The Swedish Scene

Ben Gilby rounds up all the action from both the Damallsvenskan and Elitettan as their mid-season break draws ever closer (14/6/22).

Above: In-form Hammarby celebrate after their latest victory – 4-0 against IFK Kalmar. Photo: Hammarby IF. 

DAMALLSVENSKAN

BK Häcken‘s poor run, which has seen them lose their last two and take only four points from the last 15 available continued as they went down 3-2 at home to Vittsjö in front of 1,028 fans.

Matildas star Clare Polkinghorne started for Vittsjö with international teammate Katrina Gorry on the bench, and their side went ahead just before the half-hour through Sandra Adolfsson, yet the lead only lasted eight minutes as Mille Gejl Jansen levelled. It remained level until the 59th minute when the visitors re-took the lead thanks to Jutta Rantala and a decisive 3-1 scoreline was earned when Linda Sällström fed Clara Markstedt to score. Marika Lundin gave BK Häcken hope within two minutes, but the visitors earned the points which put them up to fifth, just behind Häcken on goal difference.

Rosengård moved five points clear at the top, and are now 10 ahead of perennial title rivals BK Häcken after a 5-2 win at home to Umeå IK in front of 1,181 fans. Teagan Micah continued her form in goal, with Charli Grant not selected for this encounter. The defending champions were 2-0 up at the break after goals from Katrine Vejle and Olivia Schough. Two further strikes in four minutes at the start of the second half sealed the outcome as Sofia Bredgaard and Loreta Kullashi netted. An own goal six minutes from time further increased Rosengård’s advantage. Umeå rallied with two goals in the final three minutes thanks to Lisa Dahlqvist and Villemo Dahlqvist which will frustrate the hosts. However, it looks hard to see anyone stopping Rosengård from adding another Damallsvenskan title to the Svenska Cupen that they have already put in the cabinet this season.

Hammarby‘s sensational run continued with a fifth successive win as they comfortably saw off IFK Kalmar 4-0 in front of 983 ecstatic fans. In-form Courtney Nevin started, with Kyra Cooney-Cross listed on the bench, without coming on. Hammarby also has former Chelsea star Jonna Andersson to come into the team – so this exciting side will get even stronger after the break for the European Championships.

Nevin’s fine form continued as she supplied Emma Jansson for the opening goal after just two minutes. Adelina Engman doubled the Stockholm side’s advantage just ahead of the half-hour mark. Jansson made it three right on half-time from the penalty spot. Eva Nyström completed the scoring sixteen minutes from time. Hammarby are now up to sixth – five points outside the top three and have a massive game against out-of-form BK Häcken in their final game before the break.

Kristianstads are third after a 2-1 win on the road at IF Brommapojkarna – a fifth straight win. Canadian star Evelyn Viens continued her red-hot form with both goals. They came either side of Vaila Barsley’s goal for the hosts, a strike which came courtesy of an assist from Daniella Famili in front of 137 fans.

Linköping remain Rosengård’s closest title rivals after a 2-1 win over bottom club AIK. Olga Ahtinen strike on the quarter-hour mark put the hosts ahead with Amalie Vansgaard doubling the advantage four minutes into the second half. Australian international Remy Siemsen provided hope for the Solna-based side when she supplied the assist for Linda Hallin. However, to the delight of the 542 fans, Linköping ran out 2-1 winners.

Eskilstuna United are sixth after a 2-0 win at home to KIF Örebro in front of 902 fans at Tunavallen. Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene put them on the way to the three points with a goal after just six minutes. Noor Eckhoff’s free-kick decided matters five minutes before the break.

Piteå returned to winning ways after a midweek loss to AIK when they saw off Djurgården 3-0 at their Lombia IP home. It was goalless at the break, but an own goal put the hosts ahead eight minutes into the second half, with Hlin Eiríksdóttir continuing her good goalscoring form by making it 2-0 with just over 20 minutes remaining. She grabbed her brace just three minutes to the delight of the crowd of 932.

Round Fifteen Fixtures: Hammarby v BK Häcken, AIK v Rosengård, IF Brommapojkarna v Eskilstuna United, Kristianstads v Piteå, Linköping v Umeå IK, IFK Kalmar v Djurgården, Vittsjö v KIF Örebro.

ELITETTAN

There was huge drama in the Uppsala derby as league leaders IK Uppsala gained a sensational 5-4 win at Gamla Upsala on Friday night in front of a bumper crowd of 613. Mathilda Henriksson put the home side ahead with 17 minutes gone, but two goals in eight minutes turned the game on its head. Johanna Renmark and Taryn Ries put IK Uppsala ahead with the prolific Nicole Robertson making it 3-1 six minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The drama took hold early in the second period as an own goal brought Gamla back into the game at just 3-2 down. However, there was another twist involving two goals in quick succession – this time two in four minutes as Rosa Ossorio and Robertson pushed IK out to a 5-2 advantage. The crowd, royally entertained all night were treated to yet another rally of goals. Sanna Öhlund and Josefin Lindström brought Gamla Upsala back into the game at 5-4. There were still 20 minutes remaining on the clock at this stage, but IK Uppsala remained in front on the scoreboard by the odd goal in nine at the final whistle.

Växjö lost vital ground at the top after being held 1-1 away to Ifö Bromölla IF. The newly-promoted team are now in their best form of the season and looking to pull away from the lower reaches of the table. Hannah Stokki put the visitors ahead just before the half-hour mark, but Amanda Olsson delighted the majority of the 154 spectators by levelling 11 minutes later.

Alingsås FC United continued their promotion push with a 1-0 win at Sundsvalls in front of 65 spectators . The only goal came from Alexandra Roholt with 20 minutes played.

IFK Norrköping moved up to third with a comprehensive 5-0 win at Team TG FF. The game was pretty much over within the first half-hour when the visitors built a three-goal lead. Minnie Asperot netted after both two and 28 minutes with Sabina Ravnell scoring in between. Asperot completed her hat-trick just before the break. Thilde Alvberger grabbed Norrköping’s fifth with 11 minutes remaining.

Round 11: Gamla Upsala 4-5 IK Uppsala, Sundsvalls v Alingsås FC United, Bergdalens IK 2-7 Mallbackens IF Sunne, Ifö Bromölla 1-1 Växjö, Älvsjö AIK FF 0-4 Jitex BK, Lidköpings FK 3-2 Rävåsens IK Karlskoga, Team TG FF 0-5 IFK Norrköping.

Round 12 Fixtures: Ifö Bromölla v Sundsvalls, IK Uppsala v Team TG FF, Jitex BK v IFK Norrköping, Mallbackens IF Sunne v Lidköpings FK, Växjö v Bergdalens IK, Alingsås FC United v Rävåsens IK Karlskoga, Gamla Upsala v Älvsjö AIK FF.