Damallsvenskan Newsblog

Sunnanå's Rebecca Smith and Sanna Frostevall will join Newcastle Jets in the new Australian league. The Westfield W-League, as it is called, kicked off it's inaugural season last weekend and will finish in February. "It doesn't interfere with the Swedish season, it will be like a really long training camp", says a happy Sanna Frostevall. The league is a low-cost league and it isn't yet decided if Sanna will get a full time contract or if she will be set up with a part-time day-job.

Frostevall is still negotiating with Sunnanå, but hopes there will be an agreement before she takes the trip to Australia. the New Zealand international Rebecca Smith will however not get a renewed contract with Sunnanå.
"It was a hard decision to make, but we have so many other good defenders already signed for 2009" says sport director Sören Gustafsson. "Rebecca has been a great asset to the team and we wish her luck in the future".
Norra Västerbotten: Frostevall och Smith spelar i Australien
Västerbottens Folkblad: Rebecca Smith lämnar Sunnanå

Another Sunnanå player, the youngest of the Marklund sisters, Mirjam Marklund, has decided to leave the club and top football. The 28 years old leaves after 10 Damallsvenskan seasons.
Norra Västerbotten: Mirre lägger skorna på hyllan

FIFA released the list of candidates for the 2008 FIFA Women's World Player award earlier today. Five of the ten nominees have played in Damallsvenskan this season: Nadine Angerer (Djurgården), Cristiane and Daniela (Linköpings FC), Marta (Umeå IK) and Ingvild Stensland (Kopparbergs/Göteborg).
FIFA: Shortlists for FIFA awards revealed

Three of the nominees for the FIFA award are also listed for awards at the Swedish Football Gala; Angerer, Stensland and Marta. Daniela and Cristiane are not. I can understand the Cristiane decision, since she only played half a season with Linköping. But even if there are a lot of really good competitors for midfielder of the year, I was a bit surprised not to see Daniela among those to compete for the award.

"I have received an offer [from the WPS club Los Angeles Sol], but I don't want to say more than that", says Umeå defender Johanna Frisk to a local newspaper. Marta revealed earlier this week, that she in her negotiations with Los Angeles has asked if they could make an offer to her friend Johanna too.
Johanna Frisk says she wants to think it over, but "it doesn't have to take too much time". She adds that she wants to focus on Umeå's three remaining matches this season, the Swedish Cup final on Saturday and the UEFA Women's Cup quarter finals against Arsenal November 6 and 12, before making any decisions.
Both Johanna and Marta have received contract offers from Umeå as well as Los Angeles. The club has set a deadline for this weekend. Club manager Britta Åkerlund has been pessimistic about the possibilities to keep Marta in the club and that goes for Johanna too.

Former Malmö goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson, who is training with Umeå, says she is interested in the option of playing in the American league and is now looking into what Chicago Red Stars has to offer.
Västerbottenskuriren: Los Angeles vill även ha Frisk

Sunnanå's midfielder Sanna Frostevall has been offered a contract with Newcastle Jets in the Australian W-league. The paperwork between the clubs isn't finished yet, but "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity", says Frostevall, who hopes to be able to take the flight to Australia within short. Part of the lure of the Australian league is that their October to January season hardly interfers with the Swedish one at all. And, Sanna Frostevall points out, it's much more tempting to play football in the Australian summar than having pre-season training in the Swedish winter.
Norra Västerbotten: Lämnar Sanna frosten för att spela i värmen?

Alexandra Nilsson, one of Sunnanå's most wanted young talents, has decided to turn down her suitors and renew her contract with the northern Swedish club. Hanna Marklund's decision to return to the club was an important part of Alexandra's decision: "As a defender I can't wish for anyone better to play with than Hanna Marklund".
Norra Västerbotten: Även Alexandra stannar

Damallsvenskan newcomers Piteå might lose one of their key players. Sweden U18 forward Emelie Lövgren was invited to a try-out with Djurgården the other week, and they were impressed. "They thought it looked good. They want me", said Emelie Lövgren to the local newspaper. Herself, she wants to think a bit about it. "I would probably have to spend a lot of time on the bench in Djurgården".
Norrländska Socialdemokraten: Succéspelaren het hos toppklubben

Kif Örebro's Caroline Näfver and Hanna Pettersson will not get new contracts with the club. Näfver, midfield or full back, got five caps in 2006 as a left back but hasn't managed to return to the national side. Pettersson has been the second best goalscorer in an admittedly very low scoring team. She has been approached by one of the most ambitious 1st division sides, Eskilstuna United. The team's best goalscorer, Maria Nordbrant has been offered a renewed contract by the club and accepted it.
Nerikes Allehanda: Landslagsspelare lämnar Kif Örebro, Eskilstuna United jagar Kif-anfallare

Sunnanå SK has managed to resign their sought-after U23 player Josefin Johansson (Umeå and Malmö has been mentioned as possible addresses for her, had she decided to leave). Interestingly, Sunnanå's disappointing 2008 season has played a role in her decision to stay - she wants the opportunity to get revenge. Full back Sandra Bergsten has also re-signed as has defender Maggie Esseryd.
Norra Västerbotten: "Jossan" och Sandra stannar i Sunnanå, Maggie stannar i SSK

Just promoted Piteå IF tries to find the right players to strengthen their side before the 2009 Damallsvenskan season. They are mainly looking at players with some connection with the small town in the far north. AIK's 27 years old full back Sofia Simonsson is one of those, as she has played for Piteå. Simonsson herself says it could be fun to move back home to play in the top league, but hasn't made up her mind yet. Other players on Piteå's list are Bälinge's defender Nina Engström and LDB FC Malmö's former goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson.
Norrbottenskuriren: Simonsson överväger att flytta hemåt
Norrländska Socialdemokraten: Stjärnjakten har börjat

Caroline Jönsson has been approached by both Sunnanå and Piteå, fairly close to Umeå where she studies. She hasn't figured out what to do with her playing next year yet, and she is interested in a possible offer from the American club Chicago Red Stars, that has aquired her playing rights in the American WPS league. But that seems to depend a lot on whether playing in Chicago would be possible to work with her school schedule. Most of the American season is during the summer vacation, but not all.

