Source : ABC NEWS
Arsenal’s Matildas trio are celebrating in Lisbon after the English giants toppled Barcelona 1-0 to claim the UEFA Women’s Champions League title.
Caitlin Foord was brilliant foraging forward, while Steph Catley was a rock at the back as the underdogs — once the dominant force in English women’s football — held firm under pressure to become European champions for the first time in 18 years.
The pair celebrated with their Matildas teammate Kyra Cooney-Cross, an unused substitute, carrying the Australian flag around the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal.
Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius struck the winner in the 75th minute to the delight of the club’s 5,000 travelling supporters.
The Sweden international latched onto fellow substitute Beth Mead’s reverse pass in a crowded area and fired a low diagonal shot past goalkeeper Catalina Coll.
Renée Slegers’s Gunners held on to win against a Barcelona side going for a third straight Champions League title.
“Amazing,” Arsenal forward Alessia Russo told TNT Sports through tears.
“We had to suffer a lot.
“They’re [Barcelona] a top side. We knew coming into this game that we’d have to suffer and there would be moments when we wouldn’t have the ball and we would have to be content and happy with not having the ball knowing our moment would come.
“Our squad just wanted it so badly.”
Stina Blackstenius (right) scored the winner for Arsenal late in the match. ( Getty Images/Arsenal FC: David Price)
The Arsenal players stood arm-in-arm in front of their red-clad fans after the final whistle singing along to Queen’s song We Are The Champions.
The win comes against a mighty Barcelona team considered on paper to be the best in the world.
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí called the loss “absolutely devastating”.
“I don’t believe it,” Bonmatí told Catalan TV.
“I just want to start the game again and do it differently. Personally, this hurts me a lot.”
Barcelona was playing in its sixth final in seven years and had hoisted the trophy in three of the past four campaigns.
Slegers had taken over mid-season with the side in turmoil following Jonas Eidevall’s resignation.
The Gunners succeeded in only their second appearance in the Champions League final in 18 years, having won back in 2007.
Arsenal is still the only English club to have won the tournament.
The Matildas trio now join their national teammate Ellie Carpenter, victorious with Lyon in the past, as Champions League winners.
AAP/Reuters
