The dynasty from Västerås
]Background
31st of October 1992 Gideonsbergs IF had become the Swedish champions for the first time after beating Öxabäck IF 3-1 home and won 0 – 1 away on a day that Game of thrones fans could say ”Winter has come” instead of Winter is coming. During the winter the teams regrouped and now it was time for a new season
For OTL results check Bolletinen.se and damallsvenskan on Wikipedia. International competitions like the Euro 1995 and World championships that year have info on squads etc on Wikipedia. Also outtakes from local paper found on microfilm.
Part 1. 1993. What a difference a goal makes
The first games of the season went well
Opening game against AIK at home won 4-0, second game against Sunnanå away was tied 1-1, Lindstal was beaten back at home with 5-3, Jitex crushed at home with 5-3 and Älvsjö was beaten away with 3-1.(OTL results).
Now it was time to face Wä IF. Defender on the left Marika Karlsson and left wing midfielder Malin Flink had mor thoughts about their graduation one week later from High school than on the upcoming game and had been invited to a small party at one of their classmates an hour after the game would end. The coach Lars-Erik ”Pyrran” Johansson tried to motivate them two days before the game.
He discussed the situation with his assistant coach Kjell Gustavsson
”Kjell, what are we to do with Marika and Malin, they will not have their heads in these two games, I fear that next week we will play with two players that are hung over.”
“Pyrran, the girls have studied hard for three years as you know as well as me. Graduation from high school comes one time in a persons life. My suggestion is that we allow them to sit the Hammarby game out either as substitutes or allow them time off.”
“Kjell, that is BS talk, they are professional players. They should think about the chances of winning a second straight championship, we could begin a dynasty here just like Öxabäck.”
“Pyrran, hold your horses, we are not IFK Göteborg or Malmö in Allsvenskan for me, we play in the Damallsvenska. We do not have the support IFK Göteborg have.”
And the argument went on for an hour before Pyrran had Kjell leave. Then he summoned Marika and Malin who by this time had been sitting in the locker room for around an hour and it was a school day tomorrow and Malin had a date with her boyfriend(later husband) and she really did not want to make him wait. They had heard the shouting but not the specifics and saw Kjell´s troubled face as he left
”Sit” the coach said and they both sat down. ”I know graduation from high school only comes one in a life time, but can you please try to focus on the game in two days.
Marika answered ”I am sure i speak for both of us when we say that we always give our best on the field and that goes for the next game. However, you know that at least on of us WILL be hungover for the game against Hammarby next week if you want us to play”
Malin looked at Marika ”And we both know who will have to be sober and who will be the bad girl. Just because I do not object like you do about certain things do not mean i don’t have a will of my own”
The coach looked at them ”Look, i can not have my best left wing players arguing, Both of you are free to party next Friday. BUT! I want you in bed by midnight between Friday and Saturday. I want someone to check up on you that you do it. Both of you will be in the squad for the game. Also, one of you will play and has to avoid being hung over.”
Both of them looked at him. Malin spoke first. ”Well, I still live at home so my parents will see to it.”
Marika then spoke. ”Pyrran, you are unfair, how do we decide who plays and who not. Please give us the game of instead, there are other girls to play that game.”
“Marika. I am the coach and you bloody well do as I say if you want to play for the rest of the season. I will let you know who will be the unlucky one”
As they walked out from the locker room they met the team captain Åsa Jakobsson. Malin explained because Marika was ready to kick someone in the teeth. Åsa sighted “Not this also, we need to get rid of him. He is destroying the team for the sake of winning.”
Two days later the team faced Wä IF(OTL draw 0-0). The revolution against Pyrran had begun and Åsa asked the Gideonsberg board to fire him and they did so 6 hrs before the game(OTL not for another month, same day as the Wimbledon womens final). Kjell Gustavsson took the helm of the team. Gideonsberg opened in a furious tempo and after 15 minutes Åsa Jakobsson shot the ball in the goal post and into the goal. After 35 minutes Malin Flink passed a long pass to Susanne Hedberg how headed the ball into the goal. Before half time Pernilla “Pilten” Larsson go the ball alone with the Wä goalie and rounded her and shot the ball in the goal. In the second half Gideonsberg had the most possession of the ball and Pilten scored twice, Marie Kolbert and Helen Nilsson once. In the final moments in the game Wä actually mustered an attack. One of the players ended up alone in the penalty box but was kicked down by Marika Karlsson who was sent off and would miss the next games. Wä got one goal on the penalty but the end result was 7 – 1.
As they walked of Malin Flink said to Marika “Always wanting to have it your way?” Marika looked at her. “Well, yes, come on, let’s not be late for Jesses party.”
The week passed, the shortest week in their lives and on the day before the graduation Kjell phones Malin
“Look Malin, tomorrow is your day. If you want you don’t have to play.”
