The Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland) have long been a viable destination for Aussie footballers, and 2021 looks to be no different with over a dozen players choosing the Nordic countries as their playground.
This week a second Nordic league finishes up and an Aussie celebrates her team securing the bronze medal position. Read on to see how all our Aussies fared!
The penultimate game of the Toppserien was played on the weekend and the sole remaining active Aussie in the league – Karly Roestbakken – celebrated securing third place in the competition (the bronze medal position) with her LSK Kvinner team.
— LSK Kvinner (@LSKKvinner) November 8, 2021
While it was on the cards that the Lillestrøm based club would take the points in their away game against ninth-placed Lyn, there was no guarantee that seventh-placed Stabæk would provide an assist of sorts by defeating fourth-placed Vålerenga (the defending champions). The conjunction of these two blessed events conspired to give LSK an unassailable third-place position.
Played below the gloom of dark clouds hovering over the ground in the second half, Roestbakken did not see action off the bench as her team won by two goals to one in this hard-fought contest.
LSK’s final game of the season should be a beauty, at home to 2021 champions Sandviken.
Round 17 results
Round 18 games
Ladder
The Swedish Damallsvenskan 2021 season is over, with the 22nd and final round played on the weekend. The Aussies who took a leap of faith by joining the competition must be ecstatic about their decision, especially considering all of them were chosen to join a Matildas camp at some point during the year.
Having claimed the championship two rounds back, gold medallists FC Rosengård continued their three weeks of celebration by winning 0-2 away to 9th-placed Djurgårdens IF. Teagan Micah sat this game out, while Charli Grant entered the fray for the last 13 minutes.
Dylan Holmes played the last 17 minutes of silver medallists BK Häcken‘s final game, as her team recorded a 3-2 away loss to fourth-placed Eskilstuna United. The last few weeks have stretched Häcken’s squad with Svenska Cup (see victory photo below), Damallsvenskan and Champions League commitments, yet the year has been undeniably successful.
Guldet tillhör Gulsvart! 👊 pic.twitter.com/9YSbTtlfoc
— BK Häcken (@bkhackenofcl) May 13, 2021
With second place locked up, the team may have already had half an eye on their Champions League game against Benfica later this week. Three further Champions League fixtures await the team before the calendar year is done, so there will be no easing up just yet for the team in yellow and black.
For Holmes, this truly has been her greatest year.
Clare Polkinghorne, the goal-scoring machine? You better believe it – and no one celebrates a goal like her. Polkinghorne continued her recent scoring exploits by heading a Vittsjö GIK corner into the back of eighth-placed Örebro‘s net as part of an 8-2 demolition at home.
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This was undoubtedly a great way to end the season in front of their fans, however the team will nevertheless be rueing last week’s loss to AIK which cost them access to the third Champions League spot.
Finally, in a game where neither associated Aussie has seen much recent time on the pitch, it would have been gratifying for Växjö DFF‘s Winonah Heatley to be involved for 51 minutes against Hammarby IF to close out her 2021 Swedish football experience.
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While Elise Kellond-Knight is still rehabbing from surgery performed a couple of months ago to address chronic pain in her knee, her team were good enough to bounce back from two consecutive losses and defeat Växjö 0-2 away. Once as high as third, Hammarby finished the season in seventh place.
Seated at the foot of the table in the automatic relegation position, Växjö will not be contesting the Damallsvenskan in 2022.
Round 22 results
Ladder
Round 12 of the Danish Elitedivisionen was played on the weekend and now just two rounds remain before the season concludes.
Jenna McCormick‘s AGF remains in seventh place and is destined for the relegation playoffs following their 1-4 home loss against third-placed Brøndby IF. Head coach Katrine Pederson was disappointed after the game, stating that while AGF approached this game with an attacking mindset, the team is presently not quite good enough at creating chances and hurting the opposition on the scorecard.
The job doesn’t get any easier next weekend as AGF comes up against undefeated ladder leaders HB Køge.
It’s safe to say that everyone was in a happier frame of mind down Fortuna Hjørring way, with the club handing out a free beer or soft drink to all spectators during the game – this week’s Beyond 90 podcast episode is named ‘Free Beer’ as a tribute to this means of fan engagement.
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The good vibes must have rubbed off on the players – aside from Clare Wheeler‘s yellow card – as they went on to defeat fourth-placed Thy-Thisted IF 2-1. Wheeler, Angie Beard and Indiah-Paige Riley all started for Fortuna – Riley played all but five minutes, while Wheeler and Beard saw out the whole game. Alex Huynh was an unused substitute. Highlights and post-match thoughts from American keeper Adelaide Gay can be viewed below.
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The win maintains Fortuna’s five-point break on Brøndby as they look forward to an away game against sixth-placed Kolding BK next weekend.
Round 12 results
Round 13 games
Ladder
The Úrvalsdeild Kvenna 2021 season is over!
Urvalsdeild Ladder
1.deild Ladder
Follow all our coverage of Aussies and Ferns Abroad here, and Aussies in Nordic football here.