The other newcomers, Stattena, has turned to the neighbouring club Kristianstads DFF. On the wish-list are goalkeeper Maria Edman and midfielders Johanna Rosén and Erla Arnadottir. Both Edman and Arnadottir are from Helsingborg and has played for Stattena. They left when Stattena was relegated 2004. At least Edman seems possible to persuade, the more since she is still living in Helsingborg and commutes to Kristianstad. It will probably be harder to convince Rosén, who is team captain and in many ways the heart and soul of the Kristianstad team.
A player that Stattena almost certainly will sign is the young attacker Emma Sjödahl from 1st division side Vittsjö. She has been trying out with the team and says "Damallsvenskan is always your goal".
Kristianstadsbladet: Stattena jagar spelare i KDFF
Norra Skåne: Emma Sjödahl på väg till Stattena

Djurgården announces that they have re-signed three young players; back-up goalkeeper Sofia Åhman and defenders Malin Engdahl och Freja Hellenberg. Engdahl is the only one who has got any significant playing time this year.
Djurgården: Trio fortsätter spela med Djurgården

LDB FC Malmö signs up Icelandic international Dora Stefansdottir for another three years after her current three year contract expires this month.
Skånska Dagbladet: LDB Malmö förlänger med Dóra Stefánsdóttir

AIK's Lisa De Vanna visited Umeå IK as the last thing before she took a flight back to Australia, where she will be playing for Perth in the new Australien W-league. Thw W-league season finishes already in January, so it will not compete much with the Swedish season. She said that she wanted to find out as much as possible about Umeå IK and how it compares to AIK, which seems to be her main alternatives for the 2009 season. She has been drafted by Washington Freedom in the WPS league, but she hasn't been in contact with them yet and said that "it feels like I have more to accomplish in Sweden".
Västerbottens Folkblad: De Vanna på Umeåbesök

Göteborg's coach Torbjörn Nilsson seems more interested to do something about his defense than trying to find someone to replace Lotta Schelin. As I earlier noted here, he has contacted Linköping's goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who has "it's 50/50" between her present club Linköping and Göteborg. Another target is Örebro's national team defender Stina Segerström, who doesn't seem completely uninterested. And they are trying to keep Ingvild Stensland yet another season.
Göteborgsposten: Göteborg FC jagar Örebros landslagsback

Stattena from the south and Piteå from the north won promotion to Damallsvenskan by winning their 1st division series. Both divisions were decided in the last match nad Stattena as well as Piteå were maybe the most likely winners. In Stattena's south division, former Damallsvenskan greats Jitex were almost unanimously tipped to win, while there were several Damallsvenskan hopefuls in the northern. Both clubs have a history in the premier league, but very few seasons and with weak results. The step from the 1st division to Damallsvenskan is big. Both clubs are facing the task to double or triple their spending and finding new quality players for most parts of the team. Clubs that hasn't started to prepare for this already during their last year in the 1st division often finds it overwhealming to remain at the top level.
By the way, if you think Umeå and Sunnanå are in the far north, just check out Piteå. Here's a map.
Helsingborgs Dagblad: Himlen är blå när tjejerna festar
Norrländska Socialdemokraten: Ni har skrivit historia

Umeå IK has set a deadline for Marta's answer on their contract offer for 2009. If she hasn't decided by the end of this month, we will move on to other players, says Umeå's general manager Britta Åkerlund. Marta's agent Fabiano Farah comments that he respects Umeå's schedule, but he and Marta have their own. Farah doesn't give away any details about the negotiations, but says that "both the American league WPS and the Los Angeles club are very eager to get Marta over".
Marta has received offers from, according to her agent, "several clubs in Europe and USA". But she says that if she doesn't join the new American league, she will stay with Umeå.
Marta also tells that she in her discussions with the Los Angeles club has indicated that she would like her best friend (and Umeå defender) Johanna Frisk getting the opportunity to join her in Los Angeles. "That doesn't necessarily mean that Johanna joins me if I go to Los Angeles", she adds, "She makes her own decisions". Umeå's manager Britta Åkerlund says this is news to her. Johanna Frisk is still under contract with Umeå and has recieved an offer for 2009 from the Swedish club.
The Swedish tabloid Expressen has been in contact with Lauren Gregg, who is acting as an advisor to WPS clubs in their contacts with foreign clubs. She says that "the club's ambition is to satisfy that demand as well as other possible contract conditions". "It is reasonable that every player will demand things that are important to them personally" she says and adds that this concerns not only Marta but also other international players.
Västerbottenskuriren: UIK: "Vi går snart vidare med att hitta ersättaren"
Expressen: Martas löfte: Stannar i Umeå - om det inte blir USA, Martas krav till USA: Ta med Frisk, Los Angeles accepterar: Martas vän får kontrakt

Kristrianstads DFF has announced that they have hired Elisabet Gunnarsdottir from Iceland's champions Valur as their new head coach. The 32 years old Gunnarsdottir has coached Valur to four championships during her five years with the club and has also been responsible for Iceland's U21 team and been assistant coach for the senior national side.
Gunnarsdottir says that she has been thinking about an international career and when she heard of the opening in Kristianstad, she sent her résumé to the club. After one meeting with her, Kristianstad's sport director Ulf Berglund was convinced. Gunnarsdottir will be the first foreign coach to work in Damallsvenskan. At least I think so. Am I missing someone?
There has, of course, been some speculation if Gunnarsdottir will bring any of Valur's players with her. Valur's star striker Margret Lara Vidarsdottir, who has already stated that she plans to leave Iceland, is probably high on the wish-list for Kristianstad. But they seem to have competiton from at least Umeå and from Los Angeles in the American league.
Norra Skåne: Isländska tar över rodret i Kristianstads DFF
Kristianstadsbladet: Isländskan på blixtvisit


Other coach news is that Sunnanå's Rainer Eskelinen has quit the club after only one year of his two year contract. He says that he is disappointed with the results (Sunnanå finished 10th after being 5th the 2007 season) and his resigning is a mutual agreement between him and the club.
Norra Västerbotten: Rainer lämnar Sunnanå efter bara ett år


Linköping's Daniel Pettersson has been much more successful in his second year with the club, challenging Umeå almost to the finish line, but will leave. The 35 year old has allegedly been offered a promising non-football job.
Corren: Pettersson slutar i Linköpings FC


LDB FC's Jörgen Pettersson has decided to use his option to stay for a fourth year as head coach. This is in spite of being offered the same job with a men's team in the Superettan, the second level in Sweden's men's league system. He explained that he doesn't think that he has completed his work in Malmö yet and would like to be able to do that.
Sydsvenskan: Petterson stannar och Marta är aktuell igen

