Photo by Jose Breton/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Real Madrid Femenino’s Kosovare Asllani captained Sweden in their friendly against Malta. It was Asllani’s first action since injuring her nose after scoring a hat-trick against Valencia. The Swedes traveled to Malta for their second friendly during this international break. Sweden dismantled Austria 1-6 in the first friendly.
Malta immediately dropped deep to defend. Sweden had all of the ball and passed around in Malta’s half, looking for an opening to exploit. The first opening came in the 19th minute. Julia Roddar launched a low shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Asllani stuck out her foot and flicked the shot into the Malta goal.
Finally, welcome to the latest supporters group for both D.C. United and the Washington Spirit!
Hi there, we are an independent supporter group for the @WashSpirit & @DCUnited by & for people of color (POC). The nature of soccer support in the U.S. is evolving, & we are founded on the guiding principle of including & amplifying voices of POC in the D.C. soccer community! Rose Room Collective (@RoseRoomCo) February 9, 2021
That’s it for today. Stay safe out there, y’all. More From Black And Red United
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Yesterday wasn’t too wild of a news day, but we still have the framework of this year’s MLS schedule (assuming the CBA is worked out, and that Covid-19 doesn’t force another delay, and probably four other obstacles), a D.C. United re-signed for another year, a Washington Spirit contract move that’s almost to that stage, and a few other things. Let’s go!
Felipe Martins was out of contract, but now he’s got a deal with United through this year (with an option year in 2022). No real surprise, but it’s good United got the deal done. Felipe’s experience playing deep in the Red Bulls midfield during their 3331 days with Jesse Marsch may end up being quite applicable to what Hernán Losada wants from his deepest midfielder. Hopefully his ACL rehab stays on course for a return earlier in the season rather than later.
Despite Sweden’s rich women’s footballing heritage, another club is grappling with the prospect of folding. Here Rich Laverty takes a deep dive into the country’s history of football and the future of the women’s game there.
Women’s football clubs abruptly pulling the plug is sadly nothing new to the women’s game. But there was still some degree of shock when Swedish champions Kopparbergs/Göteborg announced they would not be re-entering the Damallsvenskan or UEFA Champions League next year.Embed from Getty Images
The club won the Swedish league title for the first time earlier this year, qualifying them once again for Europe’s elite club competition in 2021, and it’s just a mere two weeks since the club’s players were walking out to face Manchester City in this year’s edition of the competition.