SK Brann previously advanced as the first Norwegian women’s club to the group stage of the Champions League and immediately reached the top eight in the playoffs.
SpongeBob Forsberg,
Bettina Törnvall
Finnish defender Joanna Tynnilä was late Thursday night making Norwegian football history.
Tynnilä’s club SK Brann defeated Slavia Prague in the women’s Champions League group stage match 1–0 and secured their place in the playoffs of the tournament.
Earlier this season, Brann advanced as the first Norwegian women’s club to the group stage and immediately reached the top eight in the playoffs.
– This is a fantastic, fantastic achievement, NRK’s football expert Carl-Erik Torp glowed.
In the past, Roa and Lilleström SK have been in the top eight, but this is the first time a Norwegian team has achieved that feat in the group stage era that began in 2021.
Tynnilä, who played full minutes in Branni’s defense in Prague, describes his own feelings to Urheilu as good and even a little incredulous.
– It’s a really great thing. I have noticed in all the supporters and in general in the whole club how big that thing is. It’s really great to be a part of this, Tynnilä tells Urheilu.
Finnish female players have won the Champions League or the UEFA Cup before it Laura Kalmari, Sanna Valkonen, Jessica Julin and Katriina Talaslahti.
Speed and courage
Brann, which is the second in the B group, secured its place in the playoffs in the penultimate round of the group games. In the last group game on January 31, it will face the group jumbo St. Pölten. Lyon leads the group with three points.
– It’s really nice that we were able to secure a place before the last group game. Can play it without pressure, and we get a good workout for the next games.
Tynnilä estimates that Branni’s high energy on the Euro courts is due to a good team with many young and promising players. In the summer, Branni moved from the position of assistant coach of the Manchester United women’s team to the head coach Martin Hon the style of play based on ball control and courage has started to work.
Tynnilä, who moved from HJK, which plays in the national league, to Brann in August, says that he has gained more game speed in Ho’s teachings.
– Maybe also more aggressiveness in my own playing. Probably also for opening the game, I can find a little more versatile options.
Unprejudiced to the playoffs
The victory in Prague did not come easily. The home team Slavia scored from a corner kick at the end of the first half, but the referee whistled a free kick for Branni and the hit was not allowed, even though a clear foul was not visible in the slow motion pictures.
– What the hell is going on? It’s a mysterious thing. Brann is now really lucky, NRK’s football expert Alexander Schau wondered.
Tynnilä admits that there were difficult moments in the match.
– I felt that the game was mostly under control, but there were a few moments where Prague was able to apply pressure. I think it’s a good sign that even though it wasn’t the best day, we were still able to win away from home.
Tynnilän is looking forward to which team Brann will face in the playoffs. FC Barcelona and Benfica have already secured their place in Group A, Brann and Lyon in Group B and Chelsea in Group D. In group C, the fate of the further places is still open. In group D, BK Häcken and Paris FC are fighting for the second place.
– Actually, pretty much the same thoughts as for the group stage games. We can leave without prejudice. You just have to try to continue to implement your own style of play.