TOPPSERIEN 2019 - Matchday 9 Fart 0 - 2 Trondheims-Ørn Clausen 63, Adserø 80 Stabæk 0 - 1 Arna Bjørnar Nautnes 35 Vålerenga 0 - 1 Lyn Lillegård 18 Kolbotn 0 - 0 Klepp Sandviken 1 - 3 LSK Kvinner Cordner 49 - Åsland 2, Engen 15, Reiten 44(p) Røa 2 - 2 Avaldsnes Jørgensen 12, Fjelldal 28 - Jøsendal 53, Ajibade 89 The final matchday before the World Cup was another round where everything worked in LSK's favour. All teams behind them dropped points. Sandviken started badly against LSK, but took over in the second half when the game was beyond them. Ingrid Engen scored in her last match for LSK before heading for Wolfsburg. Biggest surprise this weekend was Lyn beating Vålerenga in the Oslo-derby, their first ever win at top level against their rivals. TOP SCORERS 12 - Guro Reiten (LSK Kvinner) 9 - Synne Jensen (Røa) 8 - Kennya Cordner (Sandviken) 7 - Maria Brochmann (Sandviken) 6 - Karina Sævik (Kolbotn) 5 - Dejana Stefanovic (Avaldsnes) 5 - Synne S. Hansen (LSK Kvinner) 4 - Olaug Tvedten (Avaldsnes) 4 - Tameka Butt (Klepp) 4 - Isabell Herlovsen (Kolbotn) 4 - Nora Eide Lie (Kolbotn) 4 - Elise Thorsnes (LSK Kvinner) 4 - Natasha K. Dowie (Vålerenga) NEXT MATCHDAY 27 Jul: Klepp – Fart 27 Jul: Trondheims-Ørn – LSK Kvinner 27 Jul: Stabæk – Kolbotn 27 Jul: Vålerenga – Sandviken 28 Jul: Arna Bjørnar – Røa 18 Sep: Lyn – Avaldsnes
9th Matchday - Goal of the Week candidates 1 - Vilde Fjelldal, Røa (vs Avaldsnes) 2 - Ingrid Engen, LSK Kvinner (vs Sandviken) 3 - Kennya Cordner, Sandviken (vs LSK kvinner) You can vote here. I think the jury messed up this time when not including Runa Lillegård's winner for Lyn against Vålerenga. The assist from Camilla Linberg was amazing.
Good point. I've been to many women's club games in all those countries and the numbers have been in the hundreds at best. The recent big numbers that have spotted up are great, but seems like most have been promotions and one-off's, almost flash mob-ish. Compare that to Man City women v. Lyon in Florida last year with 200 fans. Even if Norway get to the final of the WC again, will it have much of an effect? Did getting to the final of the EURO? The women's game can get certainly grow and get more attendance, from promotion, word of mouth, community efforts, etc. But anyone with rose-colored glasses should remember the Norwegians have been masters of that. I think the general pattern is men will tend to frequent men's games, and until women start coming out to support the women's game in healthy numbers we won't see any seismic movement in critical mass. The growth will be there, just slow and steady.
I believe Vilde Fjelldal had only played 10 minutes this year prior to yesterday and left the game before the half was even finished (praying that was the medical plan before kickoff) and it was great to see her bag a goal. But Rasheedat Ajibade's late equalizer for Avaldsnes was a better finish. Fjelldal had immaculate timing in her run but it was Rebecka Holum's cutback at the touch line and and ball through the box that was the mastery. Really makes you wonder about the jury process.
Hard to tell. As an optimist, I believe there might be an effect, but female supporters must lead the way. If women aren't ready to spend more of their spare time and money on woso, there won't be a big change. Female supporters hold the key to their own destiny here. On the positive side, the annual budget in Toppserien has increased from €6.2 million two years ago to roughly €9.2 million this year. Much of it goes to professionalize the players in the league. We might harvest from this in the next few years.
