Arsenal raise the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League with a 1-0 win that ended Barcelona’s hopes of a three-peat.
Arsenal upset defending champions Barcelona 1-0 to win the Ladies’s Champions League for a second time.
Stina Blackstenius scored within the seventy fifth minute after being arrange by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead in the final at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Saturday.
Arsenal’s title got here 18 years after it turned the primary, and nonetheless the one, English membership to win the highest membership title in girls’s soccer.
Arsenal’s gamers embraced on the ultimate whistle and ran to rejoice in entrance of the red-and-white nook of the stands, which had been in any other case largely wearing burgundy and blue.
“We believed from the second our Champions League journey began,” Arsenal striker Alessia Russo advised broadcaster TNT Sports activities. “We knew that we had the capabilities. We knew that we could possibly be ok. It was nearly going and doing it. And we’ve accomplished it!”
Barcelona had been thought of the heavy favorite. They had been aiming for a fourth title in 5 years and to change into the one crew apart from Lyon to win three consecutive titles. The crew led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas received 9 straight within the competitors and blew out Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea within the knockout rounds.
However Arsenal locked down in defence, aside from early within the second half, and created one of the best possibilities. Solely two excellent saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll to disclaim Frida Maanum and Blackstenius saved it scoreless, till Blackstenius lastly beat her.
The victory marks an unimaginable end to a rocky season for Arsenal, which included coach Jonas Eidevall resigning and being changed by assistant Renee Seglers.
Since taking on, Seglers steered the crew by way of a spectacular European marketing campaign. Arsenal constructed its confidence from come-from-behind wins over Actual Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon within the knockout rounds earlier than laying low the almighty Barcelona.
The loss was an enormous disappointment for the big group of Barcelona followers who crammed the stadium that’s residence to Sporting Lisbon. Blue-and-burgundy shirts and flags outnumbered the red-and-white part, however their calls of “Sure we will!” within the remaining minutes weren’t sufficient to encourage a comeback by the Catalan membership.
The closest Barcelona got here to a purpose was a shot by Claudia Pina that hit the crossbar simply after halftime when the Spanish crew had its greatest interval. In any other case, the sport was to Arsenal’s liking.
“We’re very sorry for all our followers who’ve come to assist us,” Bonmati advised Catalunya Radio within the area earlier than the award ceremony. “We’ll attempt to do it once more.”
Arsenal shook off some early jitters in defence and shortly had Barcelona on the again foot. Arsenal’s strain up the sphere stopped Barcelona from getting their possession recreation going, and Arsenal discovered areas with lengthy balls down the left flank.
England striker Russo was a rock for Arsenal, utilizing her measurement to win balls and hold the assault going.
Arsenal thought it went forward within the twenty second however a video evaluate waived off an personal purpose by Barcelona’s Irene Paredes when the referee noticed an offside by Frida Maanum. Maanum then went shut with a protracted shot within the twenty seventh that Coll did nicely to stretch and push over her bar.
Bonmatí was the one Barcelona participant who appeared to be within the move earlier than halftime. Her dribble strikes by way of the center created a number of threats and saved Arsenal on guard in defence. Leah Williamson blocked her greatest shot deep within the field within the twelfth.
Barcelona got here out of the restart firing.
Pina hit the woodwork together with her chipped shot from a pointy angle within the forty ninth. Bonmati pressured goalie Daphne van Domselaar to get low to parry her shot, and Ona Batlle bombarded the realm with three pictures from lengthy vary.
However Blackstenius set the tone when she had a golden likelihood when she stole a ball with solely Cata to beat, however the goalie bought her leg out to dam her effort within the 72nd. The Sweden ahead wouldn’t be denied a second time.
