Maria Karlsson: Home sweet home
I love to travel, to be abroad, meet new people and new cultures, to taste new food and get new experiences, and since January all that has been a big part of my life. I’ve really enjoyed my first four months in England and all the new experiences I’ve had and all new people I’ve met.
Last week, Kylla Sjoman and I were in Barcelona and Rome. It was a lovely week with sun, ice cream, sea, tapas, FC Barcelona, new friends, pizza, Colosseum, and espresso. The foreign girls in Doncaster (Kylla, Aine, and I) have had a good time at Ramada Hotel, but Kylla and I didn’t miss the hotel food when we ate home cooked pasta in Italy. It was lovely! In Barcelona, we watched FC Barcelona’s last home game for the season. The game was average, but the celebrations after were the most amazing I’ve ever seen. More than 70,000 people congratulated the Spanish Champions, and I really look forward to tonight’s Champions League game. I feel prepared after being at both Old Trafford and Camp Nou the last months. I hope we’ll see a well played game between two tactical teams that want to attack. (more…)
WNY Flash midfielder Caroline Seger named WPS Player of the Week
Caroline Seger in action against magicJack (ISI Photos)
After her two-goal performance led the Western New York Flash to a 3-0 win over magicJack on Sunday, Flash midfielder and captain Caroline Seger earned WPS Player of the Week honors for gameweek 7. The Swedish international becomes the fourth Flash player in a row to win the award.
“I’m very happy to have won this, but I want to say thanks to my teammates because without them I wouldn’t have gotten this,” Seger told Our Game Magazine. “They make me play well and it’s easy to be good when you have 10 others that help you out there.” (more…)
Maria Karlsson: First half of FA Women’s Super League season comes to a close
We have now played seven games, and the first part of the season has passed by far too quickly. My personal opinion is that the league could have been played another three weeks, and then continue after the Women’s World Cup from end of July to October. I know it’s only eight teams, but why not play every team three times instead of two? I like when it’s intense between the games, but the
training suffers, and it’s hard for the clubs to get time to advertise each big game. Especially for our club, which has had three home games in the last eight days. I’m sure that the clubs and the FA have the same goal – that the players, teams and the game should develop. That will bring a bigger crowd to the games and more sponsors and money to the clubs. It would be a win-win situation for all parts. This of course is something that takes time and is a long-term project, and I think that this first season will teach a lot about how the future will look.
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Maria Karlsson: My best supporter, a big win, and a meeting with a legendary manager
Maria Karlsson with Sven-Göran Eriksson (Photo by Tim Sweed)
I hate to lose, but I’m not a bad loser. There’s a big difference. But I’m definitely a worse blog writer after a loss. So today I’m happy to write this blog after our great and important victory over Liverpool on Wednesday. It was a game when we had decided to fight from the first to the last minute, together, as a team. We created a lot of chances, but still struggled to put away a second and third goal. At least it must be exciting for the audience. Our goalie Helen Alderson, who I feel I should pronounce Andersson, because that’s makes her more Swedish, had a brilliant save off a penalty in the second half and then a great save (for the cameras) in the last minute of the game. (more…)
Sweden, England announce rosters for May 17th friendly
The rosters for the England vs. Sweden friendly scheduled for May 17th are set. England features five players from Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) – Sky Blue FC’s Eniola Aluko, Anita Asante, and Karen Bardsley and Boston Breakers Kelly Smith and Alex Scott. Four players from FA Women’s Super League (FAWSL) league leaders Birmingham City are on the squad – Karen Carney, Dunia Susi, Laura Bassett, and Rachel Williams. For Sweden, captain Caroline Seger will make her first appearance in 2011 for her country. She missed the Algarve Cup due to injury. Sweden keeper Sofia Lundgren (Linkopings FC) will not travel to Oxford for the match. She recently suffered a minor foot injury. Head Coach Thomas Dennerby has named Kristin Hammarström (Göteborg FC) as the replacement for Lundgren. (more…)
Maria Karlsson: Super start for Doncaster