News in brief: According to NRK, Caroline Hansen will be the highest paid player in Barcelona with an annual base salary of around €310 000. Sherida Spitse has signed a new two year deal with Vålerenga. Lisa Marie Utland is joint top scorer with 6 goals in Damallsvenskan at the end of spring season. Head of Toppserien, Hege Jørgensen, will re-evaluate the "Super weekend" concept. The best attended game was Vålerenga – Lyn: 1258 spectators. New venue could be Bergen, or dropped completely. Norway's WNT have now started their World Cup pre-camp. No withdrawals from the original squad so far. The group will stay in Oslo (May 20-24), Moss (May 26-30) and then Amiens, France (May 31-Jun 03). First match is against Nigeria, 8 June in Reims. The NM Cup round of 16 set-up is ready: Jul 31: LSK Kvinner – Amazon Grimstad (L2) Jul 31: Kolbotn – Grand Bodø (L2) Jul 31: Avaldsnes – Klepp Jul 31: Arna Bjørnar – Stabæk Jul 31: Trondheims-Ørn – Fløya (L2) Jul 31: Medkila (L2) – Røa Aug 01: Sandviken – Grei (L2) Aug 07: FK Fortuna (L3) – Vålerenga
From today's session at Ullevaal stadium: Norway's 2019 World Cup Squad Top row from left: Isabell Herlovsen, Lisa Marie Utland, Elise Thorsnes, Oda Bogstad, Ingrid Hjelmseth, Cecilie Fiskerstrand, Stine Hovland, Maria Thorisdottir, Kristine Minde. Middle row from left: Anders Jacobson (assistant coach), Emilie Nautnes, Frida Maanum, Ingrid Engen, Karina Sævik, Amalie Eikeland, Therese Åsland, Roger Eskeland (goalkeeper coach). Bottom row from left: Ingrid Moe Wold, Synne Hansen, Emilie Haavi, Maren Mjelde, Martin Sjögren (coach), Caroline Hansen, Vilde Bøe Risa, Guro Reiten, Cecilie Kvamme.
Just out of curiosity: how Ada Hegerberg's hat-trick in the recent UEFA WCL's final was received in Norway?
It made headlines in all major news outlets. Even Norway's prime minister (also a woman) tweeted about Ada on the night. And of course there was another lap in the media on why she isn't playing in the World Cup with reasons that have been answered cryptically a dozen times before. People are divided on her. There are those who applaud her individual achievements and one-woman crusade against NFF, and then there are those who call her egoistic and self-centrered. Apart from may be Ole Gunnar Solskjær, I think Ada is the most famous football personality from Norway at the moment. She has reached that status where ordinary people outside the game also know who she is. There is big frustration from casual fans that she isn't going to the World Cup. If one woso event could pull a decent crowd to a Norwegian stadium, it would be a return of Ada Hegerberg to the national team.
Candidate number 2, Ingrid Engen was voted GotW for matchday 9, the last one before the World Cup. Matchday 1: nominees - winner (Synne Jensen for Røa away at Sandviken) Matchday 2: nominees - winner (Runa Lillegård for Lyn away at Arna Bjørnar) Matchday 3: nominees - winner (Hege Hansen for Klepp at home vs Røa) Matchday 4: nominees - winner (Ajara Njoya for Vålerenga away at Avaldsnes) Matchday 5: nominees - winner (Zaneta Wyne for Klepp away at Trondheims-Ørn) Matchday 6: nominees - winner (Karina Sævik for Kolbotn away at Røa) Matchday 7: nominees - winner (Julie Adserø for Trondheims-Ørn away at Lyn) Matchday 8: nominees - winner (Maria Brochmann for Sandviken away at Trondheims-Ørn) Matchday 9: nominees - winner (Ingrid Engen for LSK Kvinner away (on paper) at Sandviken)
The straw that broken the camel's back was the last tournament where the country went out without a goal. She's put the heat for it 100% on the NFF. Perhaps it's time she owned up to her share.
Four players now seem certain not to return to Toppserien after the World Cup. LSK Kvinner confirm they've received an offer from Chelsea about Guro Reiten, and they won't stop her from going. Reiten has served the club incredibly well. Sandviken players Stine Hovland and Cecilie Kvamme are on their way to AC Milan. They have both been in Italy and had talks with the club, and I guess everything will be finalized after the World Cup. The fourth is of course Ingrid Engen who is Wolfsburg bound.
Ada Hegerberg will be at the World Cup .... as a tv pundit for the channel TF1, the number 1 tv channel in France in term of viewers #ÉvénementAda Hegerberg rejoint l'équipe de @TF1 pour la Coupe Du Monde Féminine de la FIFA, France 20191e ballon d'or féminin de l'histoire, Ada Hegerberg sera consultante et apportera son expertise dans les différents rdv sur les antennes du @GroupeTF1 RDV dès le 7 Juin ! pic.twitter.com/Ruk0SRnMP7— TF1 Pro (@TF1Pro) May 25, 2019
All the 2019 WWC nations (except Norway) are surely glad Ada is in the broadcast booth vs. on the field. I assume and hope she will still root for Norway to win. Sad circumstances indeed that Ada is not playing. Just when Norway are contenders, a top notch player is not on the team - regardless of the reason - Cecilie Pedersen comes to mind, as well (BTW, did Cecilie retire from club play or is she injured). Norway can still do well in this tournament if things fall into place for them. They have a much better midfield in place than what they had at EURO 2017.
