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!
Round 20 of the Damallsvenskan saw the majority of participating Aussies taking home the points, with one hitting the back of the net.
Amy Sayer was up against Chelsie Dawber as Kristianstad DFF defeated IFK Norrköping 2-1 at home. Sayer entered the game in the 63rd minute, while Dawber started for Norrköping but was substituted at half-time. Sayer and Dawber will see plenty of each other during the current international window, as both have earned Australia U-23 selection for the two game series against Scotland U-23 in Italy.
Idag vid 15:00 sparkas matchen borta mot Kristianstads DFF igång. Se matchen på plats på Kristianstad Fotbollsarena, eller via Viaplay.
⚪️#ifknorrköping pic.twitter.com/9ve6fwXeG7
— IFK Norrköping (@ifknorrkoping) September 17, 2023
Angie Beard played a full game in Linköping FC‘s 3-0 home victory over Örebro. The win leaves Linköping poised nicely in what is now a congested top three.
Hammarby‘s win over Djurgården during the previous round proved to be Kyra Cooney-Cross‘s final game in Sweden. It’s onwards and upwards for Cooney-Cross, who is headed to Arsenal – Hammarby will miss her!
Kyra Cooney-Cross is a Gunner ✍️
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 14, 2023
Just like last round, all three Vittsjö GIK-based Aussies – Clare Polkinghorne, Charli Grant, and Katrina Gorry – played full games as Vittsjö won 2-1 away from home against Uppsala. Gorry scored in a fashion that will be familiar to long-time viewers of the Matildas and A-League Women.
WHAT. A. GOAL! An incredible strike from @KatrinaGorry in @vittsjogikofcl‘s 2-1 win over Uppsala! ☄️#Matildas #MatildasAbroad pic.twitter.com/z19dxf1o7k
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) September 18, 2023
Finally, Aivi Luik was once again absent from the BK Häcken match card for their 1-0 away loss to Djurgården. After holding a comfortable lead at the top of the Damallsvenskan ladder going into the World Cup, their form since then has been average, with two scoreless draws and a loss. They have now relinquished the ladder lead to Hammarby on goal difference. As reported by the club (translation recommended), Häcken is struggling to finish their chances in the final third, but believes that a return to winning ways may not be too far away.
Results
Ladder
There were plenty of good times in Denmark as all of our Aussies and Kiwis were victorious during Kvindeliga Round 4!
Sarah Hansen’s early goal gave AGF a 1-0 away win over Thy ThistedQ – their second win in a matter of days over Thisted, after defeating them in the 2nd Round of the Danish Cup. Matilda McNamara played yet another full game, however Ally Green was not selected.
Green earned a recall to the New Zealand squad and will link up with her fellow Football Ferns as they prepare for two games against Chile in Santiago. However, McNamara will have a break as on this occasion nominative determinism is not enough for Australia coach Tony Gustavsson.
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FC Nordsjælland were also victorious on their travels, with a first half brace from 18 year old Emilia Ásgeirsdóttir giving them a 2-0 triumph over Aalborg BK. Winonah Heatley was on the field for the whole game, while Malia Steinmetz started and played 74 minutes.
Steinmetz was also selected for New Zealand’s two game series against Chile, and Heatley is now in Italy with the Australia U-23 squad as they prepare for two games against Scotland U-23.
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HB Køge made full use of home ground advantage by defeating Kolding 5-0. Claudia Bunge started, played 83 minutes and scored just before being substituted. Deborah-Anne de la Harpe‘s substitute appearance was brief but eventful – the Irish international entered proceedings in the 93rd minute and scored two minutes later. Daisy Cleverley was not selected for the game.
Bunge will join Green and Steinmetz in the Football Ferns squad for this week’s games against Chile.
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Larissa Crummer assisted two goals and played a full match as Brann Kvinner thrashed bottom-placed Avaldsnes 8-0 away from home in Round 21 of the Toppserien.
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.