Linköping FC - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC  4 - 0 (2-0)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Anna-Kaisa Rantanen, Sara Larsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Ann Westermark, Caroline Seger, Petra Larsson, Maria Karlsson (58 Maja Krantz) - Daniela (82 Lisa Nilsson), Kosovare Asllani (76 Tilda Heimersson)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Camilla Schelin (65 Sofie Andersson), Amelie Rybeck, Jane Törnqvist, Marlene Sjöberg - Lisa Ek, Ingvild Stensland, Maria Karlsson, Johanna Almgren - Linnea Liljegärd (73 Sofia Karlsson), Sara Lindén
Goals: 1-0 Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (6), 2-0 Kosovare Asllani (26), 3-0 Petra Larsson (47), 4-0 Caroline Seger (88)
Attendance: 605
A strong Linköping performance let them dominate throughout the entire match. Göteborg made an effort to change this, making an offensive change after 65 minutes and playing with a 3 player back-line. It didn't help much.


Djurgårdens IF - Umeå IK  3 - 4 (3-3 FT, 2-0 HT)
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Sara Thunebro, Therese Brogårde (117 Mia Jalkerud), Annemarie Norlin, Malin Engdahl - Marijke Callebaut (105 Jennifer Meier), Femke Maes, Victoria Svensson, Anna Hall - Linda Sällström, Rebecca Johnson (79 Anna Lagerberth)
Umeå:
Goals: 1-0 Femke Maes (7), 2-0 Therese Brogårde (25), 2-1 Mami Yamaguchi (52), 3-1 Victoria Svensson (64), 3-2 Johanna Rasmussen (65), 3-3 Marta (75), 3-4 Marta (101)
Attendance: 235
Djurgården has had a slightly erratic season. They have lost to teams like Kristianstad and Hammarby, while they have won points from all the top four teams. They tied the two league matches against Umeå, and were actually closer to victory in at least one. The Swedish Cup semifinal turned out the same way. It was an exciting match, with Umeå clinching the win in extra time. It was also as usual a tight, physical match, four yellow cards, three of them to Umeå. Umeå once again managed to come back from being behind 2-0 and 3-1. In the end it was Umeå's two main weapons that made the difference - mentality and Marta. Frida Östberg explanation after the match, that "we know that we can score a lot of goals". And, of course, Marta played the crucial role in scoring these, after making a rather pale performance in the earlier parts.
Umeå and Linköping will play the Cup final in Linköping on November 1.
Dagens Nyheter: Skadedrabbat DIF missar cupfinal
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta fixade finalplats i förlängningen
Västerbottens Folkblad: Marta tog UIK till final

Bälinge's last Damallsvenskan match, and probably last match ever, finished in a humiliating, but at the same time in a for this season characteristic fashion, a 11-1 defeat. The team has played in Damallsvenskan for the most of the last 15 seasons and finished third as best. A few weeks ago, the club decided to part themselves from their women's senior team, since they realised that they neither had the finances nor the organization to field a team on such a high level.
The idea to let the team live on, by moving it to the major Uppsala sports club, Sirius, was killed by the decision from the Swedish Football Association. The FA explained that you can't take a team from one club and move it to another, while keeping the team's position in the league system. So, if Bälinge's women would move to Sirius, they would lose their 1st division place.
"This is the end for Bälinge", said sports director Conny Sjöberg.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Sjöberg: "Det är slut för Bälinge"

Three Malmö veterans played their last match for the club in the 4-0 win over Kristianstad. Besides star goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson, who will continue playing but not for Malmö, it was 29 years old national team forward Therese Lundin (287 matches for Malmö, 57 caps for Sweden, the last one against Italy in May this year) and 28 years old defender/midfielder Therese Jönsson (326 matches for Malmö, capped at youth level and for the Swedish deaf national team). Put together, the three players have 940 matches for Malmö and almost 30 years playing for the club.
Sydsvenskan: Tre Malmöveteraner tog farväl

Hammarby's team captain Jennie Jonsson also played her last Damallsvenskan match last weekend after four years with the club. Her biggest achievement was the winning the Swedish championship with Djurgården the year before she moved to Hammarby.
Hammarby: Sista natten med gänget

The last day of the season, there was really only two things left to decide: who would win the goal scoring league and which team would finish second and clinch that newly decided extra spot in the UEFA Women's Cup.

If Malmö defeated Kristianstad, Linköping couldn't afford to lose or draw against Hammarby. Both sides took their sweet time to score, maybe a bit taken by the situation, and were both 0-0 in their respective matches at half time. After 60 minutes, Linköping's Daniela finally put an end to the stale mate. Malmö returned with a four minute three goal explosion, but by then they had to rely on Hammarby equalising. That didn't happen. Instead Daniela shot her second goal in the midst of Malmö's scoring. Linköping will be Sweden's second representative in the 2009 UEFA Cup.

Marta had six goals up to Malmö's Manon Melis, leading the goal scoring league with 23 goals. But her team mates had promised to help her catching up. Since Melis was in the stands at Malmö, her fractured jaw hold together with a metal plate, the six goal gap could not grow. And since Umeå's opposition was last place Bälinge, six Marta goals shouldn't be impossible if everyone helped out. It worked fine up to six, placing Marta on a shared first place with 23 goals. She almost scored the 7th, but Bälinge's Veronica Svensson reached the ball and Johanna Rasmussen saw herself forced to score on the rebound. Still, top goalscorer is top goalscorer, even if you have to share the title.

You can see the final league standings at svenskfotboll.se, as well as the goal scorer league, the assist league, goalkeeper league and attendance averages.


