Linköping take revenge on Umeå to lift cup
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Article summary
Umeå IK suffered a blow ahead of Thursday's quarter-final first leg at Arsenal LFC after losing the Swedish Cup final to Linköpings FC 1-0 after extra time to miss out on a second straight domestic double.
Article top media content
Article body
Roles reversed
Linköping led Umeå for much of the Damallsvenskan season before the two-time European champions produced a late surge to claim their fourth straight title. However, the roles were reversed at Linköping's Folkungavallen home as Umeå lost their grip on the Swedish Cup to the team that beat them in the 2006 final.
Öqvist winner
The league champions had the best of the first half but after the break Linköping picked up their play, though were relieved with two minutes left when Marta only just failed to chip Hedvig Lindahl from 35 metres. The Brazilian, who is set to confirm shortly if she will stay at Umeå for 2009, was taken off after the 90 minutes, and Linköping made their superiority count when Josefine Öqvist headed in a corner eight minutes from time to give her side their second cup success.
European tie
Umeå visit Arsenal on Thursday before the home leg six days later. If Umeå win the UEFA Women's Cup in May, league runners-up Linköping will enter the competition for the first time in 2009/10.