Ben Gilby provides a round-up of the Svenska Cupen Semi-Finals and reveals the latest arrival to Vittsjö from the A-League Women in Australia (22/3/22).
Above: Rosengård’s Australian international Charli Grant (right) in possession in her team’s Svenska Cupen Semi-Final against Eskilstuna United at the weekend. Photo: FC Rosengård.
BK Häcken will face Rosengård in the Svenska Cupen Final on 26th May after winning won their respective semi-finals against Hammarby and Eskilstuna United at the weekend.
Häcken came from behind to claim a 2-1 win in extra time at Hammarby despite playing the last eight minutes with 10 players after Anna Cski received her second yellow card.
It started so well for the home side as Matilda Vinberg put Hammarby ahead after being fed by Emma Westin after just 12 minutes. The Stockholm-based side held their lead until three minutes before the break when Swedish international Stine Larsen levelled.
A tight game that saw Hammarby edge the shots on target by eight to seven went into extra time. Four minutes into the second period of the additional 30, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored the winner for Häcken. There was still late drama which gave hope to the majority of the 905 crowd when referee Lovisa Johansson showed Anna Cski her second yellow of the match. But Häcken were able to play out the final eight minutes without conceding to take their place in the final.
In Sunday’s second semi-final, Rosengård got past last year’s beaten finalists Eskilstuna United thanks to Mimmi Larsson’s goal after just 15 minutes.
Ultimately, the defending Damallsvenskan champions, who fielded the likes of Swedish national team stars Caroline Segar and Olivia Schough along with Australian internationals Teagan Micah and Charli Grant were just too strong.
Eskilstuna can take positives from another strong Cup run ahead of the new league season which kicks off next weekend.
TRANSFER NEWS:
Danish international Mie Leth Jans, who had such an influential A-League Women season with Perth Glory has re-joined Vittsjö for the Damallsvenskan season. Speaking to the club website about her return, Leth Jans said: “I look forward to coming home to my Swedish football family, playing in front of our fantastic fans and fighting for good results with the team. Besides, I hope to be able to contribute even more with the things I learned during my time in Perth Glory.” The Danish star joins fellow former A-League Women players Clare Polkinghorne and Katrina Gorry in Vittsjö’s 2022 squad.
THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES: Damallsvenskan Round One: Hammarby v Eskilstuna United, AIK v KIF Örebro, Umeå IK v BK Häcken, Kristianstads v IFK Kalmar, Linköping v Vittsjö, Djurgården v Piteå, Rosengård v IF Brommapojkarna.
ELITETTAN
After the promotion of IFK Kalmar, Umeå IK and IF Brommapojkarna at the end of last season and the relegation of Borgeby FK, Morön BK and Bollstanäs SK, there are a total of six new teams in the Elitettan this season.
Coming down from the Damallsvenskan at the end of the 2021 campaign were Växjö. Promoted into the competition are Bergdalens IK, Gamla Upsala SK, Ifö Bromölla IF, Rävåsens IK Karlskoga, and Team TG FF.
ELITETTAN ROUND ONE FIXTURES (For Weekend of 2/3 April): Älvsjö AIK FF v Ifö Bromölla IF, IFK Norrköping v Lidköpings FK, IK Uppsala v Bergdalens IK, Jitex BK v Växjö, Team TG FF v Alingsås FC United, Rävåsens IK Karlskoga v Mallbackens IF Sunne, Gamla Upsala SK v Sundsvalls DFF.
Don’t miss The Swedish Scene every Tuesday for a full round-up of every Damallsvenskan match with photos and video, plus all the top games from the Elitettan, transfer news, and all the European action both with the national team and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
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