@DandalBs provides us with our weekly round-up of all the news around the Swedish game.
NATIONAL TEAM NEWS:
Sweden have been rocked by the news that goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl will not take part in their friendly matches against USA and Poland over the coming days. There is an outbreak of Covid-19 at her club Atletico Madrid and even if she has not tested positive, she has been exposed to the virus. She was replaced in the squad by Eskilstuna United’s Emma Holmgren.
SWEDISH CUP NEWS:
Eskilstuna United were the first side to qualify for the final after a 4-2 win at Umeå IK FF. It was level pegging, 1-1 at half-time with a goal Rosa Maria Herreros for the hosts and Loreta Kullashi on target for Eskilstuna. The game took a decisive turn in the early stages of the second half when Eskilstuna added further goals from Kaisa Collin and Felicia Rogic (penalty). Whilst Alexandra Sandström’s late goal for Umeå created a period of drama, Fanny Andersson settled Eskilstuna nerves by adding a fourth near the end. Eskilstuna United’s Felicia Rogic said afterwards: "It was pretty tight. We knew it would be this given the game plan and the history we have against Umeå. We actually lost two meetings against them last season. So we're happy with the win."
The second semi-final was extremely hard fought and BK Häcken only saw off Rosengård with a goal from Stina Blackstenius with twelve minutes left. Häcken had the better of the first half, creating six scoring opportunities compared to two from Rosengård who had just two. Häcken came close after sixty-three minutes when Stina Blackstenius got away from the Rosengård defence but Stephanie Labbé in goal dealt with it at the cost of a corner. Blackstenius had better luck fifteen minutes later when she got the ball on the right and she scored. Rosengård were unlucky not to have levelled with five minutes to go but Hanna Bennison was denied by the ball rebounding off of the face of BK Häcken keeper Jennifer Falk.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Kristianstad played out a 1-1 draw against Sweden U23. Cornelia Kapocs scored for Sweden with Miranda Nild on target for Kristianstad.
A BK Häcken side missing at least eight players away on international duty went down to a 5-2 loss to Elitettan (second tier)side Alingsås in midweek. Häcken’s goals were scored by Evelyn Ijeh and Elin Rubensson.
Piteå earned a 3-1 win over Elitettan outfit Umeå. Two goals from Cajsa Hedlund and one from Astrid Larsson were the difference.
NEWS ROUND-UP:
Rosengård have completed the signing of Charlotte Grant from Adelaide United in the W-League, reports Ben Gilby. The 19 year-old defender played a prominent part in the South Australian side’s best ever season in the competition.
“We are very happy to be able to make this enlistment of Charlotte Grant before the transfer window closed,” the club’s Sports Manager Therese Sjögran told the club website. “She is a young and promising player who will hopefully be part of Australia’s Olympic squad this summer. In Grant, we get a technical defender with incredible physique. She will be able to play in all positions in our back line so she will be a really good addition to the squad.”
Speaking about the move, Grant told the FC Rosengård website: “I am very grateful for this opportunity to play for Rosengård. Playing with all these experienced players is something I’m really looking forward to. Now I just want to go over to Sweden and start the season with my new teammates!”
Adelaide United’s Head of Women’s Football, Ivan Karlović told the Australian club’s website: “Charlotte enjoyed another solid season and we feel now is the perfect time for her to test herself in a very strong competition. Charlotte follows in the footsteps of Dylan Holmes who has also made the move to Sweden and we believe that will have a very positive effect on their development as players and in turn benefit the Club moving forward.”
The nineteen year-old has been with Adelaide United since 2018 and has played 34 times for the club across those four seasons. At the present time, the thinking is that she will return to South Australia in time for the 2021/22 W-League campaign in November.
Another arrival from Australia is Noor Eckhoff, the 21 year-old Norwegian defensive midfielder. She has joined Eskilstuna United from Melbourne City on a two year deal.
Bollstanäs from Eliettan (tier two) have taken AIK youngsters Piyatida Somkumpee and Arsema Weldai on loan until the summer transfer window opens 15 July. In return, the Damallsvenkan newcomers have signed Bollstanäs’ 20 year-old offensive player Ema Paljevic.
Elizabeth Addo, a 27 year-old Ghanaian international midfielder who can also play up front, has joined Djurgården from North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
Växjö’s Antonia Göransson has retired. Göransson was a member of Sweden’s bronze winning Women’s World Cup team 2011 and won league and cup honours in Germany. She was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes in 2016 and has since struggled to return to top flight football.
Vittsjö and Canada goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo will make her first start since her knee injury last summer, today against against Växjö.
impetusfootball.org 