Elin Sørum’s close range finish in the first half before a late strike from substitute Fanny Peterson put the hosts two ahead in the tie ahead of the return leg at Broadwood in a week’s time, as focus now turns to Sunday’s first Old Firm clash of the season for the Gers.
The Gers were making their bow in the European competition formed just last season having dropped in via narrowly missing out on the next stage of Champions League qualifying. Amidst a busy schedule of matches, Leanne Crichton named three changes to her side from the weekend’s win over Aberdeen, with Kirsty Smith, Gry Boe Thrysøe and Hannah Blake all in the side from the off.
In a lively atmosphere under the lights in Stockholm, the visitors looked to make a fast start in the game up against last seasons runners-up in the competition. The hosts started well in possession with the Gers looking to pose a threat themselves. Calliste Brookshire’s cross from a deep wide possession came to no avail whilst Ída Marín Hermannsdóttir had an effort go wide for the hosts.
Moments later, Hannah Blake made a clever interception from a poor pass out at the back, she tried a left footed shot, but it went wide of Cajsa Andersson’s left hand post.
The home side, led by William Strömberg, looked to assert their own authority onto the game with the game goalless heading towards the 20-minute mark. They looked a threat down the sides, but were yet to test Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal after a serious of corners, with the shot stopper called into action to claim a Vilde Hasund volley.
Rangers were lucky not to have fallen behind after Mathilde Janzen latched onto a poor kick out. She stole the ball in the box off Jodi McLeary, but her shot flew just wide.
Just shy of the half-hour mark, Hammarby took the lead after a sustained period of pressure in the game. After a cross from the right flank, Hermannsdóttir met the ball with her head as Elin Sørum supplied the finish at the back post to put the hosts ahead.
Brookshire, who was impressing down the left once again. Provided an out ball for Laura Berry as the wingers combined, she flashed a cross-come shot across goal which was beaten away by Andersson to safety.
The home side seemed to grow in confidence from finding the breakthrough and threatened to go further ahead. Gaining more control in the first leg as it headed towards the break, although it was the Gers who had the last effort of the first half, with Katie Wilkinson getting her head on Nicola Docherty’s cross which was comfortably gathered.
Hammarby looked to come out the traps quickly after the restart. Hermannsdóttir had an effort at the near post but Kirsty Smith did well round on the cover to close out the space.
Rangers themselves however, continued to probe on occasion and look for a way to level the contest. The ever impressive Brookshire not for the first time got beyond the full-back Reidy, her cross flashed across goal as Berry collided with the keeper, but the referee waved away the Rangers appeals.
Two minutes past the hour-mark, the home side went within the frame of the goal of doubling the lead. After good play down the right, the ball was cutback to Hermannsdóttir as the striker’s effort from close range crashed off the bar and stayed out.
Stina Lennartsson then almost turned provider as the Swedish side continued to threaten. The winger’s delivery from the right was met by substitute Anna Walter but her half volley flew over the top of Fife’s bar.
The first leg remained finely poised despite the hosts slender advantage as the game approached the final 10 minutes. Crichton turned to her bench on two separate occasions for two double subs, looking to add a freshness and remain firmly in the tie heading back to Broadwood for next Wednesday evening.
Just as the Gers were looking to be a position of being in well in the tie, Hammarby doubled their lead late on. After impressing off the bench Peterson’s well placed shot from outside the box beat Fife to put the Swedish side in control heading into next week’s return leg. As focus now turns to Sunday’s Old Firm for Leanne Crichton’s side.
HAMMARBY IF: Andersson, Arnardóttir, Pegram, Sørum (Peterson, 71), Koivisto, Janzen (Persson, 89), Reidy, Lennartsson, Carlsson, Hermannsdóttir (Rehnberg, 71), Hasund (Walter, 60)
SUBS: Holmgren, Nyhagen, Lorenius, Linder, Nylén, Petz, Maiquez
RANGERS: Fife, Smith (Collins, 79), Austin, Roelfsema, Docherty, McLeary, Blake (Cruft, 45), Thrysøe (Black, 79), Berry, Wilkinson (Hay, 74), Brookshire (Hendle, 74)
SUBS: Rarity, Boyce, Hill, Connolly-Jackson, Miller
