After week 19, who's on top with 3 games to go? Rosengård are just one win from the title now. In week 17 they beat Gothenburg at the car park, to take an almost unassailable lead in the standings. And more fuel for the Bennison hype train. Goals Gothenburg 0 - 2 Rosengård (Anna Anvegård 74', Hanna Bennison 77') https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbla...uldlage-for-rosengard-efter-seger-i-toppmotet (Archived) Anna Anvegård has 12 goals in 2019 (Andreas Nilelind/bilderna.it, cc-by-sa) In 2nd place, Gothenburg won this week against Vittsjö (3rd) to take a 2-point lead, so they might re-enter the Champions League in 2020. A concussion may cause Elin Rubensson to miss Sweden's next game. Gothenburg 2 - 1 Vittsjö (Blomqvist 16', Curmark 24' - Benediktsson 88') https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbla...oteborg-slog-vittsjo--rubensson-utbytt-skadad (Archived) Also this week, the leaders were close to an embarrassing draw, as Rosengård let in an equalizer to Kungsbacka with Lina Gerhardsson's goal. Anam Imo's goal won it for Rosengård, 2-1. Kungsbacka are in last place with only 5pts. Linköping lost Kosovare Asllani in July to Real Madrid, and the title contenders fell away badly to 7th place, with only 8pts in the past 8 games. Even Kungsbacka beat them! It could be worse... they could be Real Madrid. A great team of the past, Djurgården, might repeat their 2012 relegation if they can't turn it around. They're 11th, needing at least 4pts to survive. Before they leave, Kungsbacka did get a 5-5 draw at Växjö. Very impressive, but it doesn't help their goal difference at all. After week 19 (of 22) Rosengård 44pts, Kopparbergs/Göteborg 36pts, Vittsjö 34, Kristianstad 33, Eskilstuna 31, Piteå 30, Linköping 29, Örebro 27. Växjö 21, Limhamn Bunkeflo 14, Djurgården 10, Kungsbacka 5 Oh well, there's always next year. Or not Piteå 0 - 1 Bröndby, 1st leg (1-2 agg.) - https://www.svt.se/sport/fotboll/tung-uppforsbacke-for-pitea-efter-drommal
Week 20 It was perhaps the Match of the Season on Sunday – Linköping (7th) raised their game fantastically at Rosengård (1st), who would've sealed the championship with a win: Highlights Rosengård 3 - 3 Linköping - (Sofie Svava 45', Sanne Troelsgaard 83', Anna Anvegård 87'- Mimmi Larsson 44', 49', Lina Hurtig 73') - https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...INGS_FC_No-28989?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 / Match report, SVT Linköping withstood the pressure to lead 3-1 and almost led 4-1, hitting the bar. LFC goalie Emma Holmgren made some great saves, but was at fault for Troelsgaard's goal at 3-2, before Anvegård's wonderful volley to equalize on 87'. Moments later at 3-3, Troelsgaard had an open goal to win the title for Rosengård, but put it wide. Mimmi Larsson: 2 goals for Linköping this week (Photo: Pechblaende, cc-by-sa) The title race is technically still on: Piteå 1 - 2 Gothenburg (Nina Jakobsson 88' - Julia Zigiotti Olme 31', Pauline Hammarlund 42') - https://www.svt.se/sport/fotboll/goteborg-skot-upp-guldfirandet-for-rosengard In the race for safety, Djurgården (11th) got a much-needed win over Kungsbacka (12th) in their game on Saturday in Stockholm. But with a better goal difference, Djurgården are still a point behind Limhamn Bunkeflo (10th) in the penultimate week – this Sunday it's Djurgården v Piteå, and Linköping v LB07. At the top, Sunday's week 21 matches are Rosengård-Vittsjö and Gothenburg-Växjö. In the Elitettan, Umeå had a 3-year plan, and now they're promoted: "Umeå IK back in Damallsvenskan" - svt.se @flax, where are you? I miss your well informed insights. And I'm really sorry for making fun of The Bridge, I love that bridge.
