Published 2024-01-30 19.37
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MADRID. BK Häcken is ready for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Rosa Kafaji headed in the only goal of the game away to Real Madrid – while Chelsea made short work of Paris FC.
– This was very, very nice. Not many people believed this, says the match hero.
After a goalless first half, with both one and two Häcken free-kicks missed, it was Rosa Kafaji who would break the deadlock away to Real Madrid at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
With just over an hour played, Kafaji’s head found a well-balanced cross from Monica Jusu Bah. 0–1 on the board, which also stood all the way to the final whistle.
– How nice. It was a nice pass by Monica, says the goalscorer, who celebrated the goal by putting her hands to her ears.
– It means how it looked. You can interpret it however you want, says the striker.
The goal and result was enough for BK Häcken to secure second place in the group and an advancement to the Champions League quarter-finals.
This as the first Swedish team since the group stage in the women’s CL was introduced in the 2021/2022 season.
– Yes you, how do you celebrate a quarter-final place? Go to the hotel, eat good food and just be happy, says Kafaji before adding:
– Maybe party too? Lol!
Chelsea did the job against Paris
The victory against Real Madrid was Häcken’s second in two attempts during the group stage, where they rattled off a total of eleven points. And the last three hadn’t really even been “needed” as Chelsea, at the same time in another location, made the process short with Paris FC with a clear 4-0 victory.
Having said that, the Häckenspelarna were happy to have solved it on their own anyway.
– That says something about us as a team. That we go here and beat Real away from home. That we win this match and move on is thanks to ourselves, says Anna Anvegård.
– It means an incredible amount. You have fought hard for this and been at the club for a long time and know what it means. To write history and do it together with such wonderful players, says Filippa Curmark.
Long awaited comeback
The CL promotion also provides a ringing in the coffers for the top Swedish women’s club. Specifically, 2.3 million kroner (including the half a million they get for the victory in Madrid) to add to the roughly six million kroner they have already managed to take in during a successful group game.
As if the money bonus and the victory in itself were not pleasing enough, there was also something else to be happy about for the Häcken supporters on Tuesday.
Despite everything, Elin Rubensson and Anna Sandberg had to make a comeback after injury absence when they were replaced with just over 20 minutes left in the match. For Rubensson, it was the first match in 3.5 months, since the CL qualifier against Twente last autumn. For Anna Csiki, who was substituted in the closing minutes, it was the first match in over a year since her cruciate ligament injury in December 2022.
Tough quarter-final opposition awaits
Which team Häcken will face in the quarter-finals will be decided in the draw on February 6. The quarter-final game begins on March 19/20 with the second leg on March 27/28.
Barcelona, Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain can, as group winners in the other groups, stand in the second group Häcken’s lot.
Who do you want to meet?
– Damn it. I have never met Barcelona and it is my favorite team, says Anvegård.
– The draw will be what it will be. WE are top eight in Europe. Regardless of which team it will be, it will be a tough fight. But this group has given us confidence, says Curmark.
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1 / 3Foto: Angel Martinez / Getty Images,
