Arsenal shocked defending champion Barcelona 1-0 to assert its second Women’s Champions League title on Saturday, ending an 18-year wait in dramatic style.
Stina Blackstenius struck the decisive purpose within the seventy fifth minute at Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade, coolly changing after fellow substitute Beth Mead set her up with a pinpoint help.
The Gunners, nonetheless the one English membership to carry the crown, recaptured the glory they first tasted in 2007.
At the ultimate whistle, Arsenal’s gamers erupted in celebration, racing towards a red-and-white pocket of followers in a stadium in any other case draped in Barcelona’s burgundy and blue.
“We believed from the moment our Champions League journey started,” Arsenal striker Alessia Russo informed broadcaster TNT Sports. “We knew that we had the capabilities. We knew that we could be good enough. It was just about going and doing it. And we’ve done it!”
Barcelona entered because the heavy favourite, aiming for a fourth title in 5 years and to change into the one crew aside from Lyon to win three consecutive titles.
The crew, led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, had gained 9 straight within the competitors and cruised previous Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea within the knockout rounds.
But Arsenal locked down defensively – apart from early within the second half – and created the higher possibilities. Only two very good saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll, denying Frida Maanum and Blackstenius, saved it scoreless till Blackstenius lastly broke by means of.
The victory capped an unimaginable end to a rocky season for Arsenal, which included head coach Jonas Eidevall resigning and being changed by assistant Renee Slegers.
Since taking up, Slegers steered the crew by means of a spectacular European marketing campaign. Arsenal constructed its confidence with come-from-behind wins over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon within the knockout rounds earlier than toppling mighty Barcelona.
The loss was a significant disappointment for the big contingent of Barcelona followers who packed the stadium, house to Sporting Lisbon. Blue-and-burgundy shirts and flags outnumbered the red-and-white part, however their chants of “Yes we can!” within the ultimate minutes weren’t sufficient to spark a comeback by the Catalan membership.
The closest Barcelona got here to scoring was a chipped shot from Claudia Pina that struck the crossbar simply after halftime, in the course of the Spanish aspect’s finest interval. Otherwise, the match performed into Arsenal’s arms.
“We are very sorry for all our fans who came to support us,” Bonmati informed Catalunya Radio on the sector earlier than the award ceremony. “We will try to do it again.”
Arsenal shook off early defensive jitters and shortly had Barcelona on the again foot. Its excessive urgent stifled Barcelona’s rhythm, and Arsenal discovered pleasure with lengthy balls down the left flank.
England striker Russo was pivotal, utilizing her dimension and power to win balls and maintain assaults alive.
Arsenal thought it had gone forward within the twenty second minute, however a video evaluation disallowed an personal purpose by Barcelona’s Irene Paredes after the referee noticed an offside on Maanum. Maanum later pressured a advantageous save from Coll within the twenty seventh minute with a long-range effort the keeper tipped over the bar.
Bonmati was the one Barcelona participant to search out her rhythm earlier than halftime. Her dribbling runs by means of midfield created a couple of threats, with Leah Williamson blocking her finest likelihood within the field within the twelfth minute.
Barcelona got here out firing after the break.
Pina hit the woodwork with a chipped shot from a pointy angle within the forty ninth. Bonmati pressured goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to get low to parry her shot, and Ona Batlle unleashed three long-range efforts.
But Blackstenius had the ultimate say. She had a golden likelihood within the 72nd minute after stealing the ball, however Coll caught out a leg to disclaim her. The Sweden ahead, nevertheless, wouldn’t be denied once more.
Source: www.dailysabah.com