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October 2015: Evelina Finndell, 17, has played 15 games during the damallsvenska season. But there was no victory and the AIK, with only two points in the whole year, left the first series.
October 2020: Evelina Finndell herself starts for AIK at home against Bollstanäs. And just two hours later, the five-year wait is over.
Although three There are games left from this year’s edition of the elite, the advance to the Allsvenskan is already clear.
One point would be enough for AIK to secure the promotion on its own as early as Saturday.
There were three.
– It’s completely indescribable. I have cried and laughed at the same time, Finndell says as he is torn apart by the confetti shower and the victory dance at Skytteholms IP.
– I am very proud of this team. It took five years, but now we are ready.
The match was just nine minutes old when left-back Sophia Redenstrand shot 1-0 over Bollstanäs goalkeeper Åsa Vallgårda. The goal showed the way in what would eventually be a 5-1 victory for AIK.
– It was incredibly good to set the first goal, says Redenstrand.
– It was a bit difficult to sleep last night, but in the morning the only thing that mattered was the focus.
A banner with the text “We will be back!” in the AIK stands at the damallsvenskan during the last home game of the 2015 jumbo season (0–5 against Rosengård). Five years later it came true.
Photo: Linnea Rheborg / Bildbyrån
The club was already closed last year as fourth in the elite. This year, there have only been two defeats in 23 games so far as the team had the opportunity to play together even more and made successful new acquisitions under the leadership of new sports director Anne Mäkinen (former main player in other national teams of Umeå IK and Finland).
– I was only 17 in 2015, when we left, but it was very heavy, recalls Evelina Finndell.
– But I felt like AIK tried a fresh start after that. Today there is a big difference compared to how it was then, especially organizationally. Now we have a full time sports director, it has meant an incredible amount. And then I think we have better coaches today (Robert Lison Svanström and Caroline Sjöblom, new from last season).
The 22-year-old midfielder continues:
– The AIK style has been based on young players, those who come from below the youth team. And it has been a winning concept. So the players we have brought in have been really good. We really have a strong team this year.
Evelina Finndell made 2018-2019 a shorter stay in Djurgården, but returned to Solna last year.
He has made more than 100 competitive matches with the AIK jersey.
– For me, personally, it has been a dream to get back up with AIK.
Evelina Finndell, far left, has made more than 100 competitive matches for the AIK.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
Saturday disappeared AIK’s Finn Jenny Danielsson, new ahead of the season and one of this year’s exclamation points, due to national team assignments. But in the future, Rosa Kafaji annoyed the guests as did the leader of the elite shooting league Adelisa Grabus, new from Växjö before 2020.
AIK had the game from the first minute and continued to score chances even after the lead goal. Just before the break, he also made it 2-0, through Clara Härdling.
Early in the second half, Bollstanäs was reduced to a penalty, but AIK’s advance was never threatened. Instead, Emma Santamäki, team captain Matilda Rosqvist and Kafaji threw a scoring party.
AIK team captain Matilda Rosqvist applauds after making it 4-1 against Bollstanäs.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
When the final signal sounded, In front of the empty stands of the crown, fireworks exploded in the gray autumn sky.
Now Allsvenskan’s game awaits 2021.
– I am extremely proud of this team, says sports director Anne Mäkninen.
– We have tried to build a very professional culture. The outlook for demand is high and will be even bigger next year. We want to be close to the top three in five years. Now we continue this journey.
AIK is ready for the 2021 damallsvenskan.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
