Malmö clinch Swedish women's title
Sunday, September 19, 2010
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LdB FC Malmö wrapped up their first Swedish women's title for 16 years with three games to spare after a 1-1 draw at Göteborg FC, and the pair are set for European debuts next season.
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LdB FC Malmö secured their first Swedish women's title for 16 years with a 1-1 Saturday draw at Göteborg FC – but both teams have ensured European debuts in 2011/12.
Although Nilla Fischer's opener for Malmö was quickly cancelled out by Anna Ahlstrand, the draw ensured the unbeaten visitors remained ten point clear of Göteborg with three games remaining. "I'm high on happiness," Fischer said while her team-mate Therese Sjögran added: "I've waited for ten years for this."
Reigning champions Linköpings FC and the dominant force of the last decade, Umeå IK, found themselves eclipsed by Malmö, whose 19 games have produced 17 wins and two draws. They will enter next season's UEFA Women's Champions League in the round of 32 while Göteborg are set to start in the qualifying round – they are nine points ahead of third-placed Linköping but have a vastly superior goal difference.
Linköping, meanwhile, are representing Sweden in this season's edition and open their bid in Slovenia at ŽNK Krka in the first leg of their round of 32 tie on Wednesday. Umeå's bid for a third European title ended unexpectedly in the qualifying round last month and they are an unfamiliar seventh in the 12-team Damallsvenskan.