Matildas Abroad Review: Heatley’s goal helps FC Nordsjælland win first league title; Madrid finish season on a high

Winonah Heatley scored an all-important goal - her first in the Danish league - as FC Nordsjælland held Brøndby IF to a draw and sealed the Danish league title.

Meanwhile, Hayley Raso started and played the full match in Real Madrid's final game of the season.

Read our review of all of the Matildas Abroad action below.

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Denmark

FC Nordsjælland secured an all-important 1-1 draw with Brøndby IF in the final league game of the season, that meant that Winonah Heatley’s side are Danish champions for the first time in their history. It was Heatley, ever-present in the side since recovering from injury earlier this year, who scored her first league goal early in the second half to give her side the lead.

FC Nordsjælland lift the league title. (Photo: FC Nordsjælland)
FC Nordsjælland lift the league title. (Photo: FC Nordsjælland)

While Brøndby responded minutes later with a goal to Hafrún Rakel Halldórsdóttir, they could not secure the second goal that they needed, and Nordsjælland got the job done.

The same two teams will meet in the Danish Cup final next week.

Spain

Real Madrid finished their season with a 4-1 victory over Sporting Huelva. It was a decisive performance, with a brace to Signe Bruun sandwiched between goals to Olga Carmona and Naomie Feller. Hayley Raso started the match at right-back and was heavily involved, applying the pressure that led to the fourth goal.

The winger is now out of contract at Madrid but has not yet made a decision on her club's future, telling media earlier this month that her full focus is now on Paris 2024™.

Sweden

Kristianstads DFF have retained their place in fourth in the Damallsvenskan as they defeated Djurgården 2-1. Goals to Emmi Alanen and Hlín Eiríksdóttir were enough to get them the win, despite a Therese Âsland penalty halving the deficit in the second half. Clare Polkinghorne started the match at centre-back while Amy Sayer remains unavailable with injury.

Aivi Luik’s BK Häcken take on Vittsjö on Tuesday, 3am AEST.

United States

A stoppage-time equaliser to Washington Spirit’s Croix Bethune meant that their clash with San Diego Wave ended in a 1-1 draw. The Wave led for most of the game after an early goal to Jaedyn Shaw but were denied the three points at the last. Emily van Egmond and Kaitlyn Torpey were both second-half substitutes.

In other NWSL news, North Carolina Courage announced the signing of Cortnee Vine during the week. They currently sit seventh on the ladder, with five wins from 13 games. The forward will become available to play for them after Paris 2024™.