(SVT) Week 21: A few things were decided on Sunday: Rosengård are champions for the first time since 2015. They crept over the line with a draw at home to the 3rd-placed Vittsjö HIGHLIGHTS - FC ROSENGÅRD 1 - 1 VITTSJÖ GIK - (Anvegård 29' - Benediktsson 33') https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...ITTSJO_GIK-29381?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 There'll be Champions League football in Gothenburg in 2020, as the results confirmed their 2nd place when they beat Växjö (9th) Highlights: KOPPARBERGS/GÖTEBORG FC 2 - 1 VÄXJÖ DFF - (Violah Nambi 86' - Rebecka Blomqvist 2', Emma Koivisto 76) https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p..._FC_VAXJO_-29356?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Relegation is not decided, and will be horribly tense next week – Limhamn Bunkeflo were sent into the relegation zone with their 3-0 loss, while Djurgården got the point they needed in a crazy comeback Highlights - Djurgården 3 - 3 Piteå IF DFF - (Mia Jalkerud 38'p, Tilde Lindwall 83', Mia Jalkerud 88' - Fernanda Da Silva 13', Julia Karlernäs 50', Nina Jakobsson 74') https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...tea_IF_DFF-29345?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Djurgården (10th) are +2 goals of LB07 (11th) and level on points, both with tough opponents on Saturday. Week 22, Saturday is the final matchday.
They where at +2 goals before LB07's defeat now they are at +5 goals (and level on points). So very hard for LB07 to fix, but they unlike Djurgården at least are playing at home.
...oh yeah, a 3-0 loss affects goal difference, duh.. (it's bad enough that they don't get any points!) Table before the last game 9 Växjö 24pts 10 Djurgården -23GD 14pts 11 Limhamn Bunkeflo -28GD 14pts 12 Kungsbacka 5pts 10th and 11th play the teams in 3rd and 2nd, on Saturday 13:30 GMT Vittsjö GIK - Djurgårdens IF FF 15:30, 26 okt 2019 - Vittsjö IP A-plan IF Limhamn Bunkeflo - Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 15:30, 26 okt 2019 - Limhamns IP, konstgräs Formidable opponents, but they've nothing serious to play for - only that Vittsjö will secure 3rd place with a home win. SVT1 TV has selected that game for live coverage in Sweden.
Both Djurgården and LB lost with 2 to 0 so Djurgården stays in Damallsvenskan on better goal difference. Last important match in the Swedish leagues is today in less than an hour 13:00 Swedish tilme (CET). Hammarby and Uppsala decides who get the second promotion spot from Elitettan to Damallsvenskan. Umeå has as mentioned alreday secured promtion and have won Elitettan. Asarums, Borgeby and Sundsvalls get relegated and is next year replaced by Bollstanäs, Jitex Mölndal* and Älvsjö*. Hammarby plays at home against Uppsala and have a two points lead over them, so Hammarby will get the 2nd promotion spot on a draw or a win, no other team can reach the second place (AIK on fourth is 4 points behind Hammarby). Uppsala needs a win to get the promotion. *Jitex Mölndal as Jitex and Älvsjö have gloroius histories in the top tiers of Swedish women's soccer. They are 9 and 8 in the Marathontable for Dammalsvenskan and have 6 and 5 Swedish Championship each, only Rosengård and Umeå have more and Öxabäck is tied with Jitex at 6.
Apparently I can't read. Alingsås - Älvsjö played 0 -0 in Alingsås, but Alingsås won in Älvsjö so the promoted teams to Elitettan should be Bollstanäs, Jitex Mölndal* and Alingsås. *Jitex Mölndal as Jitex have a glorious history in the top tier of Swedish women's soccer. They are 9th in the Marathontable for Damallsvenskan and have 6 Swedish Championship, only Rosengård and Umeå have more and Öxabäck as many.
Uppsala is back! turned 1-0 in halftime to 1-3 and won promotion. The links from IK Uppsala back to Bälinge isn't formal but they are there. 1 - IK Uppsala is the women's soccer section of IK Sirius that decided they have a better shoot at Damallsvenskan on their own. (2016) 2 - IK Sirius women's soccer section was the women's soccer section of Danmarks IF that decided that they needed to be in a bigger club with more resources to make it passed the middle of the second tier. The expectations from the rest of districts women's team pretty much was that they needed to be at least among the top teams of the 2nd tier. (2011) 3 - The women's soccer section of Danmarks IF was where the districts best young players and more mature "good but not good enough to be paid" players ended up when Bälinge closed down. Bälinge had formed the entire soccer district so that pretty much all women's soccer team in it wanted one top club in the district to send their best players to when they where ready to move on. So one of them had to step up. With Bälinge gone Danmarks IF was the team in the district highest up in the League system so they did. (2008)
