The damallsvenskan gold battle had all the ingredients beforehand to become an exciting story. Three goals were all that separated Hammarby and Häcken when both stood on 56 points.
Linköping lurked behind on 55 points. It was dramatic even though Hammarby got an early grip on the SM gold in the match against Norrköping.
For Häcken also took the lead in the parallel match at Hisingen and went into the break with a 1–0 lead.
“We have a lot of the ball, but we would like to get more scoring chances in the second half,” said Häcken’s Anna Sandberg to Viaplay during the break.
Two quick goals
There and then, Häcken needed to score at least four goals to overtake Hammarby. For the second half, coach Mak Lind replaced attacking star Rosa Kafaji, who is the team’s best scorer and who started on the bench.
Kafaji was then the one who scored 4-0 to Häcken on penalties after teammate Aisha Masaka scored two quick goals after the break.
With the SM gold within reach and nothing to lose, Häcken pushed for further goals – cheered on by a singing home crowd at the Bravida arena.
Piteå in turn was shaken and the defense that behaved so disciplined in the first half was now shaken. 5-0 felt like a matter of time, then and there.
Third runner-up
But Hammarby’s lead proved to be unassailable for Häcken, who eventually won 4–0.
Having also finished second in the table in 2021 and 2022, second place was the team’s third in as many years.
There will also be no SC gold for Linköping, who last won the women’s league in 2017. The team finishes third.