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, an Aussie scored on debut in Iceland, another debuted in Denmark and a third arrived back in Norway. Read on for how our Aussies fared in the Nordic leagues this past week.
Round 11 of the Toppserien was played over the weekend, with no involvement again from either of the Aussies in Toppserien squads.
Two goals from Karly Roestbakken‘s LSK Kvinner within the first half-hour on home turf were enough to see them home 2-0 against Nikola Orgill‘s Klepp. Orgill is still recovering from a strain.
LSK have lost a couple of players recently to injury, namely defender Cathrine Dahlström and in-form attacker Sophie Haug, while Belgian midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet left to join Reading in the FA WSL. It is no doubt a welcome sight to see a certain Aussie setting foot on Norwegian tarmac…
A somewhat surprising draw by champions Vålerenga against Avaldsnes sees LSK rise to third place, with Klepp remaining in ninth.
There are no games this weekend but next week is a busy one, with midweek Cup games against tier 2 teams (LSK plays Grand Bodo away, while Klepp plays Grimstad at home) followed by Round 12 of the Toppserien on the following weekend.
Round 11 results
Round 12 games
Ladder
The break in the Swedish Damallsvenskan competition is almost over, with games resuming 21 August.
In last week’s Nordic Wrap we saw that Winonah Heatley had signed with Växjö DFF; here she is spruiking their game this Friday against a Vittsjö GIK side featuring Emily Gielnik and Clare Polkinghorne.
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New FC Rosengård signing Teagan Micah took the opportunity this week for a quickfire visit to the City of Angels, prior to the season start:
Here’s a summary of Aussies in the 2021 Damallsvenskan, in order of current ladder position:
Rosengård (1): Charli Grant, Teagan Micah
BK Häcken (2): Dylan Holmes
Hammarby IF (3):Elise Kellond-Knight
Vittsjö GIK (7): Emily Gielnik, Clare Polkinghorne
Växjö (12): Winonah Heatley
Round 13 games
Ladder
In Round 15 of the Úrvalsdeild Kvenna, Emma Checker‘s fifth-placed UMF Selfoss was away to second-from-bottom Fylkir, with Checker again captaining the side and playing out the full 90 minutes. By halftime, Selfoss was up 1-3 but had to negotiate a tricky second half before coming away with a 3-4 win. Selfoss climb into the top four off the back of this result.
In the 1.dield first division, Aideen Keane‘s KR Reykjavik battled out a topsy-turvy away 3-3 draw against Grindavik. This was Keane’s first league game with KR and she made it a game to remember, scoring her team’s third goal in the 37th minute. Going into the break 1-3 up, KR conceded two goals near the hour mark and then hung on for the draw.
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The result sees them ease into third place as they look towards their next game this coming Friday morning against HK/Víkingur.
Urvalsdeild Round 15 results and Round 16 games
Urvalsdeild Ladder
1.deild Round 14 results
1.deild Ladder
1.deild Ladder
Clare Wheeler had her first outing in Danish league football – the Elitedivisionen – as Fortuna Hjørring defeated Nordsjælland 2-0. It was Fortuna’s first home game and Wheeler played out the full 90 minutes. While Alex Huynh was not on the match card, Indiah-Paige Riley came on as a second-half substitute in the 64th minute, receiving a yellow card 20 minutes later.
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Birthday girl Angie Beard played her 89 minutes with distinction, firing in a pinpoint cross from the left flank to set up the second goal.
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Second-placed Fortuna will be taking on sixth-placed AaB (Aalborg) at home this coming weekend.
Round 2 results
Round 3 games
Ladder
Follow all our coverage of Aussies and Ferns Abroad here, and Aussies in Nordic football here.
