Häcken Take Command in the Damallsvenskan Title Race
Häcken moved to the very top of the Damallsvenskan table with a convincing 3-0 victory away to Malmö FF at Eleda stadion, a result that reclassified the race for the Swedish crown with six rounds remaining. After 20 matches, Häcken sit on 46 points, one point clear of Hammarby, who had led the table prior to this weekend. Malmö FF stay in third, four points off the summit, while Djurgården are six points adrift in fourth. The win underlined Häcken’s growing authority in a title race that has tightened at the front.
Second-half surge seals the points
After a relatively cagey first half, Häcken found their breakthrough after the break. In the 48th minute, Anna Anvegård powered a header home to give the visitors the lead. Fourteen minutes later, 2-0 arrived when Alice Bergström finished past Moa Öhman after a deflection off Malmö defender Courtney Nevin, bending the ball in a neat arc. Bergström’s strike sent a message: Häcken were here to press their advantage in the chase for the title. Tabitha Tindell added a late third in the 85th minute to seal the win on the road.
Key goals and moments
Felicia Schröder, Malmö’s 18-year-old prolific scorer who has already hit 27 goals this season, was held scoreless in this big test for the hosts. The home side created several chances of their own, but Jennifer Falk, Malmö’s goalkeeper, was alert and kept a clean sheet for most of the match. The match also carried a physical edge: in the 56th minute, Schröder and Malmö’s Moa Öhman collided in a 50-50 challenge in the box, both players requiring treatment before continuing. The moment showed how high the intensity was in this top-of-the-table clash, even if the game’s decisive moments ultimately belonged to Häcken.
Injury cloud over Malmö, title implications for Häcken
Tuva Skoog, Malmö’s creative force with seven goals and 19 assists this season, left the field in the first half with an injury to the back of her thigh, a blow to Malmö’s ambitions in what was already a tough afternoon. Her departure signaled a difficult path ahead for Malmö as they tried to close the gap to the leaders. For Häcken, the win reinforced confidence and momentum as they head into a pair of tricky fixtures that will test their grip on the championship.
What this means for the title race
With the six remaining rounds shaping the narrative of the Damallsvenskan, Häcken now hold the advantage at the summit. The team’s ability to control matches after halftime has become a recurring theme, and the squad’s depth was evident as Bergström and Anvegård combined to stretch the lead. “So damn sweet that we could go out in the second half and show what we’re made of,” Bergström told Viaplay after the match, underscoring the psychological lift this win provides in such a close title race.
Looking ahead: remaining big fixtures
Häcken still have two formidable engagements on their schedule: a home showdown with Hammarby on 11 October and a trip to Djurgården on 8 November. Each game is now treated as a final as they attempt to maintain their top-spot advantage and push toward the Damallsvenskan title. Malmö, meanwhile, will be hoping to rebound quickly and atone for this match as they chase a return to the podium and a steadier footing in the race for Europe.
Ultimately, this result exemplified the nature of a title chase where one good performance can shift the balance of power. For Häcken, the goal is to sustain their form and see the campaign through to its late-season verdict, while Malmö must regroup and recover their spark in time for their next challenge.
