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.
Read on for how our Aussies fared in the Nordic leagues this past week!
We’re twelve rounds into the 2021 Toppserien season and the top four sides have opened up a significant gap on the rest of the competition with six rounds remaining.
Last weekend, Nikola Orgill‘s Klepp gained a valuable point in a 1-1 home draw (see highlights below) against Lyn, a team who sits one place above them in 8th. Orgill was once again not on the match card but posted a gym photo this week, perhaps indicating she is nearing a return to action having missed several rounds due to injury.
Klepp is away to Stabæk this weekend in their Round 13 game.
Third-placed LSK Kvinner did not have a Toppserien game last weekend but will look to continue their strong recent form this weekend against Kolbotn. Karly Roestbakken is out of quarantine, back with the squad and set to resume full training next week.
Round 12 results
Round 13 games
Ladder
Round 14 of the Swedish Damallsvenskan competition was played on the weekend and there are now eight rounds remaining.
Winonah Heatley‘s Växjö DFF lost 1-0 in their away game against eighth-placed Djurgårdens, with Heatley playing 90 minutes at left back. While no doubt delighted to be experiencing the Swedish league and playing significant minutes, she has come into a team that has not won a game this season and has only scored three goals. There are signs of improvement however and if Heatley can play a part in turning things around that will only add to her enjoyment of her time in the Damallsvenskan.
Heatley and team come up against KIF Örebro DFF this coming weekend.
Two Aussies made second-half appearances in the game between ladder leaders FC Rosengård (Charli Grant) and seventh-placed Vittsjö GIK (Emily Gielnik). Clare Polkinghorne was once again not on the card for Vittsjö as they succumbed 0-4 at home, while Teagan Micah sat on the bench for Rosengård.
While Micah’s competition for the Rosengård goalkeeper spot was initially Canadian Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Labbé, Labbé has recently transferred to PSG. Her rival between the sticks is now 19 year old Angel Mukasa who has emerged from the Rosengård U17s.
Rosengård have a busy week ahead of them, with a Champions League home game against Hoffenheim midweek, followed by a league game this weekend against AIK.
Second-placed BK Häcken won 5-1 at home against fourth-placed Kristianstads, with Dylan Holmes playing the last 20 minutes for BK Häcken and Elise Kellond Knight not on Hammarby IF‘s card for their second successive defeat. Hammarby remain in the top four however, while Häcken has clear air around them in second place.
Up next, Häcken play an away Champions League game midweek against Norwegian champs Vålerenga and back up on the weekend against Piteå IF, while Hammarby come up against Kristianstads.
Round 14 results
Round 15 games
Ladder
Emma Checker‘s UMF Selfoss played their Úrvalsdeild Kvenna Round 16 game earlier in the season and therefore had a week off. They retain their fourth place even though most of their competition was in action last weekend.
Selfoss’s next clash is against bottom side Tindastoll and is part of the penultimate round of games.
In the 1.dield first division, Aideen Keane did it all in KR Reykjavik‘s 0-3 away win over Afturelding, assisting, scoring, winning a penalty, and receiving two yellows and a red!
The win keeps KR at the top of the league with two games to play. Next weekend they take on Haukar at home.
Urvalsdeild Round 16 results and Round 17 games
Urvalsdeild Ladder
1.deild Round 16 results
1.deild Round 17 games
1.deild Ladder
In the Danish Elitedivisionen, Jenna McCormick started her first game for AGF on the weekend, playing the full 90 minutes and somehow collecting a shiner (it’s unclear if this occurred in the game). The Round 4 result was a good one, 2-2 away to 3rd placed Brondby.
Really enjoying my time with @AGFFodbold 👌🏼 A hard fought point on the road on the weekend 💪🏼 📷: @joh_foto pic.twitter.com/1Ck0sBxUeK
— Jenna McCormick (@jen_mccormick) August 30, 2021
With a 0-2 lead at halftime AGF will be nonetheless disappointed they didn’t come away with all three points. The result keeps them in fifth as they look towards a matchup with undefeated HB Køge this weekend.
Fortuna Hjørring and their contingent of Aussies have kept top spot after Round 4, and it was a game to remember against FC Thy-Thisted for several reasons.
Overnight Aussies-In-Nordic-Football action: a 3 part thread…
🇦🇺 AUSSIES IN DENMARK 🇩🇰
For the first time in season 2021, all 4 Aussies were on the card for @FortunaHjorring as they recorded a 2-4 away win over FC Thy-Thisted.@HeyAngieBeard scored Fortuna’s second goal! pic.twitter.com/OL7a5ezIUP
— Beyond 90 (@Beyond90AU) August 28, 2021
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Fortuna was 0-4 up away to Thy-ThistedQ inside half an hour before it finished up 2-4. Angie Beard and Clare Wheeler both played out the full game, while Indiah-Paige Riley came on for the last half hour. Alex Huynh was an unused substitute in her first appearance on the match card for Fortuna.
A Round 5 matchup against fifth-placed Kolding BK greets Fortuna in the coming weekend.
Round 4 results
Round 5 games
Ladder
Follow all our coverage of Aussies and Ferns Abroad here, and Aussies in Nordic football here.