Hammarby's fans came in great numbers - credit to Uppsala for winning promotion in an away game like that. Hammarby 1 - 3 Uppsala - (Emma Jansson 25' - Marika Bergman Lundin 55', Sara Olai 69', Beata Olsson 83') Highlights: https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbla...la-klart-for-damallsvenskan-efter-jatterysare These were the final matches of the season 2019, week 22. As well as Limhamn Bunkeflo's relegation, Linköping and Piteå won to finish in the top half of the table, 5th and 6th. Highlights Vittsjö 2 - 0 Djurgården https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...JURGARDEN_-29717?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 LB07 0 - 2 Gothenburg https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...TEBORG_FC_-29710?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Örebro 1 - 3 Linköping https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...opings_FC_-29701?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Piteå 3 - 0 Kungsbacka https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...SBACKA_DFF-29707?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Växjö 1 - 1 Eskilstuna https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...NA_UNITED_-29706?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Kristianstad 0 - 1 Rosengård https://www.obosdamallsvenskan.se/p...C_Rosengar-29713?provider=staylive&autoplay=1 Final table 2019 Rosengård 49pts (C), Kopparbergs/Göteborg 45 (CL), Vittsjö 41, Eskilstuna 38, Linköping 36, Piteå 34, Kristianstad 33, Örebro 30, Växjö 25, Djurgården (-25GD) 14pts / Limhamn Bunkeflo (-30GD) 14pts (R), Kungsbacka 5pts (R) Post-season news includes the exit of coach Marcuz Lantz at Gothenburg, who've apparently signed Emma Kullberg and Filippa Angeldahl. Also, who might leave? 14 players who can leave Damallsvenskan (now or later) damfotbollblog.wordpress.com/2019/10/31/14-spelare-som-kan-lamna-damallsvenskan-nu-eller-senare, Autotranslated (Archive)
Yes, all-time record for Elitettan (but it have only existed seven years), 3100 and that was sold out. If the arena could have taken in more they could have sold hundreds more tickets. And a class act of Hammarby's fans, when they game was over and their girls lay or stod crying on the field, the fans stayed and sang for them.
Being relegated from Damallsvenskan can be rather devastating. Limhamn Bunkeflo (LB07) and Kungsbacka were both relegated last season and both nearly went up in smoke. LB07 were hopeful that they would merge with big men's team Malmö FF for 2020 and preparations for the 2020 season were put on hold. Malmö FF supporters/members wouldn't have any of it and wanted their women's team to start from scratch in div 4, so there was no merging to be. Playing in Elitettan, the league below Damallsvenskan, is no piece of cake. Huge travel expenses, little backing from the FA and big trouble to get enough money in unless you have the whole town behind you. The northernmost team of the league, Assi, already withdrew and were replaced by another team. LB07 who were now already behind in hunting for sponsors also decided to withdraw their elite project and start over in div 4 where they now will play against Malmö FF. To add to the devastation: In their "starting from scratch " process Malmö FF decided to raid div 1 (Sweden level 3) team Dösjöbro of their coach and 13 of their players leaving Dösjöbro with not much more than their youth team so that they too nearly had to withdraw from their league. Interestingly enough Dösjöbro are also 2nd in line to be offered the vacant place in Elitettan, but I guess they would have to say no to that now for sure. Kungsbacka is a slightly different story, they have had poor finances for years with the players never knowing if they will get salaries or not. At the end of the 2019 season all players decided to leave. However Kungsbacka are hopeful to have a team when Elitettan starts in early April and they have signed their 2 first players in the last few days. Good luck to you! I shall try to bring happy news next time
Not much happy news here... Coronavirus has postponed the 2020 season, to the end of May as it stands. Life in Sweden has attempted to go on as normal, but with a ban on gatherings of 50 (reduced from 500 earlier). (Hangsna, cc-by-sa) ⬤ The northerners of Piteå were on the road when they heard their match was cancelled - a faraway cup tie in Värmland county against Mallbacken. www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/dO2a4B/efter-90-mil-kom-beskedet-matchen-stalls-in, Autotranslated (Archive) With Piteå lacking income, a neighbouring club gave them 30,000 krona. The money, that is. "Around Koler, located west of Piteå, a huge wind farm is being built and Koler IF has rented out the football pitch in the village to the wind turbine builders and thereby received some money." - (Aftonbladet) What's it like to move to Piteå? Scottish defender Cailin Mitchie did just that: https://www.thenational.scot/sport/...michie-hoping-come-cold-swopping-hibs-sweden/ (Archive) Unrelated to the virus, it looks like it's the end for Kungsbacka, the club has left Elittetan.
The three Damallsvenskan clubs around the eastern part of Mälaren (Lake Malar), Djurgården (in Stockholm), Uppsala and Eskilstuna and the three Elitettan (2 tier) clubs in Stockholm (AIK, Hammarby and BP) have planned a pre-season single match series training-tournament to keep in form during the postponement of Damallsvenskan. No spectators of course, and since both Uppsala and Eskilstuna have many commuters to Stockholm it shouldn't change much in matter of spreading the virus. We will see if they will be able to run it or not, preliminary they start it at 18/19 April.
