Djurgårdens IF IBF wins the Champions Cup 2014 — 05.10.2014

For about 40 minutes Czech champions Vitkovice tried everything to challenge Djurgården. Sandra Mattsson decided this final in the first three minutes of the last period with her two goals to a 5:0 lead. From there on, it was an exhibition game from Djurgården for the audience.

The roles in this year´s Champions Cup final of the women´s tournament were pretty clear: Swedish Champion Djurgårdens IF IBF was the huge favorite and surprise finalist SC Vitkovice undoubtably the underdog. And when Djurgården´s Sandra Mattsson opened the score in the 4^thminute the game seemed already under way to a blowout victory of the Swedish team. But the Czech champions continued the final where they ended their semi-final, with a tremendous defense. A two-minute-penalty from Djurgården even offered them the chance to equalize the score. But the Swedish defense withstood the powerplay. Shortly afterwards Matilda Sjödin was launched by the goalkeeper Emelie Frisk and had no problems scoring her sixth goal of the tournament.

Vitkovice gained ball possession but failed to score

In the second period Djurgården already seemed to take it pretty easy. During the first minutes of the period they had everything under control, but didn´t manage to score. The longer the period lasted the greater the confidence of the Czech´s grew and they started to put more and more pressure on the Swedish players. They had several good shots on Djurgården´s goalkeeper and this seemed to frustrate some Swedish players and defenderJenny Gustafsson took a two-minute-penalty twice within the last eight minutes of the period. But again, even though the Czech players had some promising opportunities, they failed to tighten the score until the second break. So after 40 minutes of the final Djurgården was still in the lead with 3:0.

Sandra Mattsson decided the game in the first three minutes

The first line of Djurgården, especially, started the last period with a much higher pace than the 40 minutes before. After two shifts and 2:42 minutes Mattsson had scored twice and thus decided the game for the Swedish champions. The first goal for Vitkovice, scored by Hana Sladeckova, was a nice reward for their efforts but not more. In tha 48^th minute Ranja Varli missed the chance to score through a penalty shot but she compensated that miss only one minute later during the following powerplay. Subsequently Djurgården controlled the game without much trouble. The further goals to Djurgården´s 10:2 victory weren´t but mere cosmetics for the score. At least, Vitkovice managed to score the last goal of the game.

The Swedish champion´s fulfilled their role as tournament favorites and were not seriously challenged throughout the tournament. In conclusion it was the expected and well deserved Champions Cup title for Djurgårdens IF IBF.

Best Players:
Djurgarden: Nr. 16 Malin Eriksson
Vitkovice: Nr. 18 Hana Sladeckova

(Photos:Michael Peter/André Burri)
More photos from the match by Michael Peter and André Burri can be foundon IFF Flickr.