I think everyone who has ever been involved with sports can agree with me that winning is great. The feeling you get when you have three points after a football game is awesome, and it’s even better when it’s after the first game, of a new league, in a historic game for women’s football in England. We came out with three points against Lincoln last week and the goal came, well-deserved, from our experienced midfielder Vicky Exley. It was a great game and a really good team effort. It was all about that game. This week we have two new games. First, we play Everton away on Wednesday, and then Chelsea in our first home game, Easter Sunday. I hope that we can be consistent and have the same buzz as we had last week, and that all our Doncaster fans will be backing us up in the stands. (more…)
Newly promoted Piteå come back to tie Linköping in Damallsvenskan opener
After falling behind in the 26th minute on a goal by Linköping forward and Finland international Linda Sällström Wednesday night, Piteå managed to stage a late comeback to pull level courtesy of an own goal by Linköping’s Nora Holstad Berge of Norway. The tie against the 2009 Damallsvenskan champions earned Piteå its first point in the top-flight league in two years. (more…)
Damallsvenskan champions LdB Malmö settle for draw with KIF Örebro
Defending Swedish champions LdB Malmö opened up its 2011 Damallsvenskan season Sunday with a 1-1 draw against KIF Örebro at Behrn Arena in Örebro. After falling behind, 1-0, in the 24th minute on a goal by Örebro forward Sara Michael, Malmö needed a second-half strike to pull level and avoid defeat. Midfielder Nilla Fisher’s goal in the 61st minute tied the game for Malmö, salvaging the draw. The last time these teams met was in last year’s Super Cup, which Malmö won, 2-1, to claim the title of the champions of Sweden. (more…)
Maria Karlsson: Canada + Sweden – Ireland
Maria Karlsson, right, in action against Liverpool in the FA Cup
I have had a very eventful week here in Doncaster. My parents came into town, and it was really nice to see them again. I had a great time showing them around Doncaster and having them meet the people I’ve gotten to know here. Unfortunately the weekend did not end very well when we lost against Liverpool in the FA Cup. We didn’t play to our potential, so Liverpool deserved to win this time. Hopefully this will make us hungry for revenge when the league starts. There is only a week and a half left until we play Lincoln, away April 13th. (more…)
Caroline Seger lands in Western New York, getting closer to obtaining U.S. residency
Caroline Seger is settling into life in the United States in more ways than one. The 26-year-old Swedish international and midfielder for the Swedish women’s national team recently landed in Rochester, New York, preparing for her upcoming Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) season with the expansion Western New York Flash. She’s also close to becoming a U.S. resident. (more…)
Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby names roster for friendly vs. Canada
Sweden Women’s National Team Head Coach Thomas Dennerby has named his squad for the April 2 friendly against Canada. The two teams will play in Rome. Both teams will compete in this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sweden is in Group C with the U.S., North Korea, and Colombia. Canada is in Group A with Germany, France, and Nigeria. (more…)
European Club Ranking: Olympique Lyonnais new number 1
A new club placed itself on the throne in the European club ranking based on the results in the Champions League of the last five years. Long time top club Umea IK from Sweden has to leave the place on top after a disappointing season and is moved down to second place by French champions Olympique Lyonnais. The current semifinalists are followed in spots 3 to 5 by Arsenal LFC, FCR Duisburg, and Turbine Potsdam. The two German clubs are the only ones in the current competition to win all of their games and collecting the maximum number of 18 points so far. (more…)
U.S. wins Algarve Cup, Canada claims Cyprus Cup title
The U.S. Women’s National Team won its eighth Algarve Cup title with a 4-2, come-from-behind win over Iceland, while the Canadian Women’s National Team knocked off Holland, 2-1 in overtime, to win its third Cyprus Cup in the last four years. Japan and France finished in third place at Algarve and Cyprus, respectively. (more…)
U.S. to face Iceland in Algarve Cup finals, Canada and Holland to play for Cyprus Cup title
The U.S. Women’s National Team had already sealed a place in the Algarve Cup finals, but it came down to the final day of group stage play to find out their opponent. Iceland, No. 17 in the FIFA World Rankings, defeated Denmark, 1-0, Monday afternoon in Portugal to advance to their first-ever Algarve Cup final. Iceland, which also beat China and Sweden in Group B, will play the U.S. Wednesday. Dóra María Lárusdóttir (Valur) scored Iceland’s goal. Meanwhile in Cyprus, Canada beat England, 2-0, Monday and coupled with Holland’s 6-0 win Monday over Switzerland, Canada and Holland will play Wednesday in the Cyprus Cup finals. (more…)