Interesting memory/comparison. I remember Pedersen coming in late as a sub for Avaldsnes in their super weekend match against Røa last weekend.
Most World Cup squads have been announced. A total of 28 players from seven countries and nine different Toppserien clubs will be represented in France next month: Arna Bjørnar (4): Oda Bogstad (Norway), Emilie Nautnes (Norway), Ngozi Ebere (Nigeria), Augustine Ejangue (Cameroon) Avaldsnes (3): Victoria Esson (New Zealand), Rebekah Stott (New Zealand), Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria) Klepp (2): Tameka Butt (Australia), Havana Solaun (Jamaica) Kolbotn (2): Karina Sævik (Norway), Isabell Herlovsen (Norway) LSK Kvinner (8): Cecilie Fiskerstrand (Norway), Ingrid Moe Wold (Norway), Synne S. Hansen (Norway), Ingrid Engen (Norway),Therese Åsland (Norway), Emilie Haavi (Norway), Guro Reiten (Norway), Elise Thorsnes (Norway) Sandviken (3): Cecilie R. Kvamme (Norway), Stine Hovland (Norway), Amalie Eikeland (Norway) Stabæk (3): Ingrid Hjelmseth (Norway), Tiffany Cameron (Jamaica), Chinyelu Asher (Jamaica) Trondheims-Ørn (1): Lauren Silver (Jamaica) Vålerenga (2): Sherida Spitse (Netherlands), Ajara Njoya (Cameroon)
It looks like the league is very well represented: not at NWSL levels for sure, and most of the international are from "minor" countries, but there are not many leagues in the world who will have more players at WWC.
Yes, lots of minor countries. It would be quite spectacular if many national team starters from Germany, France, England and Spain plied their trade in Norway. But Toppserien is home to a bunch of international players from teams not qualified for the World Cup as well: Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Serbia, Trinindad & Tobago etc. I think this is what Toppserien should aim to be. A league functioning as a stepping stone before going to the best leagues, and/or a place for good players from countries with under-developed woso programmes to escape to. Toppserien is now a far better funded league than a few years ago, and is slowly finding its place in the hierarchy.
Yes, I guess at this moment in the history of women's football, it could be good to have some "tier-1" leagues (NWSL, Division 1 Féminine, Frauen-Bundesliga, FA Women's Super League; despite Barcelona I am not sure Spanish League is quite there yet) and some "second tier" leagues, that are anyway at a decent level (probably Liga Femenina in Spain, Toppserien, Serie A femminile in Italy, Nadeshiko League in Japan; I'd say Damallsvenskan, despite some American players passing the winter there from time to time, is not tier-1 anymore by now and should belong to this second category, but I could be wrong). Not Sure where Aussie Westfield W-League would fall: is basically a "winter league" for NWSL, so maybe tier-1 anyway?
okay, thanks - so she is playing - just used to seeing her name on the player scoring list that Bauser provides us.
You are not wrong, Damallsvenskan has been moving that way for a while and pretty much there now. Even if it's team still have the capacity to on a good day challenge all but the best teams from the tier 1 leagues in the field, the are no-longer a match money-wise.
Curiously, a thread about just this popped up earlier today on Twitter! League/country with most players in @FIFAWWC squads...71 USA @NWSL 58, plus 13 players elsewhere in domestic system53 Spain, France (including 16 at @OLfeminin)49 England (all @FAWSL) 32 Sweden30 Germany28 Norway27 China, Italy22 Japan, S Korea— Glenn Moore (@GlennMoore7) May 26, 2019
Norway's 7th position seems to reinforce the notion we were talking about above: not a tier-1 league for sure, but solidly a tier-2 one. I am slightly surprised by Italy's 8th place (along with China): we have some players scattered around in the league (mostly from tier-2 countries or lower: Scottish Lena Clelland, who played in Italy for long; a pair Jamaicans in AS Roma...), but there are internationals playing in Italy who weren't even called by respective NTs (Juventus' Eniola Aluko comes to mind). Well, obvioulsy what I had said about Serie A Femminile being in the same club as Toppserien was quite accurate.