Malin smiled “Thanks coach, see you on Monday”
Malin then turned to her parents “Do not have to play on Saturday.”
Malins dad just sighted “Just be careful tomorrow night, you know who to call to get a ride home.”
Malin laughed “Yes dad, I will phone you and not my boyfriend. I am a nice girl”
Gideonsberg then went on to face Hammarby(OTL 0-0). In the 12th minute Helene Nilsson set up Ylva Ekendahl in her first game for the season after a knee injury for a lonely trek against the goalkeeper and 0-1. Overall Gideonberg felt content and did not overdo it and the game ended 0-1.
Next game was repeat of the final last year at home against Öxabäck that ended 6-4 and the last game before the summer break against Tyresö ended 4-0(OTL results). Gideonsberg was 4 points ahead of Malmö in the top at half time. (Folksam cup will go as OTL this year btw).
Then the second half of the season began. GIF lost to Malmö FF with 2-3 away and then fell 1-3 at home. Then Jitex was beaten back with 1-0, Tyresö with 4-1, Mallbacken with 1-0, Öxabäck away with less snow was a 2-1 win and then Hammarby was faced at home and defeated 3-0(just like OTL).
Then it was time for Wä again, a team just above the relegation end of the table, away. (OTL Wä victory 1-0). Wä took the lead and Gideonsberg pressed for a goal. After 65 minutes they got a corner and Marie Kolbert took it and curled it straight into goal. Wä lost tempo and Gideonsberg attacked time and time again and in minute 78 Åsa Jakobsson scored on a header. In minute 89 Marika Karlsson redeemed herself for the incident in the last game when she saved a ball on the goal line and shot the goal to Susanne Hedberg who passed on to Ylva Ekendahl who made no error and Gideonsberg won 3-1. The team was now close to winning a second straight championship but underestimated Älvsjö and lost 0-2 at home just like OTL. But after winning just like OTL against Lindsdal with 6-0 Gideonsberg could secure the second championship at home.
Arosvallen 16 october 1993, a date that would be famous for sport in Västerås. For starters Gideonsberg had put on the big PR drum and instead of a meager 50 in the crowd like OTL the record for Gideonsberg would be 1500 people. Sunnanå was the opponent, or so people said. Gideonsberg had no opposition. The people who had gone to every Gideonsberg game for three years complained when people say that they were playing the best game ever when they had seen better games.
Gideonsberg – Sunnanå 10-0(OTL 6-0). Goal scorer: Susanne Hedberg(2), Helene Nilsson(3), Pernilla Larsson(4) and the one who scored the first goal and became the game winner and dubbed the championship grabber Susanne Bergström. The rest of the squad was gk Monica Nilsson, defenders Marika Karlsson, Åsa Jakobsson©, Pia Peurala, midfielder Marie Kolbert and Malin Flink. On the bench Ylva Ekendahl came in at half time and Ulrika Kärrman in minute 75
Gideonberg had won both the Swedish cup and Swedish championship and it is understandable that they won only with 1-0 on a late goal from Marika Karlsson who the ball bounced last on after o a corner against AIK in the last round
During the season of 1993 the butterflies had been at work. Little did Gideonsberg know it but with the victories they had sawn the seeds of their destruction. The scouting power diminished and would show in a few years. The PR Gideonsberg had from winning back to back was thrown away with their egos. During the winter break 1993/94 the team trained harder than ever. They would have to because of the derbies next year against BK30.
The team also got a new coach, his name was Tomas Nilsson.
1994: The butterflies work
And the butterflies had been working with the schedule also and GIF had a schedule like this:
(not OTL schedule)
Älvsjö AIK, home
BK30, away(a whole kilometer away)
Wä if, home
Malmö FF, away
Jitex JG93, home
Tyresö, away
AIK, home
Sunnanå, away
Öxabäck IF, home
Östers IF, away
Hammarby, home
Hammarby, away
Östers IF, home
Öxabäck IF, away
Tyresö, home
Älvsjö AIK, away
Wä IF, home
Jitex JG 93, away
BK 30, home
AIK, away
Sunnanå home
Malmö FF, home. The potential clash of the rivals in the first and last round had its thrill, but also the fact that Gideonsberg would face inter city rivals BK30 for the first time ever in Damallsvenskan(Folksam cup goes as up to the final).
Älvsjö AIK – Gideonsberg was a hyped opening but failed to deliver. Both teams was still adjusting to the fact that it was now the real thing and not training games anymore. The game ended 0-0.
