team players, who only have to change hotels (or in some cases just change rooms) to join their respective national teams for the Cup. It can also give some interesting training match partners. Last year Djurgården defeated China during their Algarve camp and this year Sunnanå was invited by USA to play a friendly the weekend before the Algarve Cup started. Sunnanå were thrilled by the opportunity, but had to turn down the invite, as they had already committed to a match against Djurgården on the same day.

Umeå IK and Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC goes to Turkey this weekend for a week at Umeå's, I think we can call it traditional now, spring camp near Antalya on the south coast. The area is well frequented by teams that have winter breaks in their football seasons and Umeå has also agreed with Russian Rossiyanka to play a friendly.

AIK doesn't travel quite that far, but will spend time in Germany and has scheduled a match with German runners-up FCR 2001 Duisburg on the 27th. Kif Örebro is in Norway this weekend, playing Team Strømmen and Asker, two of Norway's top sides, and goes to Scotland the last weekend in March for a short camp and a match against Glasgow City.

There weren't much TV or press coverage of Algarve Cup this year, much to the disappointment of both fans and players. Eurosport didn't cover the event this year, since the German broadcaster ZDF had bought the German rights. And without Germany, it was difficult for Eurosport to carry the Cup, both financially (Germany is their biggest market) and technically (they claim it is not possible for them to block out their broadcast from german recievers). And with no TV coverage, there is much less interest from the press. So it is hard to know what really happened. It didn't go that well for Sweden, resultwise, but this is on the other hand one of those tournaments where Swedish coaches always states that it is the performance, not the result, that is important.

So how about the performance? Coach Thomas Dennerby said that he was really pleased with the defense. There has been a lot of worry how it will work without retired Hanna Marklund, but the centre defense has been "consistently great, no matter who played". With Karolina Westberg, Stina Segerström, Charlotte Rohlin and Sara Larsson to chose from there shouldn't be any worries. And for those who are interested in possession percentages, Sweden has been able to control the ball most of the time, even against Germany. But in the important last third of the field the play has been slow and without edge. It has been stereotype, with bad movement from the players and very few alternatives to play, says TT's Thomas Eriksson, one of the very few journalists that were at the site. It seems like the only player that has strengthened her position in the Swedish attack is Lotta Schelin. Who didn't play (a minor muscle tear kept her outside the team), but whose absence was very noticeable. And Johanna Almgren looked good the few minutes I saw her against Germany, showing spark and initiative but missing an almost open goal.

Finland - Sweden 1 - 3 (0-2)
Sweden: Kristin Hammarström (Kif Örebro) - Frida Östberg (Umeå), Karolina Westberg (Umeå), Charlotte Rohlin (Linköping), Sara Thunebro (Djurgården) - Nilla Fischer (LDB FC Malmö) - Therese Sjögran (LDB FC Malmö) [72 Josefine Öqvist (Linköping)], Victoria Svensson (Djurgården) [66 Caroline Seger (Linköping)], Johanna Almgren (Göteborg) [87 Anna Paulson (Umeå)] - Hanna Ljungberg (Umeå) [66 Jessica Landström [Linköping]), Therese Lundin (LDB FC Malmö)
Goals: 0-1 Hanna Ljungberg (25), 0-2 Nilla Fischer (28), 1-3 Therese Lundin (87)
It was a lot like another day at the job for Sweden as they dismissed a young Finnish side. They did let Finland back in the game in the second half, letting Kif Örebro's Leena Puranen score, but generally controlled the match.
Hanna Ljungberg's opener was her 72nd international goal, making her Sweden's number 1 goalscorer of all times, passing by Lena Videkull and Pia Sundhage, who both managed 71 in their careers.
Finland is very much in transition right now with a lot of new players. Anne Mäkinen quit the national team 2006, Laura Kalmari gave birth to a daughter last week and both Sanna Valkonen and Jessica Julin has declared that they are taking this year off from the national team.
Svensk fotboll: Finland inga problem för Sverige
Dagens Nyheter: Roligare minnen för Ljungberg

Denmark - Sweden 1 - 0 (1-0)
Sweden: Hedvig Lindahl (Linköping) - Anna Paulson (Umeå), Sara Larsson (Linköping), Stina Segerström (Kif Örebro), Frida Östberg (Umeå) - Caroline Seger (Linköping) [58 Nilla Fischer (LDB FC Malmö)] - Therese Sjögran (LDB FC Malmö) [64 Josefine Öqvist (Linköping)], Victoria Svensson (Djurgården)[75 Sara Thunebro (Djurgården)], Frida Nordin (LDB FC Malmö) [64 Johanna Almgren (Göteborg)] - Therese Lundin (LDB FC Malmö) [58 Hanna Ljungberg (Umeå)], Jessica Landström (Linköping)
While the last three encounters with Denmark has featured Danish ball control and fluent passing with Swedish efficient counters, this was pretty much the opposite. Denmark relied on cautious defending and fast counters, while Sweden were allowed to posses most of the time. The compulsory Danish goal from a header (they have scored this way in every match against Sweden the last year) came already in the 6th minute from Cathrine Paaske Sørensen (later to be named tournament MVP). Against a better organized side than Finland, Sweden's problems to create scoring chances proved fatal. In spite of running the game, they failed to challenge the Danish keeper.
Svenska Dagbladet: Sverige förlorade i Algarve cup

