What a wonderful Sunday of football MFF and FC RosengĂĄrd served up for us football lovers!
The sun was shining over Eleda Stadion, a large crowd was in attendance, and there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. A Malmö derby is always special; it’s about seeing which team is currently the best in the city.
It took MFF many years to realize that there were women playing football at an elite level in Malmö. But once they launched their women’s program, they did a fantastic job, rising rapidly through the ranks to join the football elite.
On the other side stood FC Rosengård, a club that has been the giant of Swedish women’s football for so many years—a team that has consistently contended at the top and won numerous league titles.
Football changes quickly sometimes, and right now, FC Rosengård feels a bit like la vieja senora—"the Old Lady"—still possessing great pride but having to fight significantly harder in recent seasons.
And bad luck simply refuses to let go of FC RosengĂĄrd.
During training last week, Molly Johansson tore her cruciate ligament. It’s absolutely devastating. It is a grim fact that this marks the third ACL injury in just two months. One’s thoughts go primarily to the three players and the long road to recovery that lies ahead before we see them on the pitch again. But it is also a heavy blow for a team fighting to stay above the relegation playoff zone.
And as if Molly’s injury earlier in the week wasn't enough, Rosengård had to change their starting lineup just minutes before kickoff. Cecily Wellesley-Smith felt some discomfort during the warm-up, so Julie Mathiasen had to step in. Not exactly the ideal preparation for a crucial derby.
Once the match got underway, the game unfolded much as I had expected. MFF took a firm grip on proceedings during the first 20 minutes, but RosengĂĄrd slowly but surely worked their way into the match.
And as the half progressed, it increasingly felt like RosengĂĄrd could win the game.
A few good scoring chances were created, and 0–0 at halftime felt like a fair reflection of the play.
Then came the cold shower.
Just two minutes into the second half, MFF scored to make it 1–0, and that turned out to be the final score.
Another derby victory for MFF.
You surely remember that the spring derby at Malmö IP also ended 1–0 to MFF.
Viewing things through my rather biased RosengĂĄrd-tinted glasses, I still feel that both matches really should have ended in a draw, given how the games played out.
But as I always come back to: football is about scoring goals, and MFF has been better at that in this year's two derby matches.
So, I simply have to admit that MFF is currently the best women's team in Malmö.
The league table confirms this, too.
Despite the loss, there are still positives to take away. Rosengård remains above the relegation playoff zone, and there are still 15 points left to play for. I actually think there were many good things in Sunday's match—many small passages of play that gave me a good feeling. The challenge now is to sustain those positives for longer periods during matches. Rosengård faced a top-of-the-table team, yet they never backed down. They challenged MFF and fought hard all the way.
Now, a new challenge awaits at Malmö IP, as Vittsjö—from the Snapphane region—comes to visit on Saturday, October 17.
We can expect a completely different kind of match then.
And as I often say: every match takes on a life of its own.
What happened against MFF doesn't necessarily matter once the next match kicks off. The upcoming game will look entirely different. Those of you who follow football know this.
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An international break is coming up, and many of Rosengård’s players are heading off on national team duty.
Then comes the match against Vittsjö on October 17 at Malmö IP, with kickoff at 3:00 PM.
And I really hope that all of you who were at Eleda Stadion last Sunday—and who support Rosengård—will make your way to Malmö IP.
Because right now, RosengĂĄrd needs us.
We need to stand behind the team, sing, offer our support, and show that we believe in them.
There are 15 points left to play for.
Let’s do this together.
See you at Malmö IP.