BK30-Gideonsberg in the next round was also hyped, especially by the fact that BK30 had won their opening game against Wä IF(one of only two wins that year) and was ahead of Gideonsberg for the first time ever. It took 40 minutes of constant attacks by Gideonsberg before they got a corner. It was taken by Marie Kolbert and headed into the goal by Malin Flink. Before half time Helen Nilsson had scored once also. In the second half BK30 tried to attack, but lacked skill and Gideonsberg scored in the 55 minute by Ulrika Kärrman, in the 65 minute by Pernilla Larsson and in minute 80 on a penalty taken by Helen Nilsson
Wä IF at home were defeated with 13-0, it should be noted that no Gideonsberg player scored more than one goal and every Gideonsberg player on the field scored including the goalie(penalty).
Now it was time to face the rivals down in Malmö. It was to be the first loss of the season. The game was tied 0-0 when the clock reached minute 89 and team captain Åsa Jakobsson(mrs fantastic and mrs Gideonsberg) slipped and Lena Widekull took the ball and placed it in the net. Malmö won 1-0.
Jitex JG 93 was beaten back 3-2 at home, Tyresö away was defeated 2-0 and AIK defeated at home with 5-1. Sunnanå away was another story. Gideonsberg was down 2-0 after 80 minutes of play when Susanne Bergström made it 2-1. In minute 89 Helen Nilsson equalized and the game ended 2-2. Öxabäck was beaten back at home with 3-0 and Öster crushed with 9-2 at home despite Marie Kolbert and Pia Peurala sent off with red cards.
Then it was Hammarbys turn to face Gideonsberg on Gideonsbergs home turf. Hammarby had mustered a fine team that included the legendary player Pia Sundhage. Gideonsberg opened as usually with a big offensive, but Hammarby stood against the onslaught. In minute 30 Hammarby got a corner and Pia Sundhage went up from her defensive position to be able to head it in if necessary. The corner was taken and in the scramble in front of goal Pia Sundhage collided with Marika Karlsson. Marika could stand up after the collision with a bruise but Sundhage had broken her hip bone(out for the remainder of the season as well as the start of the next, would not be able to play until the middle of May 1995). At half time Marika was substituted because she did not feel 100 percent. In the second half Gideonsberg took advantage of the chaos that was Hammarby and won easily with 3-0.
When the series had reached half time Malmö FF and Gideonsberg shared the top spot. And during the summer break the thing that was to become the downfall of Gideonsbergs IF began. Midfielder Susanne Bergström left the team to study on a scholarship in USA. When the next half began after the July break Gideonsberg defeated Hammarby away(2-1),
Östers IF home(8-0), Öxabäck away(2-2), Tyresö home(4-1), before it was time for a top three team again, Älvsjö AIK away. Älvsjö had to win as they by this time had fallen 10 points behind Gideonsberg who led 2 points ahead of Malmö. Älvsjö opened desperately and Gideonsberg had trouble defending their goal. After 10 minutes Ulrika Kalte was alone in the penalty box and scored the first goal to make it 1 – 0. Only to make matters worse Kalte had scored a hattrick before half time. Tomas Nilsson made a few adjustment, send down Pia Peurala to become a sweeper instead of using Åsa Jakobsson, Peurala was faster he judged. Then Malin Flink was sent down to the left wing defensive position and Marika Karlsson moved into center defender position along Åsa Jakobsson and Ulrika Kärrman as the right defender. Susanne Hedberg, Marie Kolbert, Pernilla and Ia Larsson in the midfield and Helene Nilsson stayed as forward. That gave Gideonsberg a better defensive position, but lacked real offense. But only on paper. After 15 minutes Marie Kolbert made it 3-1, in minute 80 Malin Flink shot in the goal post and Helene Nilsson took the ball and put it into the net. Gideonsberg now had the upper hand and pressed for 3-3. After three minutes of extra time Pernilla Larsson went down in the penalty box and Gideonsberg was awarded a penalty. Åsa Jakobsson, the captain of the team took the ball, placed it on the spot and shot a hard shot in the bottom corner of the goal and Gideonsberg had made it 3-3. Meanwhile Malmö had won and had the same points as Gideonsberg.
Wä IF at home was a piece of cake when Gideonsberg fielded their second tier so that the top players could rest before the Folksam cup final. Gideonsberg won 3-0 without trouble
Next game was the Folksam cup final against Hammarby. It was played on “neutral” ground in Tyresö. It was almost home for Hammarby and Hammarbyfans ruled the stands. That did not help Hammarby who was less organized with the hospitalized Pia Sundhage due to complications from her injury(she would be out in the hospital soon enough). Gideonsberg had 2-0 at half time. During the second half Gideonsberg had 4-0 after 75 minutes when Hammarbys fans disgraced themselves and started throwing stuff at the Gideonsberg players and the referee. The game was not finished and Gideonsberg was awarded the cup trophy.
When the team faced Jitex a few days later the team was still in chock and they lost with 1-5. But since Malmö FF also had lost their game Gideonsberg still shared the top spot.