And it look like it cancelled. At least Uppsala have removed that news item from their homepage without any comment and have now nothing scheduled for April 18 or 19 (scehduled trainings is only Monday to Friday).
Now they mentioned it in other news, apparently Uppsala and Eskilstuna dropped out but the four Stockholms teams are holding it as a Stockholm Challenge. No formal lockdown, but we are recommended to avoid unneded travels , work from home if at all possible and keep the distance and a lot of other things, but few are mandated by law. And being Swedes a huge majority follows those recommendation.
I was going to ask at the end of 2019, is artificial grass controversial in Sweden at all? Back in 2004, Umeå had some trouble in the Uefa Women's Cup final, when they hosted Frankfurt in the 1st leg. Around this time came changes to the Laws of the Game and UEFA rules, to allow clubs to use artificial grass. Umeå v Jitex in 2011 - (Artem Korzhimanov, cc-by)
The last matchday of 2019 brought it to mind - the relegation battle in the south was played on 2 different surfaces. The Vittsjö IP natural pitch seemed in poor condition on TV (in rain in late October), while the artificial grass at Limhamns IP in Malmö was holding up OK. I guess the debate in Sweden isn't so polarizing (if you'll pardon the pun), but are there any people who ask for more artificial fields? LB07's ground, Limhamns IP - (jorchr, cc-by-sa)
8 teams in the league already play on artificial pitches and 2 on hybrid. Vittsjö and Djurgården are the only teams playing on natural grass. I don't think anyone really want more artificial pitches but in most parts of the country it's necessary if you want to be able to practice on the match pitch and play the early and late season home games at your home venue.
Eight? That's incredible, I had no idea. The old Frankfurt team wouldn't get very far in this league. The field at Umeå has a problem now, but it isn't the surface... (ARTIST'S IMPRESSION)(Andrew Dunn, cc-by-sa) Umeå Energi Arena is covered in a big winter tent in May, and the company's expert Tent-Remover is stranded in Poland, due to Covid flight restrictions. This feels like it wouldn't have happened in another season... Umeå kan tvingas flytta matcher till Sundsvall - tältet fortfarande kvar / Umeå may be forced to move matches to Sundsvall - tent still remains - (Fotbollskanalen.se) / Archive Sundsvall is 250km south, so it would hit their preparations badly. Hanna Marklund is tipping Umeå to be in the relegation battle in 2020.
And the news affecting the whole league: Tänkt start för OBOS Damallsvenskan skjuts upp ytterligare / Intended start for OBOS Damallsvenskan is postponed further - (EFD/Archive) 15 May was meant to be decision day, the announcement is due a week later instead.
Damallsvenskan will start June 28 and the order of play have been redrawn to fit the new time allocation. https://www.svenskfotboll.se/nyheter/serier/2020/6/da-spelprogram/ Matches to be played without spectators until further notice, so my seasson ticekt are a bit useless.
You just have to shout very loud during the games... News: Elin Rubensson of Sweden and Gothenburg is expecting a baby and will be on maternity leave all season. Her club (2nd in 2019) will certainly miss her presence in midfield. 2018 title-winning striker Madelen Janogy, now a Wolfsburg player, is going through a dark time and is in Sweden now, recovering from sleep problems caused by a mental illness that she spoke about publicly. "Football has been my refuge." ⬤ A team with a demanding schedule for 2020, Piteå have their first 5 games travelling 700 miles in 17 days. And some good news for their neighbour club as they return to the top division: "The giant tent in Umeå is to be demolished" (DRAMATIZATION) There's a nice aerial photo of the tent if you're going to miss it. I know I will.
A completely irrelevant fact about her marriage that surprised me. Her husband toke her surname when they married! That are not rare in Sweden but in the still rather few cases when a couple chose that solution the women pretty much always have the higher status name. This is the first case I heard of where they toke the women’s surname and it is a -son name and the man’s isn’t. Swedish name by status, each person have their own take of it but for most it goes roughly like this (not that people give the names much consideration except when they are thinking about which to have as a married couple).: 1. Nobel names or similar (example Gyllenhaal) 2. Old clerical names (example Blackstenius) 3. Old soldiers names (examples Seger and Hurtig) 4. Burger names (examples Sundhage and Stenström) 5. -son names (examples Rubensson and Jakobsson) So when Elin Rubensson married Filip Stenström, one would not have excpected them to take the name Rubensson as their common name. Had it been that Elin Stenström married Filip Rubensson it would not have been any suprise if they had taken Stenström as their common name. BTW: Petty much all Swedish surnames belongs to one of those 5 categories or have come with immigration.