Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's former side, Hacken has so far made the most of its second Champions League group stage appearance in the last three campaigns. After hanging on by a thread in France at the Estadio Charléty, it shocked the European landscape. Down by a goal within the first 10 minutes on home soil, the Swedish side netted two stunning goals in the second half to steal all the points away from Real Madrid.
The cleanest of strikes 🔥🇸🇪
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) December 3, 2023
How impressed have you been with Kafaji and Häcken so far?#UWCL pic.twitter.com/74DB4o64fT
20-year-old Swede Rusul Rosa Kafaji is making sure her side shines on the brightest of stages. Hacken's No. 8 who usually sits right behind the 16-year-old striker Felicia Schröder has contributed to the same amount of goals so far in Europe this season as the current Ballon d'Or holder, Aitana Bonmati.
Kafaji drilled an absolute rocket past the outstretched arms of Misa Rodríguez in match week two. If you count the final week of the Swedish top-flight campaign, the club's top-scorer has been a part of four goals in the last three contests.
Don't sleep on winger Anna Anvegard, a consistent force in the final third who set up the club's No. 8 for its first goal of the group stages. Anvegard, for the most part makes up the right wing with 20-year-old Anna Sandberg flying down the left flank. In a team that is made up of youngsters under the age of 24, it is anchored by the 38-year-old ex-Notts County player Aivi Luik in the center of defense.
The club is under new leadership on the sideline with Robert Vilahamn moving to north London from Gothenburg. Mak Lind, the former Lebanon international calls the shots now, leading the Wasps to a second place finish in the Damallsvenskan. Against two tough sides, Lind's team showed immense grit, illustrating that by no means do you need the majority of the ball to collect the three points.