Gideonsberg and BK30 would be the next game. The day before that game however tragedy struck. The cruise ship Estonia sank with lots of causalities. Two BK30 players knew people onboard and had to be home. Gideonsberg was not affected in such manner, but they were still shocked. The game was nothing to write home about and Gideonsberg won as predicted but with only 3-0, all three goals by Helen Nilsson. AIK away was beaten with 0-5 and Sunnanå was another piece of cake at home and a crushing 6-0 win for Gideonsberg.
Now it was time for Malmö FF. The teams had the same points, same goal difference, same amounts of goals made and conceded so SVFF decided that if the game was tied then there would be a penalty shoot-out. Gideonsberg had trouble with their fans, because no matter how good they played they never got more than around 300 spectators. The game was hyped as a bitter rivalry existed between the teams and Malmö on a quest to take the nr 1 spot from Gideonsberg once and for all.
Saturday October 22 1994 was a clear autumn day with the temperature around 12 degrees Celsius in the city of Västerås as the stage was set for the final game of the season hyped as it were. The game was set to begin at 1400 and when the gates opened 30 minutes before there was long line. At 1355 the game was moved forward 15 minutes and then 15 more so that as many could see it. The biggest Malmö FF fan club in Malmö had sent 3 busses, Malmö fans around Lake Mälaren another bus. The official figure would say 2500 people watched this classic game.
Minute 5: Lena Videkull alone with the goalie but misses the goal
Minute 7: Lena Videkull again with a shot high above the goal
Minute 10: Corner Gideonsberg taken by Marie Kolbert, shot by Helen Nilsson outside
Minute 12: Pia Peurala booked.
Minute 18: Free kick Malmö and Videkull with a high ball than Annika Nessvold heads outside the goal
Minute 25: Malin Flink alone with Elisabeth Leidinge, waits to long and Leidinge takes the ball
Minute 29: Helene Nilsson alone with Leidinge but misses the goal
Minute 32: Marika Karlsson kicks down Videkull outside the penalty area, gets a yellow card. Malmö fails to score on the free kick
0 – 0 at half time
Minute 55: Pia Peurala passes long to Ia Larsson who passes Helen Nilsson inside the penalty box and scores behind Elisabeth Leidinge. 1 – 0 Gideonsberg. 35 minutes remain
Minute 60: Shot Videkull, off the bar
Minute 62: Shot Videkull, outside the goal
Minute 65: Corner Malmö FF, headed away by Marika Karlsson, picked up by Marie Kolbert who crosses to Malin Flink who runs on the other flank and makes a one in a lifetime pass to Helene Nilsson who score 2 – 0 Gideonsberg.
Minute 80: Corner Malmö FF, Marika Karlsson and Annika Nessvold collide in the air and Nessvold suffers a concussion as well as a broken ankle (away until June 1995) and is carried off the field. Marika gets a cut but get stitched up as she refused to leave the field until the engagement was over.
Minute 85: Malmö FF makes it 2-1 when Videkull scores on a free kick.
The game goes into injury time, and after a few minutes Videkull manages to get a corner. The corner is taken and headed away by Marika, but her wound is worsened and she starts to bleed again and goes toward the sideline while Marie Kolbert kicks the ball away. Standing alone in the center circle is Helen Nilsson. She have all the time in the world. The time stands still as Helen rushes toward the goal and shoots. Leidinge show why she is the keeper that defend the national team and forces the ball outside the goal and a corner. Then the whistle signals the end of the game.
Gideonsberg have won the championship three times in a row. Marika is rushed to the hospital and fixed up. She returns to the victory party later that night.
1995: Sleeping in the light(season schedule as OTL)
Without Pia Sundhage and Nessvold avalible to the national team when it was time for the semi final against Norway in the womens euro(last time it was played as a cup) Bengt Simonsson brought in younger players like Marika Karlsson and Jane Törnkvist. Neither played a minute when Sweden defeated Norway in the semifinal and lost to Germany in the final(same results as OTL)
Gideonsberg did not trade many players during these years and many from the 1992 squad was still important to the team. They began the season with a meager 1-0 victory at home against Tyresö, then crushed AIK at home with 9-1 and Öxabäck away with 8-3 and defeated Öster at home with 4-0(OTL results)
In the fourth round they faced Hammarby. Down with 3-0 at half time when the national coach Simonsson came into the dressing rom. “There are a few girls that might get on the nation squad but you need to play much better in the second half to do that” That woke Gideonsberg. After 20 minutes they had scored three goals and Carin Andersson made the winning goal after 89 minutes.
A few days later Bengt Simonsson announced the squad for the world cup
Goalkeepers Elisabeth Leidinge(Malmö FF) and Annelie Nilsson(Sunnå SK)
Defenders: Malin Lundgren(Malmö), Kristine Bengtsson(Hammarby), Marika Karlsson(Gideonsberg), Åsa Jakobsson(Gideonsberg) Jane Törnkvist(Tyresö FF).
