Stina Blackstenius' proficiency in front of goal helped Linköpings to the top as three teams are still on the hunt for their first points of the Damallsvenskan season.
Rosengård deadly as ever
Because of Rosengård’s Champions League commitments and possible semi-final they visited Djurgårdens in the only midweek fixture, running out comfortable 3-0 winners. Ella Masar and Ebba Wieder both netted in the first half and Marta added a third in the dying minutes to leave Djurgårdens at the bottom of the table; Rosengård were top until the weekend. But once again for Rosengård, the win came at a price, captain Emma Berglund withdrawn less than 20 minutes in with a persistent thigh injury.
Berglund joins Erin McLeod, Amanda Ilestedt, Nina Frausing Pedersen, Sofie Junge Pedersen and Gaëlle Enganamouit on the ever-growing injured list. Although there was some good news for the Malmö club as Natasa Andonova, who had to be stretchered off in Rosengård’s last game in the second half, is well on the way to full-fitness.
New kids on the block upset Mallbackens at the Fryxellska Skolan
Newly promoted Kvarnsvedens dealt Mallbackens a surprise defeat in their own back garden.
An early goal courtesy of Caroline Lundberg was enough to settle the visitors into their game. Although the hosts continued to threaten it was Kvarnsvedens who were the team celebrating again, Agnes Dahlstrom adding a second just minutes after the half time break.
Madelen Janogy hit back for Mallbackens with a little more than twenty minutes left on the clock but try as they might, the home side couldn’t add to their tally; Sarah Elnicky added a third for Kvarnsvedens ten minutes after Janogy’s goal. It is very early in the season but Kvarnsvedens finished the week third in the table, unbeaten in two. Mallbackens are still hunting for their first points of the season.
Stalemate in Göteborg
Despite both sides having clear chances neither Kopparbergs/Göteborg or Örebro could break the deadlock as the two played out a scoreless draw at Kopparbergs' Valhalla Stadium. Örebro’s Melissa Tancredi came closest out of anyone, seeing her strike canon off of the crossbar in the first half. Kopparbergs earned their first points of the season, Örebro made it two draws from two.
Linköpings leaping to top spot
Linköpings climbed above Rosengård on goal difference after soundly beating Kristianstads 4-1. The visitors led by two goals inside of the first ten minutes thanks to two quick strikes from no.9 Stina Blackstenius, Pernille Mosegaard Harder adding a third ten minutes later.
Kristianstads hit back immediately after the restart as Johanna Rasmussen reduced the deficit back to two but it was for naught as the hosts were always second best in the match, Linköpings repeatedly besting their backline.
Kristine Minde, who had assisted Harder for the third goal, added a fourth for the hosts inside the last ten minutes to rocket her team to the top of the table.
Equally matched Umeå and Piteå play out draw
Piteå travelled to Umeå’s Energi Arena full of confidence after comfortably beating Kopparbergs/Göteborg on the first day of the season, but they failed to gain any ground against their hosts. The home team had a glorious opportunity to take the lead half an hour in after Jenny Hjohlman was brought down in the box, Hjohlman took the penalty herself but it was an easy save for Hilda Carlen.
The deadlock was broken early in the second half and it was the visitors who found the back of the net first. Ellen Löfqvist pounced on the ball as Malin Reuterwall fumbled at a corner, the defender poking the ball past a red-faced Reuterwall. Predictably Umeå hit back at the away side, Rita Chikwelu – one of the the brightest sparks on the pitch – cancelled out Löfqvist’s opener.
Lisa Lantz launched the ball forward for Chikwelu to chase, easily getting away from Emelie Lövgren. Chikwelu made no mistakes when she was one-on-one with Carlin. Although Umeå pushed for a second they couldn’t find that final killer pass and the two finished all square at the whistle. Umeå are still looking for their first win having drawn both their matches this season, and Piteå are now unbeaten in their last 15 competitive matches.
Vittsjö ease past last year’s runners-up
A lone Sandra Adolfsson goal, scored in the 21 minute, was enough for Vittsjö to claim all three points against an under-performing Eskilstuna. The home side dominated the first half and easily could have lead by more at the interval, as it was the only goal came from Adolfsson; the midfielder striking from 25-yards, the ball squirmed under Emelie Lundberg. Eskilstuna improved in the second half, testing Katlynn Fraine on more than one occasion but it wasn’t enough to take anything from the game.
