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.
All the Nordic leagues saw action this week, prior to the two week international break. Read on to see how our Aussies fared!
Last weekend was a designated NM Cup weekend so no Toppserien games were played.
The two Aussies in the competition witnessed Karly Roestbakken‘s LSK Kvinner run away with a 3-0 Cup quarter final win against Nikola Orgill‘s Klepp in the LSK Hall. It was an assured performance and all three goals were scored with conviction in the first half, including a brace to Mimmi Löfwenius.
The Cup semi-final draw was held this week and LSK Kvinner will enjoy home ground advantage when they face Toppserien leaders Sandviken on the weekend of October 2-3.
The Toppserien resumes September 25th and all Aussies will be hoping that both Roestbakken and Orgill return to action. There are certainly good signs for at least one of them, as can be seen in this Instagram post from the Matildas camp for the upcoming game against the Republic of Ireland on September 22 (AEST).
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Round 14 games
Ladder
A busy week again for some Aussies in Sweden as second leg midweek Champions League games were played, followed by Swedish Damallsvenskan Round 16 games.
FC Rosengård performed far better away to German side 1899 Hoffenheim in their second leg Champions League game, drawing 3-3 in Germany. A 6-3 aggregate score in favour of the Germans sees Rosengård’s run in the 2021 competition draw to a close. Teagan Micah played a full game in goals and Charli Grant played the last eleven minutes of the match.
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Back in Sweden for the weekend, it was business as usual for the Damallsvenskan leaders as they accounted for Hammarby IF 1-2 away from home. It would have been a two goal margin but for Micah’s last minute error when clearing the ball which left an open goal, but this in no way detracts from how Micah is fitting into the Rosengård team, as she explained to Marissa Lordanic for the official Matildas account.
“Post-Tokyo, I had a little holiday in America, which was nice and I’ve recently joined a new club in Sweden, FC Rosengård, so I’ve just been trying to settle in there and played a few games. It’s an adjustment, I’m just trying to find my feet,” she said.
“I really love Sweden. It’s a great city, I’ve got a great setup, the club’s been amazing and really supportive. Hopefully, I can just get in a good rhythm there and put in some good performances for the club.”
Grant was an unused substitute for the game, while Elise Kellond-Knight was not listed on the Hammarby card after sharing a story on how she has been dealing with undiagnosed pain – revealed to be a one-in-a-million neuroma in her knee – which has been treated via a surgical procedure this week.
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BK Häcken is through to the next round of the Champions League after winning 3-2 at home against Norwegian champs Vålerenga in the second leg (aggregate 6-3), where Dylan Holmes saw the last eleven minutes of action. Häcken have a tough draw in the Champions League group stage – last season’s UWCL semi-finalists Bayern Munich, French powerhouse Lyon and Portuguese champions Benfica.
Back in the Damallsvenskan on the weekend, second-placed Häcken enjoyed a 2-0 home win over KIF Örebro with Holmes listed on the bench but not seeing any game time.
Clare Polkinghorne‘s seventh-placed Vittsjö GIK fought out a 2-2 away draw against Djurgårdens IF, the team below them on the ladder, with Polkinghorne playing a full game. She is now looking ahead to the Matildas game against the Republic of Ireland.
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Winonah Heatley was once again on the bench for Växjö DFF and watched as her team lost 2-1 away to third-placed Eskilstuna United, their third consecutive one goal loss against higher rated opposition.
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Round 16 results
Round 17 games
Ladder
With Round 18 of the Úrvalsdeild Kvenna completed on the weekend, the season is done!
Last week’s surprise loss against Tindastoll did indeed mean the difference between Emma Checker‘s UMF Selfoss finishing in the top four or not, as they succumbed 5-0 away to 2021 league champions Valur Reykjavik and finished the season in fifth place. Checker once again captained the side and played 90 minutes in a game where all the goals were scored in the first half.
It was a season that promised much with Selfoss leading the competition in the early rounds, but a mid-season slump proved their undoing despite a gradual upswing in form from Round 10 at around the time that Checker assumed the captaincy. Checker is now in camp with the Matildas as they prepare for their game against the Republic of Ireland.
In the 1.dield first division, Aideen Keane capped off a stunning stint with KR Reykjavik, scoring the last goal of the season in their 0-3 away win against Grótta.
Keane scored in every outing for her Icelandic club and can truly come home proud of both her personal and her club’s achievements this season. KR claimed the 2021 trophy and is admitted back into the top flight for 2022 after only one season away.
Urvalsdeild Round 18 results
Urvalsdeild Ladder
1.deild Round 18 results
1.deild Ladder
In the Danish Elitedivisionen, Jenna McCormick played 90 minutes for AGF on the weekend as they defeated AaB (Aalborg) 0-1 away from home, a result which keeps them in fifth place and is an uplifting note for McCormick to take into the Matildas camp.
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Angie Beard and Clare Wheeler both started for Fortuna Hjørring in their strong 0-3 away win against Brøndby IF. Indiah-Paige Riley came on for the last half-hour and Alex Huynh was an unused substitute.
Fortuna retains second place while their opponents drop from third to fourth.
Beard – who was once again selected in the competition’s Team of The Week – spoke to Fortuna Hjørring media about her Matildas call-up:
Round 6 results
Round 7 games
Ladder
Follow all our coverage of Aussies and Ferns Abroad here, and Aussies in Nordic football here.