Midfielders and forwards: Anna Pohjanen(Sunnanå), Lena Videkull(Malmö), Susanne Hedberg(Gideonsberg), Malin Andersson(Älvsjö AIK), Åsa Lönnqvist(Tyresö FF), Annelie Olsson(Hammarby IF), Eva Zeikfalvy(Malmö FF), Malin Flink(Gideonsbergs IF)
Anneli Andelen(Öxabäck IF), Ulrika Kalte(Älvsjö AIK), Helen Nilsson(Gideonsberg), Annika Bozicevic(Malmö FF) and Sofia Johansson(Malmö FF)
Pia Sundhage had yet to return to her previous form and said that she accepted being cut from the squad as she was not yet ready for such an important tournament but said that she would be ready for the Olympics.
Sweden would face Brazil, Germany and Japan in their group and Bengt Simonsson wanted to use a
3-5-2 offensive strategy
The press though that there was a bit risky bringing along three young players with no real experience and that Simonsson gambled a lot with Marika Karlsson, Jane Törnkvist and Malin Flink. They would be wrong.
The first game against Brazil started and Bengt Simonsson started with this team:
GK: Elisabeth Leidinge
Defenders: Malin Lundgren, Åsa Jakobsson, Kristine Bengtsson
Midfielders: Malin Andersson, Eva Zeikfalvy, Anneli Andelen, Anneli Olsson, Susanne Hedberg
Forwards: Lena Videkull and Ulrika Kalte
Brazil took command in the first half and Sweden had trouble getting offensive going. But they held 0-0 after 30 minutes when the Swedish offensive got into gear. Just before half time unfortunally Malin Lundgren had to be substituted as she suffered a concussion. Simonsson had two inexperienced defenders on the bench, but he trusted one more over the other and allowed Marika Karlsson to enter the game. During the second half Brazil stormed forward again and Simonsson could watch how Marika Karlsson became the savior time and time again when Brazil tried her side. After 60 minutes Malin Andersson crossed to Ulrika Kalte who scored 1-0. Ten minutes later Videkull scored 2-0 and Brazil was a beaten team.
Then it was time for the clash against Germany. Marika Karlsson and Anna Pohjanen would start in the game. Susanne Hedberg was out of the starting 11.
The German women was a different team than Brazil and was ahead 2-0 after 40 minutes. Bengt Simonsson substituted Anna Pohjanen with Malin Flink at half time. The next half would be legendary and called the Gideonsberg national team half. After two minutes Videkull had to go off and Helen Nilsson from Gideonsberg came on. First time she hit the ball she hit it into the net. Then Anneli Olsson suffered severe bruise and after a short time limping she was substituted for Susanne Hedberg after 60 minutes. Now the real Gideonsberg show began. Years after when they had reunions the players would tell that this was their finest hour. After 62 minutes Marika Karlsson made a short pass to Åsa Jakobsson who moved forward and walled the ball of Malin Flink and then passed to Susanne Hedberg who shot from a distance in the goal post and then Helen Nilsson put the ball in the net to make it 2-2. Every attack that the Germans attempted was stopped cold. Then a corner for Sweden happened. Malin Flink took it and shot it in the middle and Susanne Hedberg headed it into the goal, 3-2 Sweden with 11 minutes to go. Germany now tried offense and pressed on with the whole team. After 89 minutes there was a scramble in front of the Swedish goal and Marika Karlsson took the ball and shot it away up to Helen Nilsson who was all alone and almost could walk the entire German half but put the goal in the net anyway. 4-2 Sweden and Sweden had won the group.
Amid graduation parties it was time for Sweden to relocate to Västerås to play the final game of the group and then the quarter final. A record crowd for womens soccer in Västerås would be set, 9021 spectators, including the rest of the Gideonsberg squad as hosts, family of the players, coworkers and former classmates, including one student who almost fell asleep at a pivotal moment in one of his friends career. The stage was set for the final game Sweden vs Japan
Bengt Simonsson decided to go old-school Gideonsberg and a 3-4-3 selection and he talked to Leidinge and she was ok to rest
GK: Anneli Nilsson
Defenders: Marika Karlsson, Åsa Jakobsson and Jane Törnkvist.