Djurgården - Umeå Södra FF  2 - 0 (1-0)
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Malin Engdahl, Annemarie Norlin, Therese Brogårde, Freja Hellenberg - Anna Hall (62 Mia Jalkerud), Victoria Svensson, Femke Maes, Sara Thunebro - Linda Sällström (77 Anna Lagerberth), Rebecca Johnson (59 Marijke Callebaut)
Umeå Södra: Minna Meriluoto - Anna Rehn, Petra Vaelma, Kristin Åberg, Ragna Lestander - Patricia Hägglund (76 Maria Wictorsson), Hanna Folkesson, Emme Sundberg, Anna Forss (54 Elina Sormunen) - Victoria Forsmark, Vanessa Mångsén (87 Fanta Cooper)
Goals: 1-0 Victoria Svensson (40), 2-0 Linda Sällström (63)
Attendance: 250



Umeå IK - Bälinge IF  11 - 1 (4-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Emma Berglund, Frida Östberg - Emma Åberg-Zingmark, Mami Yamaguchi (57 Johanna Frisk), Hanna Ljungberg (46 Lisa Dahlkvist) - Johanna Rasmussen, Madeleine Edlund (65 Sofia Jacobsson), Marta
Bälinge: Veronica Svensson - Julia Lyckberg, Temryss Lane, Nina Engström, Julia Bhy - Karolina Mats, Linda Blom (78 Moa Lina Mattsson), Emma Lindqvist, Emilia Appelqvist, Katri Nokso-Koivisto - Sarah Storck (73 Emma Jonsson)
Goals: 1-0 Hanna Ljungberg (9), 2-0 Madeleine Edlund (21), 3-0 Marta (30), 4-0 Marta (42), 5-0 Marta (56), 5-1 Katri Nokso-Koivisto (59), 6-1 Madeleine Edlund (61), 7-1 Johanna Rasmussen (70), 8-1 Marta (77), 9-1 Marta (79), 10-1 Marta (82 PK), 11-1 Johanna Rasmussen (90)
Attendance: 3,472

Västerbottenskuriren: Sex mål förde upp Marta i topp
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK avslutade strålande
Expressen: Dyster avskedsfest för Bälinge

LDB FC Malmö - Kristianstads DFF  4 - 0 (0-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Lina Nilsson (67 Dora Stefansdottir), Christina Ørntoft, Emma Wilhelmsson, Nera Smajic - Nilla Fischer, Therese Jönsson - Therese Lundin (63 Frida Nordin), Therese Sjögran, Pavlina Scasna - Maria Aronsson (60 Emma Stålhammar)
Kristianstad: Sandra Wahldén - Johanna Jönsson, Kia McNeil, Johanna Rosén, Carolin Ericsson - Erla Arnadottir (89 Alissa Oldenkamp), Therese Björck, Sofie Persson, Angelique Sandberg (70 Pernilla Falk) - Susanne Moberg, Frida Pettersson (79 Antonia Göransson)
Goals: 1-0 Emma Stålhammar (73), 2-0 Pavlina Scasna (74), 3-0 Nilla Fischer (77), 4-0 Emma Stålhammar (90)
Attendance: 660



Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC - AIK  0 - 5 (0-1)
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Elin Dahl-Örn, Jane Törnqvist, Maria Karlsson, Marlene Sjöberg - Sofie Andersson (75 Catrine Johansson), Sofia Karlsson (75 Kajsa Dunér Mazolaqi), Ingvild Stensland, Emmelie Farfa - Sara Lindén, Carin Berling (63 Camilla Schelin)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Sofia Simonsson, Frida Höglund, Linda Sembrant (85 Jessica Julin), Linda Lekander - Emelie Karlsson Wedin, Louise Fors, Anne Mäkinen, Emma Lundh - Annica Sjölund, Kate Gill (62 Laura Kalmari)
Goals: 0-1 Annica Sjölund (16), 0-2 Annica Sjölund (52), 0-3 Kate Gill (58), 0-4 Laura Kalmari (81), 0-5 Annica Sjölund (93)
Attendance: 483

Göteborgsposten: Skamligt dåligt Göteborg

Hammarby IF - Linköping FC  0 - 3 (0-0)
Hammarby: Kathrin Lehmann - Anna Lindblom, Karin Lissel, Malin Nilsson, Annica Svensson -Jennie Jonsson, Madeleine Tegström (67 Tempest-Marie Norlin) - Nazanin Vaseghpanah, Hodan Siid-Ahmed, Kristin Bengtsson - Sara Johansson (40 Lisa Björkvik)
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Anna-Kaisa Rantanen, Sara Larsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Marie-Louise Skålberg - Daniela (77 Ann Westermark), Caroline Seger, Petra Larsson, Maria Karlsson (84 Petronella Ekeroth) - Josefine Öqvist (62 Tilda Heimersson), Kosovare Asllani
Goals: 0-1 Daniela (59), 0-2 Daniela (75), 0-3 Own goal (80)
Attendance: 413



Kif Örebro - Sunnanå SK  2 - 1 (2-0)
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericsson-Jogsten, Sanna Valkonen, Stina Segerström, Marina Pettersson - Maria Nordbrandt, Lena Andersson (68 Caroline Näfver), Elin Magnusson, Marie Hammarström - Susanna Lehtinen (89 Emma Fogelkvist), Kim Ekebom (57 Marie Stålberg)
Sunnanå: Eva Nilsson - Alexandra Nilsson, Rebecca Smith, Sanna Frostevall, Sandra Berggren - Magdalena Esseryd, Carina Holmberg, Josefin Johansson, Matilda Forslund - Lisa Renberg (46 Johanna Lindahl), Lina Johansson (46 Mirjam Marklund, 59 Åsa Berglund)
Goals: 1-0 Kim Ekebom (7), 2-0 Elin Magnusson (42), 2-1 Carina Holmberg (76)
Attendance: 588

Umeå IK's manager Andrée Jeglertz admits that Linköping's Josefine Öqvist is one of his targets, when he's planning Umå's roster for 2009: "She is a very interesting player. The way we play, she would fit in very well". Öqvist, whose contract with Linköping runs out after this season, says that she is also talking to Linköping and that they've agreed to wait with any decisions until the season in completed. But she says that the possibility for Linköping to play UEFA Women's Cup next year - UEFA will probably expand the competition with a second team from the top leagues - and which of her team mates that decides to renew their contracts are factors that will influence her decision.

