After finishing ninth with just a point above relegation last term, Pierre Fondin s side sought to improve on their status in the 2021 Damallsvenskan campaign, with a fine start against Orebro.
Djurgardens started on a bright note as Daniela Zamora almost opened the scoring for the hosts two minutes after Elli Pikkujamsa missed the chance to put the visitors in front in the eighth minute.
However, the breakthrough came for Fondin s team in the 16th minute when Sara Olai found a way past the visitors defence before putting the ball beyond goalkeeper Tove Enblom.
After the break, Orebro gained a boost when Djurgardens Olai was sent off in the 71st minute but the hosts held onto their nerves in preserving their slim lead to ensure a winning start to the season.
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Continuing from where they left off last season, Djurgardens got ahead early enough as Hayley Dowd opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Hanna Ekengren doubled the lead 15 minutes later.
After the restart, Rachel Bloznalis grabbed the third goal of the encounter in the 70th minute to bury comeback hopes for Uppsala before Motlhalo wrapped up the triumph two minutes from time.
South Africa s Motlhalo featured from the start to the finish of the encounter, alongside Ghana s Portia Boakye in Djurgardens.
Having opened her second campaign in Sweden with a goal, the Banyana Banyana star is looking to surpass her personal best last season, where she scored twice in 20 games.