Germany - Sweden 2 - 0 (1-0)
Sweden: Kristin Hammarström (Kif Örebro) - Anna Paulson (Umeå), Sara Larsson (Linköping), Charlotte Rohlin (Linköping), Sara Thunebro (Djurgården) - Nilla Fischer (LDB FC Malmö) - Therese Sjögran (LDB FC Malmö) [71 Johanna Almgren (Göteborg)], Victoria Svensson (Djurgården) [59 Josefine Öqvist (Linköping)], Caroline Seger (Linköping) [71 Frida Östberg (Umeå)] - Hanna Ljungberg (Umeå) [77 Frida Nordin (LDB FC Malmö)], Jessica Landström (Linköping) [59 Maria Aronsson (LDB FC Malmö)]
Just like in the match against Denmark, Sweden was allowed to hold on to the ball but were unable to convert the possession to goals. Germany's first goal in the 25th minute emanted, just like Denmark's, from an offensive throw-in, where Sweden didn't mark their opponents the way they should have if it had been a free-kick. Sandra Smisek could beat her defender and get one-on-one with the keeper. Germany also got a late (86th minute) penalty goal after a situation the referee just as well might have let pass by.
Even if you always want to win, as coach dennerby said, both players and coach were after the match fairly satisfied with the team's performance. Hanna Ljungberg called it "a fall forward" and once again it was the defense that worked best.
Expressen: "Ett fall framåt"
SVT: match clip (video)

Sweden - Italy 3 - 0 (0-0)
Sweden: Hedvig Lindahl (Linköping) - Frida Östberg (Umeå) [49 Anna Paulson (Umeå)], Karolina Westberg (Umeå), Stina Segerström (Linköping), Sara Thunebro (Djurgården) - Caroline Seger (Linköping) [56 Nilla Fischer (LDB FC Malmö)] - Frida Nordin (LDB FC Malmö) [56 Therese Sjögran (LDB FC Malmö)], Therese Lundin (LDB FC Malmö) [56 Victoria Svensson (Djurgården)], Johanna Almgren - Josefine Öqvist (Linköping) [83 Charlotte Rohlin (Linköping)], Maria Aronsson (LDB FC Malmö) [56 Jessica Landström (Linköping)]
Goals: 1-0 Josefine Öqvist (56), 2-0 Victoria Svensson (61), 3-0 Victoria Svensson (80)
A placement match for the 5th place doesn't really get my blood running, and it seemed like the players weren't really up to it either. The first half was probably Sweden's worst in the tournament. Things didn't shape up until Dennerby made a major substitution ten minutes in to the second half, throwing in old reliable players like Victoria Svensson and Therese Sjögran. Sweden will be facing Italy again in May, as they are playing in the same European Championship qualification group, and Dennerby pointed out that the win gives Sweden an advantage: "the Italians knows they will have a tough match and our girls knows they can win".
Dagens Nyheter: "Vickan" hjälte i Algarve

In spite of the on-going Algarve Cup, a lot of training matches was played last week. Most of the teams were handicaped, having to release players to their national teams and often loaned in players from local lower division clubs to fill out the rosters.

Umeå Södra FF - Piteå IF 4 - 3 (3-3)
Umeå Södra: Sara Bjöörns (46 Lisa Eklund) - Anna Rehn, Moa Westermark, Emma Sundberg, Ragna Lestander (75 Maria Lundqvist) - Victoria Forsmark (58 Patricia Hägglund), Hanna Folkesson, Elina Sormunen (58 Maria Wictorsson), Anna Forss - Vanessa Mångsén, Linda Fransson
Goals: 1-2 Anna Rehn, 2-3 Victoria Forsmark, 3-3 Linda Fransson, 4-3 Patricia Hägglund
Umeå Södra were 1-3 behind to 1st division Piteå in the first half, but finally managed to turn it around. The match was played in falling snow and neither team made the on-lookers happy in a match were Södra seemed to lack both game-plan and structured play. Umeå Södra's goalkeeper Minna Meriluoto was with Finland in Algarve (as well as defender Petra Vaelma) and back-ups Sara Björns and Lisa Eklund (loan from Umedalen) filled in. Västerbottens Folkblad: Södra-seger i snöyran

Kif Örebro - Västerås BK 30 2 - 0 (0-0)
Örebro:
Goals: 1-0 Elin Magnusson, 2-0 Lena Andersson
Örebro hosted 1st division newcomers Västerås and had initially problems exploiting their playing advantage. In the second half it paid off, even if a bigger score could have been expected against a team like Västerås. In the absence of Kristin Hammarström (with the national team in Algarve together with Stina Segerström and Finland's Leena Puranen), Örebro had Finnish goalkeeper Minna Kallio trying out. I can't imagine she will be competing with Hammarström, but the club is as far as I know missing a second keeper.
Nerikes Allehanda: Hanna skadad när KIF Örebro vann

