Yesterday’s friendly match against AIK provided Åland United with valuable insights ahead of the upcoming season, but unfortunately, it also brought a serious setback: goalkeeper Lilja Niiranen suffered an unfortunate back injury in the 84th minute and will now require a longer rehabilitation period.

The injury occurred during a corner situation, where Lilja was hit in the back by an opponent. She was forced to leave the pitch, and examinations have now confirmed that she will be out of action for an extended period.

"This is a tough blow, both for Lilja and for the team," says head coach Daniel Norrmén. "She is an important player in our squad, and now it's all about supporting her as much as possible during her rehabilitation."

It is still unclear how long Lilja will be sidelined, but the entire team stands behind her and wishes her the shortest recovery possible.