The Damallsvenskan leaders, FC Rosengård surprised everyone as they faltered on Saturday afternoon to drop two points at home to Djurgårdens IF.

The pacesetters had the chance to head into the mid-season break with a three point advantage over second-placed Linköpings FC, but instead it is just the one point after they twice had to come from behind at home.

Only a 90th minute strike from debutant Lotta Schelin saved them from a shock defeat, but the draw does not do them much more good, with Linköping having a game in hand and a gap of just two points to close once the season resumes.

Early setbacks hurt the hosts

In what was a big game for the leaders in a bid to extend their advantage at the top, they could not have endured a much worse start.

With just over 20 minutes of the game played, Rosengård were forced into making a change as Natasha Andonova - scorer of six goals in 12 league games - was withdrawn with injury.

Schelin was a more than capable replacement, receiving a very warm applause as she made her debut, but she was helpless as she watched her side concede in the same minute.

Mia Jallkerud was on hand to shock the home side, scoring her seventh of the season as an organised and hungry Djurgården side saw out the first half 1-0 up.

(Photo: Djurgårdens IF FF)
Lotta Schelin's debut was not the dream one she expected - even with her late goal. (Photo: Djurgårdens IF FF)

Plenty of second half action as the spoils are shared

While Rosengård had failed to really show their star quality in the first half, they needed to if they wanted to level the scores.

Nilla Fischer happily obliged just past the hour then, playing an inch perfect pass to meet the positive off-the-ball run of Ella Masar, who finished as coolly as she has been all season to move into double figures for 2016.

Rosengård hardly had time to celebrate their goal though, as minutes later Djurgården were back in the lead - Emilia Appelqvist with the final touch as her side looked to now protect a well-earned lead with just over 20 minutes to play.

It looked like they would too. Well-organised, particularly in catching their opponents offside, the visitors restricted their opposition to few high quality moments, thwarting their main attacking outlets throughout the game.

That was, however, until the final minute of the 90 when a sublime assist from Marta helped her side clinch a huge point.

A dazzling run was followed up by a perfect pass which Schelin latched onto, finishing to mark her debut with a last gasp equaliser to do some damage control for the league leaders.

They head into the mid-season break knowing this is an opportunity that they have not only let pass them by, but a chance that they have now passed onto  second-placed Linköping.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]