Several other clubs are tugging at Linköping's key players. Umeå's plans might include Kosovare Asllani, who also has recieved attention from Malmö. Djurgården has shown interest in Anna-Kaisa Rantanen and then of course the American WPS league has drafted Brazilian midfielder Daniela. And the club offering a move to goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl is Göteborg FC. If all these should leave Linköping, they're in for a difficult 2009. But I doubt it will end that way.
Corren: "Öqvist skulle passa bra hos oss"
Västerbottenskuriren: UIK vill ha Linköpings stjärnor

Bälinge IF - Djurgården  0 - 4 (0-3)
Bälinge:
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Freja Hellenberg, Therese Brogårde, Anne-Marie Norlin, Malin Engdahl (46 Marijke Callebaut) - Sara Thunebro (75 Anna Lagerberth), Femke Maes, Victoria Svensson, Anna Hall - Linda Sällström (71 Rebecca Johnson), Mia Jalkerud
Goals: 0-1 Victoria Svensson, 0-2 Linda Sällström, 0-3 Sara Thunebro, 0-4 Sara Thunebro
Attendance: 153
Djurgården scored 3 goals in the first 11 minutes of the Swedish Cup quarter final at Bälinge. They continued to create chances, but after the first 30 minutes Bälinge began to stand up better and managed a decent performance in the second, at least defensively. They had, as they have had the entire season, huge problems challenging in the attack.
Djurgården advances to the Cup semifinals, where they will meet Umeå IK.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinges sista hemmamatch slut efter tio minuter
Djurgården: Vinst i cup-kvarten

Kif Örebro's national team centre back Stina Segerström has been talking with Kopparbergs/Göteborg about changing teams. Stina confirms that, but says that she will not make any comments about her future until the season is finished. Göteborg's head coach Torbjörn Nilsson says that she has announced his intentions to Örebro's management and calls the Örebro defender "a rock".

Rickard Holmlund, Kif Örebro's coach, says that he is interested in signing 20 years old goalscorer Erika Blomstrand. Blomstrand has scored 15 goals in the 1st division, where she plays for Eskilstuna United.
Nerikes Allehanda: Segerström bekräftar Göteborgs intresse, Kif Örebro jagar ung skyttedrottning

Hanna Folkesson, 20 years old midfielder in relegated Umeå Södra, will mosty likely continue to play in Damallsvenskan. Several clubs are said to be interested, among them Örebro, AIK, Hammarby and Sunnanå. And, the maybe most interesting alternative, Umeå IK. But, Hanna says, she hasn't got any contract proposal yet.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Hanna hett villebråd

Sunnanå's U23 player JosefinJohansson is said to be wanted by both Linköping and LDB Malmö. She comments that "It's very flattering that teams like that are interested", but might very well stay in Sunnanå. And sport director Sören Gustafsson knows about the interest for his midfielder and says the club will make a big effort to keep her.
Norra Västerbotten: Johansson stekhet på marknaden

And finally, there is some speculation if the current financial crisis in USA (and the world) would make the USA league investors more unwilling to put up big money to sign Marta. That could benefit Umeå, but on the other hand, as Umeå general manager Britta Åkerlund says, Swedish investors would be more cautious too.

There is also talk about Iceland's Margret Lara Vidarsdottir going to Umeå. She doesn't commit to anything, but says that it is an opportunity for her. Vidarsdottir is just as Marta drafted by the Los Angeles club.
SVT: Finanskris kan rädda Marta kvar i Umeå (video)

Kristianstads DFF - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC  3 - 2 (1-1)
Kristianstad: Sandra Wahldén - Maria Åhlund (70 Johanna Jönsson), Kia McNeil, Ifeoma Dieke, Carolin Ericsson - Angelique Sandberg, Sofie Persson, Johanna Rosén, Erla Arnadottir - Frida Pettersson, Susanne Moberg
Göteborg: Sandra Bjurteg - Elin Dahl-Örn, Amelie Rybeck, Jane Törnqvist, Marlene Sjöberg (77 Carin Bertling) - Sofie Andersson, Maria Karlsson, Ingvild Stensland (73 Sofia Karlsson), Emmelie Farfa - Sara Lindén, Linnea Liljegärd (63 Johanna Almgren)
Goals: 1-0 Frida Pettersson (14), 1-1 Emmelie Farfa (27), 1-2 Emmelie Farfa (51), 2-2 Angelique Sandberg (66), 3-2 Johanna Rosén (80)
Attendance: 575

Kristianstadsbladet: Rosén avgjorde för KDFF
Göteborgsposten: Cupen Göteborgs enda tröst


Bälinge IF - LDB FC Malmö  0 - 3 (0-2)
Bälinge: Veronica Svensson - Julia Lyckberg, Nina Engström, Temryss Lane, Julia Bhy - Lisa Lantz (75 Moa Lina Mattsson), Emilia Appelqvist, Karolina Mats, Katri Nokso-Koivisto - Sarah Storck, Emma Lindqvist
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Emelie Öhlander, Christina Örntoft, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson (46 Nera Smajic) - Therese Lundin, Therese Jönsson (78 Dora Stefansdottir), Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Emma Stålhammar (72 Michaela Johnsson) - Pavlina Scasna
Goals: 0-1 Therese Sjögran (19), 0-2 Therese Sjögran (22), 0-3 Christina Örntoft (62)
Attendance: 257

Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinges 16:e raka förlust: "Viker oss inte"
Sydsvenskan: Lätt LDB-seger mot Bälinge


Sunnanå SK - Djurgården  1 - 0 (0-0)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Sandra Berggren, Sanna Frostevall, Rebecca Smith, Alexandra Nilsson - Matilda Forslund (70 Elin Lundholm), Erika Karlsson, Josefin Johansson, Carina Holmberg (62 Johanna Lindahl) - Mirjam Marklund (79 Lisa Renberg), Lina Johansson
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Malin Engdahl, Anne-Marie Norlin, Therese Brogårde (87 Mia Jalkerud), Sara Thunebro - Linda Sällström, Anna Hall, Femke Maess, Rebecca Johnson (80 Freja Hellenberg) - Jennifer Meier (56 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson
Goals: 1-0 Lisa Renberg (89)
Attendance: 303

Norra Västerbotten: Sunnanå slog Djurgården – matchen minut för minut

Umeå IK - Alma KTZH  6 - 0 (6-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulson, Johanna Frisk, Emma Berglund, Frida Östberg, - Mami Yamaguchi (46 June Pedersen), Lisa Dahlqvist, Emelie Konradsson - Marta (46 Madeleine Edlund), Ramona Bachmann, Johanna Rasmussen (60 Elin Landström)
Goals: 1-0 Marta (6), 2-0 Ramona Bachmann (10), 3-0 Ramona Bachmann (15), 4-0 Ramona Bachmann (29), 5-0 Marta (32), 6-0 Johanna Rasmussen (36)
Attendance:
A perfect first half for Umeå, fast, efficient play, lots of finishes and six goals. The second half was more controlled and Umeå took the opportunity to rest some key players while junior Elin Landström got to make her debut for the first team.
SVT: UIK:s mål mot Alma (video)

Hanna Marklund is back! In her blog at the local newspaper Västerbottens Folkblad, she announces today that she will play the next Damallsvenskan season for Sunnanå. Hanna gave birth to a daughter, Elma, this summer.

