Defending Swedish champions LdB Malmö opened up its 2011 Damallsvenskan season Sunday with a 1-1 draw against KIF Örebro at Behrn Arena in Örebro. After falling behind, 1-0, in the 24th minute on a goal by Örebro forward Sara Michael, Malmö needed a second-half strike to pull level and avoid defeat. Midfielder Nilla Fisher’s goal in the 61st minute tied the game for Malmö, salvaging the draw. The last time these teams met was in last year’s Super Cup, which Malmö won, 2-1, to claim the title of the champions of Sweden.
In other action in Sweden this weekend, Tyresö drew, 0-0, with Göteborg FC, and Kristianstad handed newly promoted Dalsjöfors a 5-0 loss on Saturday. Iceland’s Margret Lara Vidarsdottir and Finland’s Elin Nilsen scored two goals each in the win. Anna Persson also scored for Kristianstad. On Sunday, Mia Jalkerud scored two goals in Djurgården’s 2-1 win over Jitex BK. English international Rebecca Angus, who played the last three year’s for Kolbotn IL in Norway’s Toppserien, scored for Jitex.
Sofia Jacobsson, who scored eight goals for Umeå last year, scored both goals Sunday in Umeå’s 2-0 win over Hammarby. Mami Yamaguchi, who played for the Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) last season, made her debut for Hammarby. Former Atlanta Beat forward and Swiss international Ramona Bachmann came on as a sub in the 62nd minute for Umeå. American Kelly Eagan played a full 90 for Hammarby. Eagan played for Villanova and Quickstrike Lady Blues (W-League) and is a former member of the U.S. U-20 and U-17 women’s national teams.
Linköping and Piteå open their seasons Wednesday. The teams play each other in Kopparvallen, Åtvidaberg. The game marks the 2011 Damallsvenskan debut for Piteå newcomers Jennifer Nobis and Fiona O’Sullivan.