Historic day at both Cyprus Cup and Algarve Cup
Kelly Smith won her 100th cap with England and scored in a 2-0 win over Italy at the Cyprus Cup, while Iceland beat Sweden for the first time ever, shocking the No. 4 FIFA ranked team in the world, 2-1, at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. In other action today at Algarve, the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Japan (2-1), Norway beat Finland (2-1), Denmark beat China (1-0), Portugal beat Wales (3-1), and Romania beat Chile (2-0). In Cyprus, Canada, France, South Korea, and the Netherlands won, while Russia and Mexico played to a scoreless draw. (more…)
Four Nations U-23 tournament update: U.S. draws with England, Sweden beats Norway
The second day of the U-23 Four Nations Tournament in La Manga produced a 1-1 draw between the U.S. and England and 3-1 win by Sweden over Norway. Sweden, which lost, 4-2, on Friday to the U.S., came out Sunday and took a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the match on a goal from Sofia Jakobsson (Umeå IK). Norway’s Hege Hansen, who scored Norway’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw Friday against England, tied the match in the 24th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, Sweden’s Sarah Storck (LdB FC Malmö) scored what proved to be the game-winner. Before the first half ended, Sweden’s Linnea Liljegård (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC) scored her team’s final goal. (more…)
U.S. tops Sweden, England and Norway draw in opening matches of U-23 Four Nations Tournament
Norway’s Hege Hansen, right, scored Norway’s lone goal against England (photo by Astrid M. Nordhaug/Digitalsport)
Notre Dame forward Melissa Henderson scored two goals for the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team in its 4-2 win Friday over Sweden at the Four Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain. Sarah Hagen (UW-Milwaukee) and Casey Noguiera (Sky Blue FC) also scored for the U.S., while Sofia Jakobsson and Emma Berglund, who both play for Umeå IK, scored for Sweden. (more…)
U.S. U20s heading to Spain for tournament in La Manga
Following a training camp that ran through Feb. 20 in Chula Vista, Calif., the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team will head to Spain to play in La Manga against U-20 teams from Norway, Sweden, and England. The four-team tournament runs from March 4-March 8. (more…)
Fiona O’Sullivan, Jennifer Nobis, Stephanie Labbe lead Pitea
Fiona O’Sullivan (center) celebrates one of her four goals with teammate Jennifer Nobis (photo by Camilla Berglund)
Pitea IF got four goals from Fiona O’Sullivan, three goals and two assists from Jennifer Nobis, and a shutout by Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbe in Friday’s 9-0 win over Lulea DFC, and Nobis added one more in Pitea’s 3-1 win Saturday over Sunnanå. If Pitea, promoted this year to Damallsvenskan, beats Umeå IK Sunday, the team will win the Allstar Midwinter Cup. (more…)
LdB FC Malmö wins Jitex Cup
Swedish club Jitex BK of Damallsvenskan organized a four-team tournament that took place over the weekend at Valhalla Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Swedish club made it to the finals before losing, 3-0, to reigning Damallsvenskan champions LdB FC Malmö. (more…)
Aaran Lines looking forward to 2011 WPS season for more reasons than one
Two days after the WNY Flash announced they acquired Marta’s contract, Head Coach Aaran Lines talked about the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, how he and his staff compiled a team that features three national team captains, the 2010 WPS Rookie of the Year, some of the best internationals, and a handful of young talent. “I think if you go through our squad, not only have we brought in quality players, right next to their level of ability is their character,” Lines said. “And that’s important to Emma (Hayes), myself, and everyone here. Every player is coming to the club because they want to be here.” (more…)
The U.S. wins Four Nations Tournament in China
It all came down to the final day of the Four Nations Tournament in Chongqing, China to decide a champion, and with the U.S. Women’s National Team’s 2-0 victory over China, the U.S. won the tournament. Canada beat Sweden, 1-0, earlier in the day, so it came down to tiebreakers as both teams were tied for first place with 2-1 records. The first tiebreaker was initially goal difference, followed by goals scored, and then head-to-head, but that was changed prior to the tournament, according to U.S. Soccer. Head-to-head was the first tiebreaker, and since the U.S. beat Canada, the U.S. was crowned tournament champions. (more…)