"When I finished playing, I thought I was done with football. But now when I have my motivation back and the child is borned, there is no reason not to play."

She thinks it will be perfect to be on maternity leave from her day-job and play for Sunnanå. She's really looking forward to play again and is longing for the preseason training in January 2009.

She has signed a one year deal with her club Sunnanå, but it might be more years, she says. Sören Gustafsson from the club management is more than pleased that Hanna Marklund has decided to return to the game: "It's fantastic! She's got great leadership qualities and still has a lot to contribute with on the field".

Asked if she had been thinking about the national team, Hanna answered that she hasn't and she wasn't ready to make any decisions about it yet. National team coach Thomas Dennerby was delighted to hear that Hanna will make a come-back: "She is a fantastic player", but was pretty neutral to the national team come-back question: "All good players are interesting", but didn't rule out having a mother playing for the national team "Just look at USA's centre backs [Rampone and Markgraf]. They are both back after having children."

Västerbottens Folkblad: Comeback, Hanna Marklund gör comeback i Sunnanå
Norra Västerbotten: Hanna gör comeback
SVT: Marklund gör comeback i Sunnanå (video interview, with baby)

Bälinge's women's team has had a difficult season, both result-wise and financially. Today the club, at an extra general assembly, made the decision to part themselves from their women's Damallsvenskan team. "We neither have the finances nor the organisation to keep this up", Bälinge's sport director Conny Sjöberg said. He explained that Bälinge is a local, grassroots club from the country side outside Uppsala and has the main task to run activities for youth and children. "A couple of years ago you could combine this with a top level women's team, but not any longer", said Sjöberg. "The costs for running a Damallsvenskan team has exploded the last years".

The decision seems dramatic and surprising, but the club has discussed this for some time. The idea is to let the women's team form a new club, which then will seek cooperation or even incorporation with the biggest Uppsala football club, Sirius FK. Bälinge has been in contact with Sirius to discuss the solution. Both Sirius chairman Lasse Svensson and marketing director Johan Gille commented cautiously positively, but stressed that their board must make the decision.

Bälinge's current coach Zaine Söderlund, who will leave the club after this season, showed enthusiasm over the possible solution. He said that a club like Bälinge doesn't have the organisation needed to run a Damallsvenskan team, while associating with a club like Sirius could help a lot.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge Dam lägger ner elitsatsning - vill bli Sirius
Radiosporten: Bälinge damfotboll lägger ner

The second group stage of the UEFA Women's Cup is played at, among other places, Umeå. Umeå plays Valur from Reykjavik on Iceland, Bardolino from Verona in Italy and Alma KTZH from Khazakstan. Bardolino defeated Alma 2-1 in the other group match. It looks like Umeå has been taking the drivers seat here.

Umeå IK - Valur Reykjavik 5 - 1 (3-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Frida Östberg, Johanna Frisk, Emma Berglund, Anna Paulsson - Lisa Dahlkvist, Mami Yamaguchi (82 June Pedersen), Hanna Ljungberg (72 Emelie Konradsson) - Johanna Rasmussen, Madelaine Edlund (66 Ramona Bachman), Marta
Goals: 1-0 Hanna Ljungberg (10), 2-0 Hanna Ljungberg (29), 3-0 Hanna Ljungberg (41), 3-1 Margret Lara Vidarsdottir (51), 4-1 Madelaine Edlund (52), 5-1 Marta (76).
Attendance:
In thirty first half minutes Hanna Ljungberg scored three goals on Valur, effectively closing the game. Almost everything went in against a somewhat shaky Icelandic defense. "But I had some luck too" a very happy Hanna said after the match.
Valur played a conservative 4-5-1, prepared to spend a lot of time defending, but were very passive, letting Umeå direct the game. Umeå could beat them by moving the ball around with a lot of speed.
Valur's only threat to Umeå, striker Margret Lara Vidarsdottir, showed her class but was mostly caught in Umeå''s offside traps.
Västerbottenskuriren: Hanna sänkte imponerade islänningar
SVT: Match clip

Manon Melis, leading goalscorer in the league and a key player with LDB FC Malmö and the Dutch national team, suffered a serious injury in the cup match at Göteborg last night. In a collision with Göteborg's keeper Sandra Bjurteg, she fractured her jaw bone. She was immediately rushed off to a nearby hospital, that made the diagnose. She has today been operated at the university hospital in Malmö. The Malmö club announces in a press release that the fracture will take five weeks to heal, which counts out Melis for the rest of the season. This might not worry the Malmö club much - their remaining two matches are against fairly weak competition - but she will surely be missed by Holland, that has two play-off matches to play against Spain for a spot at the 2009 European Championships.
Aftonbladet: Här bryter hon käkbenet
Sydsvenskan: Manon Melis missar resten av säsongen

The cup match wasn't only a close fought match, that almost went to a penalty shoot-out. It also saw an unusual amount of injuries. Besides Melis, Göteborg's regular goalie Jenny Olsson left after only 17 minutes with a thigh injury, while Göteborg defender Amelie Rybeck and Malmö midfielder Therese Sjögran left with what looked like muscle injuries later in the match. You can tell it's been a long season.

