Malmö retain title, Røa celebrate

FC Malmö claimed their second consecutive Swedish league title with a 6-0 victory against KIF Örebro DFF on the final day of the Damallsvenskan season. Fellow winners Göteborg FC finished runners-up and will join Malmö in next season's UEFA Women's Champions League.

There were three clubs in with a shot at the title going into today's final games. Malmö were first with 46 points, and Göteborg and Tyresö FF on 45 and 43 respectively. With their rivals facing each other, Malmö knew maximum points would grant them the title.

The leaders wasted no time in showing their intent, taking the lead inside a minute through Frida Nordin's thunderous shot from outside the penalty area. Therese Sjögran doubled Malmö's lead midway through the half, and when Katrine Veje made it 3-0 straight after the restart, it mattered little that Göteborg too were cruising to a comfortable win at Tyresö.

Malmö found the net three further times before the final whistle to end the season in style. Top scorer Manon Melis failed to score but the Dutch international striker was directly involved in three of the goals. "It sometimes happens [that you don't score] but we won 6-0," said Melis, who nonetheless finished as the league's 16-goal joint-top scorer alongside Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir of Kristianstads DFF. "It felt great to score immediately. We wanted to score early, and it took us just 45 seconds."

Malmö have now equalled Umeå IK's record of seven titles, and have claimed a second in succession under coach Martin Sjögren. "Last year was a new feeling, but it's the kind of feeling that you want to experience again," he said. With eight wins, one draw and no defeats before the FIFA Women's World Cup break, Malmö failed to match that form when the league resumed – it took them five matches to register their next victory while Tyresö and Göteborg began to edge closer.

Malmö prevailed in the end, however narrowly. "I hope I've added that extra edge," said midfielder Caroline Seger, signed for the last eight games of the season. "Particularly in a match like this. I hope that I helped to keep the other players calm."

Seger and her team-mates resume their 2011/12 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign in the round of 16 against SV Neulengbach, visiting Austria on 2 November and welcoming their opponents eight days later. On the same dates, Göteborg continue their maiden European bid against 2003 runners-up Fortuna Hjørring of Denmark.

Meanwhile, Røa IL beat Kattem IL 8-1 to reclaim the Norwegian crown with a game to spare. Deposed champions Stabæk FK, who welcome Røa on 29 October, lead Kolbotn IL on goal difference in the race for the second European place.