Umeå make perfect start

UEFA Women’s Cup finalists Umeå IK began the Swedish domestic season with victory - and welcomed Hanna Ljungberg back from injury into the bargain.

Debutants strike
Aiming for a hat-trick of Damallsvenskan titles, Umeå cruised to a 4-0 win at QBIK in Karlstad. Karolina Westberg put them ahead on 14 mintes, and not far past the hour mark, new teenage Chinese signing Ma Xiaoxu grabbed a goal on her league debut. Ljungberg, whose winter was wrecked by a thigh injury, was sent on for Ma with 13 minutes to go, and while she was on the pitch Lise Klaveness and another close season arrival, Madeleine Edlund, completed the scoring. Ljungberg's arrival gives her every chance of playing in the UEFA Women's Cup finals against Arsenal LFC, with Umeå at home on the first leg on 21 April.