Often players endures pain in muscles and joints during the season, but use the off-season to go to the surgeon and get that knee or tendon fixed. It seems like that was what Djurgården's Ariane Hingst had planned for her knee. But lately the swollowing hasn't receded between games and yesterday she went on the operation table. The surgeon fixed a smaller meniscus damage and a worse than expected to the knee cartilage. Ari will have to use crutches for the next six weeks before she can start her rehab training. And obviously she won't play any of Djurgården's remaining matches.
Djurgården: Ariane Hingst borta resterande matcher

Another Djurgården player, Sweden national team mifdfielder Linda Forsberg, was treated for a meniscus damage last week. Early reports suggests that only a couple of weeks rehab will be needed. Still, that probably means that she too has finished playing for the season.
Djurgården: Knäopererad Linda Forsberg

Sweden and Linköping forward Jessica Landström hurt her knee (cartilage damage) during Sweden's recent match against Ireland. The operation went well and three to six months rest will be needed before she can strat tarining again. No more matches for her either this season.
Expressen: Säsongen över för Jessica Landström

Ifeoma Dieke, Kristianstad's Scottish defender, has been drafted by the WPS club Chicago Red Stars in the general draft that was performed earlier today. This could put a dent in southern Swedish club's ambitions to re-sign her for the 2009 season. This is still pretty fresh news, so no comments from any of the involved yet.
The general draft also included former Bälinge player Joanna Lohman, who was drafted by St Louis. Lohman left Bälinge mid-season with a persistant back injury, and it sounded like the injury possibly could be career-ending. Good for her if that turned out to be wrong.
The general draft was the third event for distribution of player rights between the WPS clubs, following the allocation of US national team players and the international draft. The next draft will be in January 2009.
WPS: WPS General Draft Results
Norra Skåne: Dieke till Chicago

Kif Örebro - Umeå Södra FF  3 - 1 (0-1)
Örebro: Kristin Hammarström - Ingrid Ericson-Jogsten, Stina Segerström, Sara Fröjdfeldt, Susanna Lehtinen - Maria Nordbrant (67 Leena Puranen), Lena Andersson (82 Emma Fogelkvist), Marie Hammarström, Caroline Näfver (67 Sara Fogelkvist) - Hanna Pettersson, Elin Magnusson
Umeå Södra: Jessica Lundberg - Ragna Lestander, Petra Vaelma, Moa Westermark (62 Maria Wictorsson), Kristin Åberg - Anna Forss (73 Ellinor Andersson), Elina Sormunen, Emma Sundberg, Patricia Hägglund - Victoria Forsmark, Linda Fransson (68 Maria Lundqvist)
Goals: 0-1 Victoria Forsmark (6), 1-1 Maria Nordbrant (54), 1-2 Hanna Pettersson (57), 3-1 Hanna Pettersson (63)
Attendance: 422
Already relegated Umeå Södra is now playing mostly for their pride. But that isn't the worst thing to motivate you. After taking the lead with an early goal from Victoria Forsmark, replacing Jennifer Nobis in the attack, they stayed ahead for 50 minutes. But Kif Örebro is a stronger side and in the second half their work gave result. In a nine minute scoring explosion, they decided the match. Two of the goals headers by Hanna Pettersson. Örebro created a couple more really good chances, including a penalty kick by Marie Hammarström that Umeå goalie Jessica Lundberg caught.
Nerikes Allehanda: Nio heta minuter räckte för Kif Örebro, pictures

Sunnanå managed to draw Linköping in their early afternoon home match. This meant that Umeå could walk on the pitch for their late afternoon home match against Kristianstad, knowing that a win would also give them the 2008 Damallsvenskan championship. Linköping is now, after Umeå's convincing win, seven points behind Umeå and only have two matches left to play.
Malmö defeated AIK at home, putting them only two points behind Linköping. Linköping might lose the silver medal too if they continue performing like they did against Sunnanå.

Sunnanå SK - Linköping FC  2 - 2  (1-1)
Sunnanå: Åsa Berglund - Sandra Berggren, Mirjam Marklund, Alexandra Nilsson, Magdalena Esseryd - Matilda Forslund (80 Kristina Wiklund), Erika Karlsson, Josefin Johansson, Carina Holmberg (80 Johanna Lindahl) - Lisa Renberg, Lina Johansson
Linköping: Hedvig Lindahl - Maja Krantz (83 Tilda Heimersson), Sara Larsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen - Petra Larsson, Daniela, Caroline Seger, Maria Karlsson (20 Ann Westermark) - Josefine Öqvist, Kosovare Asllani
Goals: 0-1 Petra Larsson (35), 1-1 Lisa Renberg (45), 1-2 Josefine Öqvist (58 PK), 2-2 Lina Johansson (61)
Attendance: 314
Linköping came to Sunnanå without forward star Jessica Landström, who suffered a knee injury in Sweden's match against Ireland last week and probably won't play any more this season. Already after twenty minutes they lost another national team player, midfielder Maria Karlsson. Linköping still managed to take the lead twice, but Sunnanå played tough and physical and won most ball duels and should not feel lucky getting a draw.
Sunnanå's captain Lina Johansson, who headed in the final equaliser, stressed that they didn't play to help Umeå: "Umeå and Linköping has decided the title race themselves - we are playing for our own pride".
Norra Västerbotten: Sunnanå spelade guldet till Umeå
Expressen: Dubbla bakslag för Linköping


Djurgården - Bälinge  6 - 0  (3-0)
Djurgården: Nadine Angerer - Malin Engdahl, Ann-Marie Norlin, Therese Brogårde, Anna Hall - Linda Sällström (81 Mia Jalkerud), Femke Maes, Ariane Hingst (60 Rebecca Johnson), Sara Thunebro - Jennifer Meier (74 Anna Lagerberth), Victoria Svensson
Bälinge: Veronica Svensson - Julia Lyckberg, Temryss Lane, Nina Engström, Lisa Lantz (63 Linda Blom) - Sara Storck, Karolina Mats, Emilia Appelqvist, Julia Bhy, Katri Nokso-Koivisto (69 Jenny Jansson) - Emma Lindqvist (74 Emma Jonsson)
Goals: 1-0 Victoria Svenson (11 PK), 2-0 Sara Thunebro (23), 3-0 Sara Thunebro (42), 4-0 Linda Sällström (58), 5-0 Jennifer Meier (60), 6-0 Victoria Svensson (91)
Attendance: 227

Upsala Nya Tidning: Bälinge utklassades av Djurgården


LDB FC Malmö - AIK  1 - 0  (0-0)
Malmö: Caroline Jönsson - Dora Stefansdottir, Christina Örntoft, Emma Wilhelmsson, Nera Smajic - Lina Nilsson (79 Therese Lundin), Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Emma Stålhammar - Manon Melis, Maria Aronsson (67 Therese Jönsson)
AIK: Sofia Lundgren - Sofia Simonsson, Linda Sembrant, Frida Höglund - Emma Lundh, Louise Fors (84 Annica Sjölund), Elin Ekblom Bak, Anne Mäkinen, Linda Lekander (81 Kate Gill) - Lisa De Vanna, Laura Kalmari (69 Emelie Karlsson Wedin)
Goals: 1-0 Manon Melis (79)
Attendance: 417
In spite of the cold, wet and windy weather and the water-drenched pitch both sides managed give the tiny crowd a good show. AIK challenged the home side, particularly in the first half and Lisa De Vanna was a constant menace for Malmö's defense. Not until some time into the second half did the hosts manage to take some control of the midfield and it wasn't completely unexpected when Manon Melis scored her 23 league goal close to ten minutes from time. AIK didn't give up and had a possible penalty waved away in the last minutes.
Sydsvenskan: LDB FC Malmö vann mot AIK