Midfielders: Malin Flink, Susanne Hedberg, Malin Andersson and Åsa Lönnqvist
Forwards: Helen Nilsson, Lena Videkull, Ulrika Kalte
The message of the day was: ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
Japan never stood a fighting chance. After 5 minutes Lena Videkull scored 1-0, after 7 minutes she scored 2-0 and after 15 minutes Helen Nilsson scored 3-0 in front of a jubilant home crowd. Sweden continued, and it continued to be fun to play on home turf. 4-0 came after 30 minutes by Åsa Jakobsson on a corner taken by Malin Flink. Ulrika Kalte was brought down in the penalty area after 44 minutes. Videkull handed the ball to Malin Flink with the words “It is your time to shine.” Malin smiled and looked towards her family that stood near the middle, then put the ball into the net to the right while the goalie went to the left. At half time Videkull was substituted with Anneli Andelen to save her strength(on request it would later be revealed). 7 minutes into the second half Sweden got another corner. Åsa Jakobsson said to Marika Karlsson to take her place in the box. Malin Flink shot a corner that went high. Malin Andersson shot and the goalie made a save and the ball came to Marika who shot it in the goal. Now the crowd waited for Susanne Hedberg to score, but she failed in every attempt and decided to pass the ball instead, to Andelen who scored. In the last minute Sweden got another penalty and now Hedberg could score. 8 – 0 to Sweden.
As the fans stormed the field to get autographs the Gideonsberg players were dubbed the future of Swedish football. One that heard that was Pia Sundhage who turned off the TV and went out and trained even harder to get her place back. Others that watched with interest was future stars Hanna Ljungberg and Tina Nordlund.
England in the quarter final proved a small obstacle. Now the crowd in Västerås was 10 000 spectators. Sweden played 3-5-2 again and won 3-1 after two late goals by Lena Videkull. Now it was on to Helsingborg and a semifinal against Germany, the long time rivals. The winners would face Norway in the final.
Bengt Simonsson now had the job of finding a balanced team for this game. A team with lots of inexperienced players would be chewed alive by the German team machine. Malin Lundgren was now back from her concussion. He choosed the team that started against Brazil. After the first half it was still 0 – 0. After 60 minutes Malin Lundgren had to go off because she was still not 100 percent and Marika Karlsson came in. First thing that happened was that Marika fouled a German in the penalty area. A yellow card for Marika and a penalty awarded for Germany and 0-1. After 70 minutes Ulrika Kalte went down with a injury, out for about a month. She was substituted with Helen Nilsson. Next injury came within two minutes when Malin Andersson broke her ankle and had to be substituted and Malin Flink came in. Sweden attacked and in the 89 minute Malin Flink shot a corner that Lena Videkull headed into the goal. The game was tied and would soon go into overtime. But one woman though enough was enough. That woman was Helen Nilsson who stole the ball from a uneasy German defense and put it into the net. Sweden was in the final!
The final was to be played at Råsunda and the team got 20 tickets each to hand out to friends. Marika and Malin gave 10 each to former high school classmates and the rest to the closest family. Marika had one remaining and was at a fan corner outside Råsunda the day before the final when a girl came up to her “Hi, I admire you. When I grow up I want to be as good as you” Marika answered “Thank you, what is your name?” The girl answered “Nilla Fischer”. Marika then said “Thank you Nilla, do you want a ticket? I only have one remaining? Do your parents know were you are? You don’t seem to old.” The blond girl called Nilla smiled “I am 10, almost 11. How old were you when you began playing in Allsvenskan? My parents are standing over there and they told me to ask nice for a ticket and if you give it to me I will be the happiest girl alive.” Marika smiled. “I was 16 when I started playing at Gideonsberg, who knows, maybe you will play beside me on the same team someday.” Marika looked at the parents who nodded and Marika gave Nilla the ticket as well as an autograph and a hug.
The day had finally come. This was the day that Swedish ladies football would come into their own(or so SVFF would believe until Damallsvenskan started again and continue believing until Tina Nordlund spoke at fotbollsgalan in 2000). Råsunda was packed, 25000 spectators, all but a few hundred were Swedish fans. SVT had switched their journalists and the best of the best talked in the microphones. Swedish Radio fielded Lasse Grankvist with Ralf Edström as expert. The rain poured down, but the cheers could not be stoped when Sweden entered the field. Bengt Simonsson had decided on the same
3-5-2 tactics as before, but with all the injuries he had to switch some. In goal was Elisabeth Leidinge as usual, the defence was held by Åsa Jakobsson, Marika Karlsson and Kristin Bengtsson. The midfield was held by Malin Flink, Anna Pohjanen, Susanne Hedberg, , Eva Zeikfalvy and Anneli Olsson. Lena Videkull and Anneli Andelen were forwards
It was a thin bench as Malin Lundgren was still not 100 percent, but on the bench just in case. Sofia Johansson and Annika Bozicevic had not played a minute. Ulrika Kalte, Anneli Olsson, and Malin Andersson were gone with injuries.
