To regular viewers of the Barclays Women’s Super League, tonight’s game between The Netherlands and Sweden at Bramall Lane hosted a lot of familiar faces.
With current BWSL players on both teams, it was the former talent that got their names on the scoresheet. Ex-Gunner Jill Roord and ex-Blue Jonna Andersson helped their teams to a 1-1 draw.
Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema started for The Netherlands alongside Chelsea’s Aniek Nouwen, while Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldahl and Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson started for Sweden. Gunner Stina Blackstenius, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Emma Kullberg and Everton’s Hanna Bennison were named on the Swedish bench.
The referee for this fixture was Welsh international and former BWSL player Cheryl Foster. Foster scored Liverpool’s first-ever BWSL goal back in 2011.
The game started slowly, neither team really built on any of their chances and it was very cagey affair. With less than 25 minutes played, ex-Arsenal keeper Sari van Veenendaal was substituted through injury and Miedema was given the captain’s armband. After the substitution, Sweden began to try their luck against a less experienced keeper but were unable to capitalise.
As the favourites on paper, Sweden looked the most likely to score and just after half an hour, Anderson slotted home their well-deserved opener. A simple tap in for former Chelsea defender Andersson was met by a roar from the tremendous travelling support.
In what was a very flat first half from the Dutch side, it was Sweden who went into the break on top with a one-goal advantage.
The Dutch got things going in the second half. After a first half plagued with injuries, they needed a moment of magic to bring themselves back into the game and it was Roord who gave them that chance. With less than 10 minutes played, she netted the equaliser.
While the momentum stepped up a notch in the second half, neither team took their chances. Blackstenius and Bennison both entered the pitch, looking to help get their team the win but were unable to make an impact.
After a fairly even contest, played out in front of a 21,342-strong crowd, all four teams in Group C are tied on one point with both games ending in a draw on the first day of play.
By Louise Golby
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