Umeå IK - Kristianstads DFF  8 - 0 (2-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Johanna Frisk, Frida Östberg - Lisa Dahlkvist, Hanna Ljungberg (59 Emelie Konradsson), Mami Yamaguchi (71 Emma Berglund) - Marta, Madeleine Edlund, Johanna Rasmussen (65 Ramona Bachmann)
Kristianstad: Sandra Wahldén - Maria Åhlund (59 Johanna Jönsson), Kia McNeil, Ifeoma Dieke, Carolin Ericsson - Erla Arnadottir (70 Pernilla Falk), Therese Björck, Sofie Persson, Angelique Sandberg (59 Antonia Göransson) - Susanne Moberg, Frida Pettersson
Goals: 1-0 Marta (11), 2-0 Anna Paulsson (20), 3-0 Johanna Rasmussen (51), 4-0 Marta (62), 5-0 Johanna Rasmussen (64), 6-0 Madeleine Edlund (79), 7-0 Frida Östberg (80), 8-0 Emelie Konradsson (91)
Attendance: 1,202
In spite of being thoroughly out-played by Umeå, Kristianstad were only two goals down after the first half and even had some ambitions to reduce the deficit. But after Umeå's third goal it looked like they capitulated and Umeå, in celebration mood already after their first goal, could play out and show their superiority on all parts of the field.
SVT: The first maybe 6 minutes of the Sunday sports news show was dedicated to Umeå's title win, start about 30 seconds into the clip (video).
Norra Skåne: KDFF chanslöst mot mästarna
Västerbottenskuriren: Överlägset när Umeå tog sjunde guldet

Kif Örebro's head coach Richard Holmlund, the coach that took Umeå IK to their first Swedish and UEFA Cup titles, has accepted an offer to resign with his current club. The contract is for two more seasons.
The club has also managed to tie their young attacker Kim Ekebom, a Swedish U-19 player, to the club on a multi-year contract.
Nerikes Allehanda: Två år till i Kif Örebro för Richard Holmlund

Hammarby's head coach Anders Bengtsson has decided to resign from his post and will be replaced by his assistant, Daniel Kalles-Pettersson. The club's sport director Annelie Norén will take on the duties as assistant coach while keeping her job in the club office.
Expressen: Assistent blir huvudansvarig i Hammarby

Umeå IK's goalkeeper Ulla-Karin Rönnlund has decided to sign a new contract with her club. The mother of two said it was a hard decision to make, but Umeå's offer to make her a full-time professional bacame the tie-breaker. Umeå's manager Andrée Jeglertz said he's happy to have two good keepers, Rönnlund and Carola Söberg, who signed a couple of weeks ago. "No other team has two that good goalkeepers", he said and added that LDB FC Malmö's goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson, who lives and studies in Umeå, no longer is interesting for the club.
Västerbottenskuriren: Ulla-Karin blir heltidsproffs

There are five players who hasn't renewed their contract. Two of them are Hanna Ljungberg and Frida Östberg. the only remaining players from Umeå's great generation with Malin Moström, Hanna Marklund et al. They are both undecided if they want to continue to play at this level. Frida Östberg said that it is a big decision and she wants to make sure she makes the right one. Hanna Ljungberg, for once free from injuries, enjoys playing and training, but is still not sure about the future.
Västerbottenskuriren: Hanna och Frida osäkra på framtiden

Sweden - Ireland  1 - 0 (1–0)
Sweden: Caroline Jönsson – Frida Östberg, Stina Segerström, Charlotte Rohlin, Sara Thunebro – Jessica Landström (67 Kosovare Asllani), Lisa Dahlqvist, Nilla Fischer (67 Caroline Seger), Therese Sjögran (79 Nazanin Vaseghpanah) – Lotta Schelin, Madelaine Edlund.
Goals: 1–0 Madelaine Edlund (42).
Attendance: 1,083
After having secured qualification already this summer, Sweden's goal for the remaining two matches has been to win every match and not concede any goals. Defeating Ireland on a cold and windy evening 1-0 acomplished that goal, 8 straight wins and 31-0 in goals. The match wasn't much to brag about. Head coach Thomas Dennerby admitted that: "We were only playing at 60 % of our capacity" and Ireland, trying hard to get a 0-0 draw, were successful in bringing down the pace of the game.
The lone goal came from a corner-kick by Therese Sjögran that landed on Madeleine Edlund's foot, Edlund standing almost on the goalline.
Hammarby's Nazanin Vaseghpanah subbed in for Therese Sjögran late in the second half, making her the fourth player to earn her first cap in these two last qualification matches.
Expressen: Sverige till EM - utan insläppt mål
SVT: Edlund stod rätt - sänkte Irland

Umeå IK has declared that they see AIK's Lisa De Vanna as the one to replace Marta, if the Brazilian star decides to leave Umeå after five years with the club.
”It would be very flattering if they wanted to sign me” comments the Australian striker. De Vanna says that it is likely that she will stay in Sweden and she is very impressed by Umeå. ”It is one of the best clubs in the world and they show an impressing seriosity in everything they do”. De Vanna's has had a great season with her present club AIK, a club that at the moment are close to doing their best season ever. But that's not quite enough for De Vanna: ”You want golds and titles and I want that with my club team too.”
But AIK will of course try to keep her in Stockholm. ”I think we have the finances for it” says sport director Peter Johansson. And there is one thing that favoures the Stockholm club: ”It's been really cold today” De Vanna told the reporter in the mild autumn weather Stockholm, ”and I guess it's not any warmer in Umeå”.
Västerbottenskuriren: de Vanna vill till UIK

There is also a third party that has declared it's interest in De Vanna; the American club Washington Freedom has aquired the playing rights for De Vanna in the new WPS league. And there is an unsubstantiated rumour that LDB FC Malmö has Lisa De Vanna on their list over potential recruitment together with Marta and Kosovare Asllani, the two latter confirmed.