"Share, uneven teams", the home crowd chanted at Hammarby IP as the first half was coming to a close.
Then, Vilde Hasund had just rolled in what would be the final score, 4–0, to Hammarby in Monday's early Damallsvenskan league final against Rosengård.
A really bad half from us. We basically fail with everything we've said and look like a girls' team at times, says Emilia Larsson, formerly of Hammarby, after the loss.
Hammarby shifted into high gear as soon as the ball started rolling and Julie Blakstad pressed in 1–0 already in the fourth minute. It just continued in that vein.
Incredible last season
We're only in the third round of this year's season, but reigning champions Rosengård are something else than the success team from last year. Then, it was 25 wins and one loss throughout the season – a mighty 99–9 goal difference, too – but ahead of this year, the Malmö team has lost most of its key players and it shows naturally.
And even though Hammarby was the only team to defeat Rosengård also last year, Monday's thrashing was something else than the even matches in 2024.
It's clear that we know we're coming into this with a completely new team. We take it one step at a time and day by day. There are many who need to learn the game we play, says Emilia Larsson.
Ellen Wangerheim scored 2–0 in the 18th minute – the newly crowned national team striker's sixth goal in three matches – after a perfect setup by Stina Lennartsson.
"We're a better team"
Smilla Holmberg extended to 3–0 in the 41st minute and three minutes later, home team player Vilde Hasund wrapped up an almost perfect first half by scoring the fourth goal.
Rosengård evened out the game in the second half as Hammarby slowed down the pace. But the home win was never threatened, "Bajen" won 4–0.
We had respect for them, but it felt like we had focus on what we were going to do and we know that when we get up to level, we're a better team, says Hammarby's 18-year-old promise Smilla Holmberg, who has already scored four goals this season.
Hammarby is the only team with maximum nine points after three rounds. Rosengård stands at six points after two initial 1–0 wins.
