We’re excited to once again bring you details of Aussies playing in Nordic football leagues (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland). Read on to see how they fared over the last week in our Nordic Wrap!
Why win one trophy when you can win two?
FC Nordsjælland have completed the Danish double, winning the Kvindeliga last weekend and then defending their Cup title on Wednesday.
The league title was secured with a 1-1 draw away to title rivals Brøndby. After Nordsjælland shotstopper Amanda Brunholt saved a first half penalty, Winonah Heatley picked the most wonderful time to score her first league goal for the Tigers. Brøndby equalised two minutes after Heatley’s goal, but Nordsjælland hung on to become the gold medallists for 2023-24. Heatley and Malia Steinmetz both played full games.
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Nordsjælland broke Brøndby hearts again in the Danish Cup Final, winning 2-1 with an own goal and a strike from Alma Aagaard. Heatley and Steinmetz were on the field for the entirety of the Final. During the post-game scenes, Heatley celebrated Nordsjælland’s Cup triumph in … a uniquely Australian fashion.
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AGF finished their campaign by being on the right side of a goalfest, winning 4-2 away to Kolding. Matilda McNamara was subbed on in the 91st minute and Ally Green was an unused substitute.
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The point Brøndby earned from their draw in the final round meant HB Køge missed out on Champions League qualification by one point, despite beating Fortuna Hjørring 1-0 at home. Daisy Cleverley played the first 69 minutes of the contest, but Claudia Bunge remained on the bench for the whole game. Køge are this season’s bronze medallists.
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Two rounds of the Damallsvenskan have been played since the last Nordic Wrap – rounds 10 and 11 – so let’s get to it!
It’s been a fruitful week for Angie Beard and Linköping FC, with six points gained and a significant leap up the ladder. Beard played the full 90 minutes in both home wins. The first came against Piteå IF, 4-2, and the second against Örebro, 2-1.
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One of only two teams not to play in round 10, Vesna Milivojević‘s IFK Norrköping failed to capitalise on possible tired Piteå IF legs in a round 11 1-0 home loss. Milivojević started and played the entire game. The team played their first game on a new artificial surface, with Milivojević involved in their best attacking moments of the game (translation recommended). As can be seen, the winner came late for the visitors:
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Clare Polkinghorne‘s Kristianstads DFF was the only other team not to take part in round 10 but took advantage of weary opposition, defeating Djurgårdens IF 2-1 away. Polkinghorne started and played 80 minutes. This was an important win for fourth-placed Kristianstads against the team one ladder position below them.
Second-placed BK Häcken continued their strong form this season with two wins at home, the first 4-1 against Djurgårdens IF, and the second 2-0 over Vittsjö GIK. Aivi Luik did not feature in either game and is still awaiting a return to action for Häcken.
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Results
Ladder
As there are no Aussies in the Toppserien, Nordic Wrap coverage of the league will pause here and resume if an Aussie joins the league.
As yet, no Aussies have signed up to compete in the 2024 Besta Deild Kvenna competition. 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.
