By Rainer Fussgänger – Last week, we discussed the superiority of both reigning champions LdB FC Malmö and Tyresö FF. After a very special Sunday where both favorites lost their games, they are back on planet Earth. Tyresö leads Damallsvenskan after round 7 with 15 points on better goal difference than Malmö and Vittsjö.
Umeå IK vs Jitex BK 1-1
Attendance: 416
Umeå: Fanny Hjelm (Emmelie Konradsson) 91’
Jitex: Sofia Karlsson 86’
The Jitex players were not happy in their hotel in Umeå Saturday night. A late goal after a corner gave them the lead and hope for three points, but an equalizer by Fanny Hjelm in stoppage time makes Jitex tie for the third time in a row after leading. For Umeå, the draw is important after three defeats.
Vittsjö GIK vs Djurgården 4-1
Attendance: 976
Vittsjö: Sandra Adolfsson (Sofie Andersson) 66’, Sofie Andersson (Johanna Andersson) 77’, Kirsty Yallop (Sofie Andersson) 84’, Johanna Andersson (Kirsty Yallop) 86’
Djurgården: Natalia Rickne (Madeleine Stegius) 87’
Vittsjö lost recently against Malmö, 4-1, and in the third round of the Swedish Cup against Division 3 side Rödeby, and some thought that the ”fairy tale” was over now. And Vittsjö had a difficult first half when Djurgården did not give them much space to play their game. But Coach Thomas Mårtensson changed tactics in the second half and made his team attack more using both wings instead of playing central. Djurgården broke down within 20 minutes and is again last.
Piteå IF vs KIF Örebro 3-0
Attendance: 806
Piteå: Hanna Pettersson (Josefin Johansson) 30’, Hanna Pettersson (Sofie Persson) 50’, Josefin Johansson (Hanna Pettersson) 53’
2012 is not KIF Örebro’s year. “We have been fifth twice now, and I am tired of fifth places,” midfielder Marie Hammarström said in the press meeting in the beginning of April. What about a 10th position? Örebro’s defense concedes far too many goals – the defense that was always KIF Örebro’s trademark. With Sara Larsson still injured and this time even Marina Pettersson away Piteå had no problems taking three important points when Stephanie Labbé for once returned to her old homeground at LF Arena.
AIK vs LdB FC Malmö 2-0
Attendance: 340
AIK: Jennie Nordin (Nazanin Vaseghpanah) 60’, Elin Bragnum (Clara Markstedt) 93’
If somebody had told the AIK players that their first victory would come when they meet champions LdB FC Malmö, they would not have believed it. Malmö dominated in the first half, and Ramona Bachmann hit the post and the crossbar. Once again, AIK defended almost heroically by going long distances and trying to keep away Malmö’s dangerous forwards from the ball. Nazanin Vaseghpanahs free kick after one hour came into the box and U-19 Swedish international Jennie Nordin jumped higher than all the others and headed the ball at the inside of the post and into the net. That gave AIK wings, and they suddenly seemed to have more energy. They definitely wanted this more than Malmö. When Malmö sent all its forces into the AIK half and there were only a few seconds to go, Clara Markstedt ran away on the right wing and delivered a perfect pass to another U-19 international, Elin Bragnum, and she scored and decided the game. I spoke among others to Jennie Nordin after the game. “It is just incredible. We worked so hard recently. It is beautiful that today we see that it was all worth doing it.”
Tyresö FF vs Kristianstads DFF 1-2
Attendance: 1,628
Tyresö: Madelaine Edlund (Marta) 35’
Kristianstad: Therese Björck (Susanne Moberg) 16’, Kosovare Asllani (Susanne Moberg) 52’
When Malmö had lost three points in the game against AIK, Tyresö had still half an hour to play against Kristianstad, but they also were down after another goal from Kosovare Asllani. The Swedish international has scored four goals within one month in three away games in the Stockholm area. Three of those goals were decisive. Kristianstad had a really bad start with only one point out of the three first games. They followed that up with winning the maximum of 12 points out of four and close in to the leading three clubs. After this surprising Sunday, Damallsvenskan seems to be as open as it started – almost.
Rainer Fussgänger, of Germany, lives in Sweden and has followed the Damallsvenskan for eight years now. Living in Stockholm with three clubs (Djurgården, Hammarby, and Tyresö) around the corner, he is lucky to see a lot of games. You can follow Rainer on Twitter @ffschweden and check out his website at http://ffschweden.wordpress.com.