After 10 minutes Lena Videkull shot the first Swedish shot at goal, wide. First Norwegian shot was in the 24th minute and high over the bar. The teams blocked eachother well and the score was 0-0 at half time. When entering the locker room at half time the team was in a surprise. Outside the locker room was the national team on the manly side. Tomas Ravelli stepped forward “Go inside and rest ladies, then go outside and enjoy the ride, you are already heroes.” After the break and on the way out to the field ahead of Norway they could hear the Swedish crowd warming up. The cheers became bigger and bigger. Now was the time when time would decide who would be hero or who would think “If only”. In the stands one could see the opposition leader Ingvar Carlsson(soon to be PM), the entire royal family of Sweden and a few representatives of Norway. Old players in the national teams were shown on TV and the fans were led by the group that had created the official song “It is now that we break borders” (Det är nu vi spränger gränserna). It was a massive party and the players were invited. The teams continued to block attempts until the 65 minute when Susanne Hedberg shot a cross to Malin Flink who tried a shot to the middle but it was blocked and headed to a lonely Andelen who scored 1-0. The crowd went wild. Norway went on full attack. It was a full court press against the Swedish net. After 78 minutes Norway scored 1-1. Susanne Hedberg had to be substituted and Annika Bozicevic came in. After 89 minutes Sweden had to substitute again as Kristine Bengtsson was too tired to continue and Malin Lundgren came onto the field. The game was tied 1-1 at full time. Before the extra time would begin Simonsson had to make another substitute, Lena Videkull was too tired to be able to continue and Helen Nilsson came in. The extra time came and went, neither team wanting to concede a goal and the game went to penalties.
Team captain Elisabeth Leidinge along with Bengt Simonsson had agreed on who would take the penalties and the group that would decide the outcome had already been informed and they went to the center of the field.
Åsa Jakobsson
Anneli Andelen
Annika Bozicevic
Helen Nilsson
Malin Lundgren
The penalty shoot-out began. All of the Swedes scored, but so did all the five Norwegians and now it was one at a time. The first penalty by a Norwegian was shot, over the bar.
Now it was time for a Swede. This is a time when one person will be remembered as a hero or not depending on the outcome. Up stepped Malin Flink.
“Come on youngblood.” A voice screams. Malin smiles, she know who it is and she feels at ease knowing that people would still like her even if she missed. Lasse Grankvist whipsers on the radio “It is a gamble by Bengt Simonsson, but so has the entire championship been. Youngsters that are outperforming the old guard. Malin listens for the whistle. She runs to the ball. SHE SCORES! SWEDEN WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, SWEDEN WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SWEDEN IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.” Ralf Edström speaks in a somber voice “Yes, now calm down.”
Malin, age 20 years had secured the world championship for Sweden. This was to be her 15 minutes of fame. Malin was swarmed by the rest of the national squad and hoisted on their shoulders. She was carried around the stadium and when time came to hoist the cup she did it together with Leidinge. The new generation along with the old.
The team celebrated that night and the next day they were given a celebration at Sergels torg were 10 000 people came. Unfortunally there were no rest because it was back to reality. Three days later Damallsvenskan restarted and it restarted with a bang. Gideonsbergs IF vs Älvsjö AIK, the top two teams. Tomas Nilsson, the Gideonsberg coach allowed Marika Karlsson a bit of rest and put her on the bench while Carin Andersson took her spot. Sussie Bergström on summer leave from college in USA took Susanne Hedbergs spot. Älvsjö had injuries and lacked their best forward, Ulrika Kalte.
The number of spectators had not been influenced by the world championship unfortunally. After 25 minutes Malin Flink passed Sussie Bergström who scored 0-1. Älvsjö scored 2 goals after the half time break and in the 77 minute Helen Nilsson, who did not seem quite her self scored 2-2 and the game ended 2-2.
In the week before next game Helen Nilsson was not her self during training and the day before the game she asked to talk to the coach “Coach, I don’t think the game is fun aymore and I lack the necessary motivation to play at the moment. Please bench me.” Tomas Nilsson looked at her. “I have seen that you are not on the top of your game, I will allow you to start the next games on the bench and then after we restart after the summer break you will play again.” Helen agreed with that.
Then it was time to face Jitex at home. Gideonsberg did not seem their selves even though they tied Älvsjö. At half time Jitex had the lead with 0-1. Tomas Nilsson was upset during the break and gave them a hair dryer speech. It worked, after 5 minutes Pärnilla Larsson tied the game. After 56 minutes of play Malin Flink scored 2-1 after a pass from Susanne Hedbert. Jitex tied the game in the 85 minute but just before full time Marie Kolbert shot from a distance and in the goal by the post. Gideonsberg won the game 3-2.
Next game was Malmö away, a Malmö that still lacked Annika Nessvold, but she would return soon, but for now she was outside the squad. It was a see saw game. Malin Flink passed Susanne Hedberg who scored. Malin Flink then almost missed a pass but hit the ball and it went in. 2-2 at half time. During the second half Maria Kun shot a corner that Marika Karlsson headed into the goal and 2-3. Lena Videkull tied the game in the last minute to make it 3-3.
