A Luxcup is never more than a throw-in away. Therefore, it was time again this weekend, now with Girls 2010 Invitational. The caretaker Leffe in Kristinehamn Arena brought out the 9vs9 goals, pulled them out a few metres from each short side and we were ready to play. And as is often the case with Luxcuper, it was not just any teams that showed up. You can find out who they were and how they fared here.
Group stage
An Oslo derby in Group B Kolbotn IL and IL Heming kicked off the tournament. It was a goal-rich event that Heming won 4-2. Heming's Live Onsrud Balmforth accounted for three of the goals. The match was followed by another capital derby in the same group, namely Djurgårdens IF against Råsunda IS. 35 minutes could not separate the teams and the match ended 1-1.
The next group to start the tournament was Group C where Qbik took on Enskede IK. The short journey to Kristinehamn did not help the Karlstad team and Enskede won the match with 3-0. The second match in the group was played between Norwegian Skeid and IFK Lidingö. There was a goal party and the numbers showed 7-0 to Lidingö when the match ended.
Group A and a new clash between two Stockholm teams was on the agenda, FC Djursholm against Hammarby IF. Hammarby were in the mood to play and not least their Isabel Holmberg-Domarchi who scored three of the goals in the 6-0 win. The second match in Group A was played between Kjelsås and FC Nordsjælland. FC Nordsjælland drew the longest straw in that match and won 5-1.
Group D was last out and would prove to be really close. It started with Sollentuna FK defeating BP 1-0. Then Finnish HJK won against Hasle-Løren from Norway with 4-1. After the two opening matches, there were several draws and one-goal wins. HJK possibly stood out slightly with two 4-1 wins.
This is what all the groups looked like when they had finished playing:
| # | Layer | M | V | O | F | GM | IM | +/- | P |
| 1 | FC Nordsjælland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| 2 | Hammarby | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | Kjelsås | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | FC Djursholm | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0 |
| # | Layer | M | V | O | F | GM | IM | +/- | P |
| 1 | Heming | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Råsunda IS | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | Kolbotn IL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | Djurgården | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
| # | Layer | M | V | O | F | GM | IM | +/- | P |
| 1 | Enskede IK | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | IFK Lidingö | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 6 |
| 3 | Skeid | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 1 |
| 4 | Qbik | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 1 |
| # | Layer | M | V | O | F | GM | IM | +/- | P |
| 1 | HJK | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | Sollentuna FK | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | PO | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | Hasle-Løren | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
The play-offs
From the quarter-finals of the A play-offs Nordsjælland, Hammarby, Enskede and HJK progressed. The most exciting of the quarter-finals was perhaps the one between HJK and Lidingö, which was finally decided on penalties. Lidingö led the match for a long time, but HJK was on top, got an equaliser in the final minutes and won the penalty drama. We will have reason to return to HJK and the penalty drama.
From B playoffs Kjelsås, Kolbotn, Hasle-Løren and BP advanced to the semi-finals. Kjelsås by a 3-2 win against Djurgården, Kolbotn on penalties against FC Djursholm, Hassle-Løren by 2-0 against Skeid and BP on penalties against Qbik.
Back to The A playoffs. In the semi-finals, Nordsjælland faced Enskede in a well-played match that offered only one goal. And that goal was scored by the Danes. The second semi-final was played between Hammarby and HJK. It was also an even match but HJK was the bigger number and took the final place with a 2-0 win. But Hammarby soon got their revenge when they defeated Enskede in the third prize match by 2-1.
I Semi-finals of the B play-off Kjelsås won against Hassle-Løren by the odd goal, 1-0, and were ready for the final. Kolbotn then played BP in a match that was decided on penalties. From the penalty spot, Kolbotn were clinical and thus secured a place in the final of the B playoff. Hassle-Løren and BP played for the third prize, and BP had the most fuel left in the tank and won 2-0.
Two Norwegian teams in the final of the B play-off. Kjelsås against Kolbotn. Kolbotn took the lead in the match through Karla Motrøen. But before the secretariat even had time to present the scorer, Kjelsås and their Vilma Hertzberg Bremnes responded with an equaliser. Kjelsås did not stop at equalising, they also took the lead and eventually won the match 2-1 after what became the last goal by Eline Dahl-Øyen.
There you go, to who won the Girls 2010 Invitational. FC Nordsjælland v HJK. Denmark v Finland. As usual when it comes to A playoffs in Luxcuper 9vs9 and 11vs11, the final was played over two halves, 25 minutes each. The first half was a tight affair and ended in a draw. The second half was the other way round. Or at least the start of it. HJK took an early lead through their Hertta Ahonen. But Nordsjælland were not to be outdone and soon equalised 1-1 through their Karla Bredmose Rasmussen. No more goals were scored in normal time and the match had to be decided on penalties. HJK had already been pushed into the quarter-finals and perhaps that was what made them win this penalty shoot-out as well. 4-3 (e.str.) to HJK who had to fly home to Finland with a little heavier luggage than they came with.
Honours and awards
The shooting league
Isabel Holmberg-Domarchi, Hammarby IF
Seven goals in six games and showed with her hat-trick in Bajen's opening game that she is a goal scorer of rank. Continued her goal scoring in the playoffs when it mattered most and scored both goals in the 2-1 win against Enskede in the match for third prize. Of course, that's what separates a goal scorer from a GOAL SHOOTER, delivering when it matters most. Isabel is a force to be reckoned with.
Tournament Goalkeeper
Veera Valonen, HJK
Confidence itself between the posts. HJK won two penalty shootouts and it was as much due to Vera Valonen in goal as well-taken penalties. An extra man when needed with her fine feet and a positioning in goal as if she has eyes in the back of her head.
MVP
Karla Bredmose Rasmusen, FC Nordsjälland
A name, along with many others in this tournament, to remember. Many players who have won MVP in Luxcuper in the past have had outstanding development and success. Karla Bredmose Rasmusen has every chance of doing the same. Is behind an incredible amount from her midfield position, both offensively and defensively. Covers large areas and hits passes with surgical precision.
Words about the Cup
"Well organised tournament with many good teams" - Enskede IK, F10
"I think the cup has been fun, to meet new teams. We have developed a lot." Hanna Holmkvist, player in IFK Lidingö F10
"Thank you Luxcuper for a fantastic professional organisation" - Hammarby IF, F10
"... an educational, fun and intense football weekend in Kristinehamn" - Djurgårdens IF, F10
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