Aussies in Nordic football has been a recurring theme over the years and 2023 is no different. Read on to see how Aussies in the Nordic leagues (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland) fared during the past week!
The penultimate Damallsvenskan round before the World Cup break – Round 16 – was played on the weekend.
Competition leaders BK Häcken were assisted by an IFK Kalmar red card, but even away from home, the result was never in doubt in this meeting between the top and bottom sides. Aivi Luik played the full 90 minutes in Häcken’s 3-0 victory and capped off the occasion by being named in the Matildas World Cup final squad the day after the win.
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Hammarby didn’t live up to their own standards this season in their scoreless draw away to second-last IF Brommapojkarna but managed to retain their second position on the ladder by virtue of goal difference. Kyra Cooney-Cross played the full match for Hammarby, a day after being confirmed in the final Matildas World Cup squad.
Hammarby also this week confirmed Courtney Nevin‘s permanent transfer to Leicester City. Nevin joins Cooney-Cross in the Matildas squad.
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Vittsjö GIK put on a powerhouse performance in their 6-1 away demolition of higher-placed Kristianstads. Charli Grant assisted on the fifth Vittsjö goal and played 93 minutes, while Katrina Gorry received a yellow card in her 85 minutes on the park. To cap off a great week, all three Vittsjö-based Aussies (including Clare Polkinghorne, who is already in Australia) were named in the final Matildas World Cup squad.
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Finally, it was Aussie vs Aussie in FC Rosengård‘s 2-1 home win over an IFK Norrköping side who have been playing well in recent weeks. Teagan Micah – who was also named in the final Matildas World Cup squad – played a full game for the home side, while Chelsie Dawber entered the game at halftime for the visitors.
Results
Ladder
The 2023 playoff series (champions group and qualification group) are over, the Danish Cup has been played, and we now await the commencement of the Elitedivisionen season proper on August 26th.
In the Danish Cup Final between FC Nordsjælland and Fortuna Hjørring, Winona Heatley‘s Nordsjælland came away with a 2-0 victory on June 22nd. Heatley played the full match.
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AGF – with Matilda McNamara and Ally Green on board – recently topped the Gjensidige Kvindeliga Qualification playoffs, sealing their 2023-24 Elitedivisionen spot. AaB joins AGF in the competition by virtue of coming second behind AGF.
The champions group playoffs finished as follows, with all teams (including Heatley’s Nordsjælland) set to participate in the forthcoming Elitedivisionen. HB Køge claimed the gold medal for the third year running, thereby qualifying for the Champions League along with silver medallists Brøndby IF.
Round 17 of the Toppserien was the final round before the competition takes a break for the World Cup.
Larissa Crummer played the opening 75 minutes for Brann Kvinner in their 3-2 away win over second-last Arna-Bjørnar. Tameka Yallop is already in Australia in the World Cup pre-camp, having been named in the Matildas’ final squad. Crummer has also returned home since the win but was unable to break into the final 23 World Cup squad.
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Results
Ladder
Although the 2023 Besta Deild Kvenna competition (rebadged last season from the Úrvalsdeild) kicked off on April 26th, as yet no Aussies have signed up to compete. If the situation changes, the Aussies in Nordic Football wrap will be sure to cover it!
Follow all our coverage of Aussies and Ferns Abroad here, and read more of our Nordic coverage here.