The games now came quick after eachother because of the world championships and the summer break. Bälinge at home was a classic game of a top team underachieving and missing chances by the dozens while Bälinge scored on the one chance they had. 0-1 came after 10 minutes. Gideonsberg attacked time and time again and in the 75 minute Pärnilla Larsson scored and in the 89 minute Malin Flink had a open goal, but almost missed and hit the post but the ball went in. Gideonsberg won 2-1. Gideonsberg was now in the top as the summer break happened
The aftermath of the game against Bälinge would be more remembered(especially among Marika Karlssons friends and family). A few hours after the game Marika flew with a friend to hike around the Greek islands in the Mediterranean and missed a call from Bengt Simonsson who wanted to bring Marika to a training camp with the national team in Atlanta USA in preparation for the Olympics in 1996. A wanted poster was put in the local paper. Marika was unaware of this until she as scheduled phoned her dad on the next Wednesday to tell that she was ok(years before mobile phones were popular) and the SVFF payed for her return flight and she was soon in Atlanta.
Before the Damallsvenska would resume Gideonsberg played Mallbacken in the Folksam cup and lost on penalties. 0-0 at full time and then Pärnilla Larsson, Marika Karlsson and Marie Kolbert scored their penalties while Susanne Hedberg and Helene Nilsson missed. Gideonsberg was ok with that because now they could focus on winning the gold that mattered most again.
Gideonsberg stormed forward. Bälinge defeated away 3-0, Öxabäck defeated away 6-1, AIK away was defeated 3-0, Malmö at home was defeated with 2-1 and now the gold was almost theirs. Jitex away defeated 3-2 at home. First loss of the season came against Mallbacken at home with 0-1. Things that happen when a team thinks it is unbeatable. Älvsjö was trying to reach Gideonsberg but was still 9 points behind and they hoped for more upsets. Öster away was beaten with 4-0. Then the workers at Arosvallen went on strike and Gideonsberg had to relocate. Älvsjö tied their game the day before Gideonsbeg faced Hammarby and now Gideonsberg only had to take one point against Hammarby to take the gold. On a reserve pitch in front of 400 spectators Gideonsberg won 4-0 with a hattrick by Helen Nilsson and one goal by Maria Kun.
In the next round Tyresö was defeated 3-1 away. Then Sunnanå away was a lackluster affair since Gideonsberg fielded their second squad as most of the players in the regular squad rather rested and stayed home. It was a tie 3-3. Älvsjö was the opponents in the final game of the season before Åsa Jakobsson could hoist the championship again. Two Gideonsberg players would make their final goals for the club, Malin Flink shot 1-1 in the middle of the first half and Helen Nilsson scored 2-1 just before half time. Ulrika Kalte scored 2-2 and 2-3 before the 70th minute. Marika Karlsson and Malin Flink, best friends off the pitch and former classmates in high school and team mates the the county team, national team and Gideonsberg made a play in the 75th minute. Marika passed Malin who ran along the line while Marika ran up behind her. Malin passed to Hedberg who passed back to Marika just outside the penalty area and she wanted her friend to make a final goal and passed Malin again, but Malins shot was blocked and Marika shot the ball into the net to make it 3-3. Malin and Helen were both substituted in the 85 minute to a standing ovation in the small crowd. When the game ended and Åsa raised the championship and the players saluted the crowd little did people know that this was the end of an era. Gideonsberg would never again reach these heights.
Epilogue
In the break between 1995 and 1996 two key players announced their retirement. Helen Nilsson who was fed up with fooball and Malin Flink who took a time out to begin study. Gideonsberg lost Marie Kolbert to a scholarship in the USA half way through 1996. Marika Karlsson who hoped being in the Olympic squad was not so lucky(in this story Pia Sundhage took her place, in OTL because of reasons). In 1997 Marika Karlsson and Maria Kun would leave for scholarships in the USA. Gideonsberg came in at place 7 two straight years and then suddenly the entire team defected because of various things and Gideonsberg finished last in the 1998 season has yet to return to Damallsvenskan and are currently in the forth division with BK30 one division higher along with Västerås IK.
What happened to Marika and Malin? Malin Flink became a teacher and married her boyfriend and lives with three kids outside Stockholm. To this day one of the greatest WI within ladies football is: How good could Malin Flink had been if she played a few more years?
Marika Karlsson played two years for Hartford before moving to Lynn university(Florida) for two years, reuniting one last time on the pitch with Marie Kolbert. At Lynn she also found true love. She played a few games in the 99 season with Gideonsberg, but upon returning to Sweden in 2001 and with aspirations to go to the police academy she moved to Stockholm and played for Älvsjö for 1,5 seasons before injuries forced her to retire before the 2003 season, the last of the Gideonsberg players that won the championship in 1992 to do so. In 2003 she was a proper police officer and she moved through the ranks and is currently an inspector for violent crimes. She still lives with her love and two kids in Stockholm. (ALL OTL)