by Rainer Fussgänger
Both LdB FC Malmö and Kopparberg/Göteborgs FC had no problems taking another step in the UEFA Champions League defeating their Hungarian and Serbian opponents in easy home games a second time.
It was Malmö’s week, because the defending champions took three very important points in Göteborg which brought them very close to a 3rd consecutive championship.
Umeå IK vs Kristianstads DFF 0-2
Attendance: 401
Kristianstad: Susanne Moberg 18′, Margret Lara Vidarsdottir 38′
The first game of Round 19 was already played last Thursday and despite the fact that goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl suffered an ACL tear and Kosovare Asllani left for Paris SG, Kristianstad took another simple victory. Umeå has announced that they have to concentrate on local and regional talents from next season on and that they are not capable of contracting foreign players anymore.
Djurgården vs Tyresö FF 2-0
Attendance: 1042
Djurgården: Jessica Landström 58′, Jessica Landström 71′
The biggest surpise this year in Damallsvenskan may have decided the championship. Marta, Vero, Seger & all the other internationals lost to a Djurgården that stood with its back to the wall, but performed a great match with lots of heart and fighting spirit. A game where they also had luck on their side. Caroline Seger hit the crossbar and 94 seconds later former WPS and Frankfurt player Jessica Landström scored Djurgårdens first goal. Great game by Landström and goalkeeper Gummarsdottir, even impressively many kilometers of midfielder Annika Kukkonen who gave Marta a tough Saturday.
AIK vs Jitex BK 3-1
Attendance: 186
AIK: Nazanin Vaseghpanah 22′, Clara Markstedt 29′, Lori Chalupny 59′
Jitex: Kristine Lindbom 20′
Even AIK with its back to the wall took an important win, but seeing even Djurgården and Örebro winning this weekend did not enhance AIK’s chances to avoid relegation. Anyway, they have not lost more ground. Good game by the young homeside getting even Jitex now into trouble since they are only four points ahead of Djurgården.
Vittsjö GIK vs KIF Örebro 0-1
Attendance: 557
Örebro: Sarah Michael 83′
Very important victory for Örebro. “We finally played as a team” wrote Swedish WNT midfielder Marie Hammarström on Twitter. And Vittsjö’s fairytale with good results seems over by now, but they have enough points to finish in the upper half of the league.
Göteborg FC vs LdB FC Malmö 0-1
Attendance: 446
Malmö: Ramona Bachmann 41′
Malmö has played some matches where they appeared shaky – they won all of them. Before Sunday’s game they knew that a victory would give them a five point lead over Tyresö and they took that chance with a lot of concentration and calm and were the better team in 90 minutes against cupwinners Göteborg. Two more wins against AIK at home and away at Umeå and Malmö takes its third consecutive championship.
Piteå IF vs Linköpings FC 0-1
Attendance: 495
Linköping: Mariann Gajhede Knudsen 72′
Another win for Linköping which gives them a chance to compete with Göteborg and Kristianstad for the 3rd position behind the leaders Malmö and Tyresö. Piteå is in trouble now with 19 points as much as Örebro and Jitex and four ahead of Djurgården. Next game is away at Örebro with former goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé. Even Linköping has talked about economic problems now and club president Anders Mäki has said that Linköping will no longer be able to offer players a full time pro contract next year. Lisa DeVanna will very likely leave and even Manon Melis is a big question mark.