Three Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) are hosting Aussie players this year, read on to see how they fared in the past week!
The weekend saw the commencement of both the Champions and the Promotion/Relegation round-robins which effectively (and uniquely) punctuate last season… all prior to the current season commencing after the playoffs.
By virtue of finishing the 2021 Danish Elitedivisionen in second place, Aussie haven Fortuna Hjørring is contesting the Championship playoffs, with the prize for the top two being Champions League places. Teams in these playoffs start with their points tally from last year.
Fortuna kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 home win over FC Nordsjælland, with Clare Wheeler and Angie Beard starting and Indiah-Paige Riley coming on in the 64th minute.
Jenna McCormick‘s AGF Aarhus finished last year in seventh place and as a consequence, is competing for their place in the Elitedivisionen. They commenced their playoffs with a 0-1 away win against AaB (AGF match report here, Google translate recommended). McCormick came off the field in the 56th minute with ankle soreness. There is no news yet as to her prognosis.
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Championship playoffs results
Championship playoffs ladder
Promotion playoff results
Promotion playoffs ladder
In Round 2 of the Toppserien, LSK Kvinner chose to rest Karly Roestbakken due to foot soreness, but that didn’t stop the team from winning 0-2 away to Avaldsnes. LSK is two from two and will be keen to test themselves this weekend against Brann Kvinner (until recently known as Sandviken), who sits atop the table with a goal difference of plus ten.
Honorary Aussie and A-League Women’s golden boot winner Fiona Worts is now in training with LSK. Australian Toppserien fans will be salivating at the prospect of her impact on the league. The return of playmaker Camilla Linberg is also likely to add another dimension to LSK’s attacking stocks when it occurs.
Results
Ladder
Two more Aussies have signed for Swedish clubs, taking the total of Swedish-based Australian players to eight. Round 1 of the Damallsvenskan was played over the weekend.
Sydney FC and Matildas striker Remy Siemsen joined the AIK club this week.
AIK – who finished tenth in 2021 – started this season with a 2-0 home win over KIF Örebro.
Brisbane Roar defender Annie Haffenden has signed on with Växjö DFF. Regular Nordic Wrap readers will recognise Växjö as the club Winonah Heatley played with last season, and who were relegated to the second-tier (‘Elitettan‘) league. The Elitettan commences this weekend.
FC Rosengård recorded a 2-0 home victory over newly-promoted IF Brommapojkarna to start their season. Goalkeeper Teagan Micah played the whole match, while starting right back Charli Grant played 71 minutes before being substituted. The following highlights showcase an amazing save by Micah:
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Clare Polkinghorne took the field for her second season with Vittsjö GIK in their first-round matchup against Linköpings FC. While fellow Matilda Katrina Gorry is yet to join the team, they were able to battle out a 1-1 away draw.
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Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin are sharing some great football highlights at present. After their A-League Women’s grand final success with Melbourne Victory, the dynamic duo will take part in the Matildas’ two game series against the Football Ferns, and then link up with Hammarby.
Hammarby will be keen to see their new Aussie charges arrive after opening their account with a 0-3 home loss against Eskilstuna United.
Results
Ladder
Follow all our coverage of Aussies and Ferns Abroad here, and Aussies in Nordic football here.
