Derby Victory Brings Hammarby Back to the Damallsvenskan Summit
Hammarby briefly reclaimed the Damallsvenskan lead after a 1-0 Stockholm derby win against AIK at Kanalplan, but the victory did little to quiet concerns about the team’s attacking sharpness. The result keeps Hammarby in the title conversation for now, yet the performance suggested there is room for improvement as the season unfolds.
The turning point came with Bea Sprung, a 20-year-old forward who arrived in the summer after a spell with Rosengård. Sprung took center stage in the derby, delivering a dream start for her new club. After a sharp build-up on the left, Sprung finished a low shot into the corner following a set-up from Asato Miyagawa, giving Hammarby the opener. Just moments later, the goal area erupted again as Sprung struck a second time, capping off an early burst of energy for the hosts.
“Dream start” is the phrase that best described Hammarby’s opening minutes. The pressure was sustained, and Hammarby looked the likelier side to add to the tally. Yet the match’s complexion soon shifted as AIK found their footing and began to press back. The AIK defense, supported by a standout performance from goalkeeper Jada Whyman, kept Hammarby from extending the lead and offered a stark reminder that derbies are rarely won on talent alone.
Whyman produced a string of crucial saves, denying a clear second for Hammarby and keeping AIK within striking distance. The Swedish shot-stopper’s form highlighted the night’s theme: Hammarby controlled much of the play but struggled to convert chances into a second goal. The visitors were wasteful only in front of goal, with the home side often failing to deliver the exact passes needed to unlock AIK’s organized backline.
Just before the break, Adelisa Grabus turned in a well-timed run behind the Hammarby defense, and Nova Selin slid her the ball into space. Grabus’s low, open-look shot went narrowly wide, a moment that could have changed the mood at halftime. The near-miss underscored the match’s recurring pattern: Hammarby’s dominance in possession did not translate into a comfortable cushion on the scoreboard, and AIK’s resilience kept the scoreline from reflecting a more overwhelming home performance.
In the second half, Hammarby continued to press, but the quality of the final pass and finishing touch remained the limiting factor. The team leaped forward in bursts, yet the finishing execution often let them down at the decisive moment. The result was a hard-fought 1-0 win that, while securing maximum points, left several questions for coach and players about consistency across 90 minutes in the Damallsvenskan.
Looking Ahead: Can Hammarby Sustain Their Gold Dream?
With the win, Hammarby ascended to the top of the Damallsvenskan table—at least temporarily—keeping pace with the competition in a title race that appears poised to be tight this season. The performance highlighted Sprung’s potential as a talisman for the club, especially given her Rosengård pedigree and rapid adaptation to the squad. Still, the morning-after reality is clear: the team will need more clinical finishing in the upfront third and cleaner, more precise passing to convert pressure into a more comfortable win margin.
Next up, a marquee test awaits. On Saturday, Hammarby travel to Göteborg to face BK Häcken, a match that could decide who holds pole position in the early stages of the campaign. Häcken, who reclaimed top spot with a win over Alingsås, present a formidable obstacle and a direct opportunity for Hammarby to demonstrate that their early-season form is more than just a fleeting moment of glory.
In short, Hammarby’s derby triumph provided a clear signal that the squad has the talent to compete for Damallsvenskan gold, anchored by Sprung’s bright form and a solid defensive base. The próximas fixtures will reveal whether the team can translate mood into momentum and push their title chances to a sustained run rather than a one-off performance.
