Stina Blackstenius played the role of super sub as her goal helped Arsenal clinch their second Women’s Champions League title with a 1-0 win over holders Barcelona at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Blackstenius made an instant impact asnshe hopped into the field. She strike the decisive blow just seven minutes after her introduction into the action.
The Gunners are featuring in their first European final since winning the competition in 2007. Regardless, they made a nervy start to proceedings, but quickly settled against Pere Romeu’s team.
And they thought they had edged ahead in the 23rd minute when Frida Maanum’s cross was turned into her own net by Irene Paredes. However her blushes were stopped by the offside flag, with the Arsenal attacker collecting the ball beyond the Barca defence.
Maanum was involved again moments later as Arsenal pushed for the opening goal. But her drilled effort from 25 yards out was acrobatically tipped over by Cata Coll.
Barcelona, however, improved after the break. Renee Slegers turned to her bench in the 67th minute and introduced Blackstenius and Beth Mead. Those changes proved a stroke of genius.
Blackstenius had forced a huge save from Coll moments after entering the action. But she got herself on the scoresheet few minutes later.
After a corner was cleared, Mead collected the ball on the edge of the box and sent a clever reverse pass into Blackstenius, who fired into the bottom-left corner.
Barcelona piled on the pressure as they tried to force extra time. Sadly for them, Arsenal held on after seven minutes of stoppage to set up a party in Lisbon.
Ahead kick-off, many predicted Barcelona would romp to a fourth European crown in five years. However, the grit and determination the Gunners showed in the latter stages of the competition got them the win.
And match-winner Blackstenius picked the perfect time to end her goal drought in Europe. Indeed, her strike was just her second in the competition this season, and her first since November against Juventus.
It marked a sensational turnaround under Slegers. She is now the first Dutch manager to win the Women’s Champions League, and the third overall across the men’s or women’s competition. This is after Louis van Gaal (1995 with Ajax) and Frank Rijkaard (2006 with Barcelona).
Women’s Super League rivals Chelsea may have completed the domestic treble. But these Arsenal heroes will also go down in history, as the Gunners remain the only English team to have won the competition.
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