AIK - Tyresö 2 - 0 (1-0)
AIK: Jenny de Agé - Elin Karlsson (68 Linda Lekander), Jessica Julin, Linda Sembrant, Linda Lekander (46 Frida Höglund) - Elin Ekblom Bak, Emelie Karlsson-Wedin (46 Sofia Simonsson), Anne Mäkinen, Ingrid Bohlin (58 Anna Bohlin) - Annica Sjölund (58 Freje Egebrant), Emma Lundh
Goals: 1-0 Anne Mäkinen (36), 2-0 Emma Lundh (67)
AIK had a slow and unfocused first half aganist the 1st division team Tyresö, but still got the lead from an Elin Ekblom right wing cross that reached Anne Mäkinen at the far post. In the second half AIK showed a much better attitude, dominated on the field and out-shoot Tyresö 18-2. Still, Aik's accuracy in front of goal still leaves something to wish for, as they only managed to convert one of the many scoring opportunities, Emma Lundh breaking through the defense from the right side. I haven't seen this confirmed by the club, but from other sources it seems like Australia's Lisa De Vanna has agreed to sign and will show up at AIK's camp in Germany later this month. Goalkeeper Jenny de Agé, filling in during Sofia Lundgren's stay in Algarve, is on loan from Brommapojkarna. The club is still looking for a permanent second goalie.
AIK: Ny seger för damlaget

Jitex - Kopparbergs/Göteborg 1 - 1 (0-1)
Göteborg: Jenny Olsson - Marlene Sjöberg, Jane Törnqvist, Jenny Hallstensson (65 Elin Dahl-Örn, Maria Nilsson (65 Sofia Karlsson) - Maria Karlsson, Lisa Ek, Amelie Rybäck - Sofie Andersson, Frida Svensson (55 Catrin Johansson), Emmelie Farfa
Goals: 0-1 Frida Svensson (37)
A really bad match, commented coach Torbjörn Nilsson, nothing worked as planned, no energy in the team. A forget and move on-match. Göteborg had three players in Algarve (Lotta Schelin, Johanna Almgren and Ingvild Stensland) and Jitex is one of the top sides in the 1st division, but they really should have done better anyway. Göteborg: Oavgjort mot Jitex BK

Sunnanå - Åkullsjön 10 - 0 (6-0)
Sunnanå:
Goals: 1-0 Erika Karlsson, 2-0 Linn Lundmark, 3-0 Matilda Forslund, 4-0 Matilda Forslund, 5-0 Carina Holmberg, 6-0 Carina Holmberg, 7-0 Matilda Forslund, 8-0 Linn Lundmark, 9-0 Johanna Lindahl, 10-0 Johanna Lindahl
Sunnanå had a field day against the 2nd division team Åkullsjön and had 18-0 in shots at goal already after the first half. They used the match to try out different formations. Defender Rebacca Smith is still in rehab training and forward Perpetua Nkwocha (playing lympic qualifications with Nigeria) will not arrive in Sweden until the league starts in April.
Norra Västerbotten: Sunnanå krossade Åkullsjön

Hammarby - Eskilstuna 3 - 2 (1-2)
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Malin Broberg, Elin Sölveskog, Karin Lissel, Therese Dahlberg - Jennie Jonsson, Andrea Comaneci - Kicki Bengtsson, Nazanin Vasegphanah, Emma Wall - Lisa Björkvik
Goals: 1-1 Nazanin Vaseghpanah (PK), 2-2 Nazanin Vaseghpanah, 3-2 Hanna Jonasson
Hammarby were pressed hard by 1st division side Eskilstuna United and scored the winner only minutes fom the end.
Hammarby: Hammarby slog Eskilstuna

Stattena - Kristianstad 0 - 4 (0-2)
Kristianstad:
Goals: 1-0 Therese Björck, 2-0 Johanna Jönsson, 3-0 Frida Pettersson, 4-0 Elin Bjerre
Stattena was one of Kristianstad's division 1 competitors last season and, just like they did in their meetings last season, Kristianstad owned this match. Coach Ulf Palmquist was particulary satisfied with his side's speedy attacks. With the exception for Icelandic midfielder Erla Arnadottir (in Algarve), it seems like they could field their full side.
Norra Skåne: KDFF kom igen efter bottennappet

Djurgården - Tyresö 3 - 1 (3-0)
Djurgården: Sofia Åhman - Ann-Marie Norlin, Malin Engdahl, Therese Brogårde, Madelene Göras (72 Freja Hellenberg) - Marijke Callebaut, Linda Forsberg (62 Anna Lagerberth), Anna Hall, Rebecca Johnson - Mia Jalkerud (75 Malin Eriksson), Jennifer Meier
Goals: 1-0 Linda Forsberg, 2-0 Linda forsberg, 3-0 Mia Jalkerud
A fairly crippled Djurgården (five players at Algarve Cup) managed to defeat a hard working Tyresö (1st division), but often lacked power and intensity in the play. Marijke Callebaut looked good in midfield and assisted two of the goals and Linda Forsberg was back from injury, scoroing twice during her sixty minutes on the pitch.
Djurgården: Vinst mot Tyresö