STINA BLACKSTENIUS stunned Barcelona by firing Arsenal to Champions League glory wrecking the Catalan giants hopes of a European three-peat.
The Sweden ace, who has a knack for netting tournament-winning goals, bagged one that saw the Gunners win the contest for the first time in 18 years.
APArsenal have won the Women’s Champions League[/caption]
AFPThe Gunners stars posed with their medals after beating Barcelona 1-0[/caption]
AFPStina Blackstenius scored the winning goal as Arsenal won the Women’s Champions League[/caption]
APArsenal returned to European glory for the first time in almost 20 years[/caption]
PAThe Gunners were massive underdogs heading into the final[/caption]
APEmotional scenes at full-time showed how much it meant to the Arsenal fans[/caption]
With Arsenal under the cosh the Sweden striker was called into action by boss Renee Slegers, along with Beth Mead in the 69th minute at the home of Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
The duo did not disappoint with Blackstenius pouncing on Mead’s classy reverse pass to drill low a shot beyond keeper Cata Coll six minutes later.
The striker, who bagged Arsenal’s winner in the Women’s League Cup, was mobbed by her team-mates with Barca’s players looking stunned to go behind.
The Gunners also had a goal chalked off in a tense encounter which they were jeered by a largely partisan crowd of 38,356 onlookers.
Despite the jeers of Barca’s fans, with just 5,000 Gunners supporters present, Slegers capped Arsenal’s renaissance by guiding the team to football’s top club prize.
Respect and belief were the buzzwords around her camp as time drew near to the team’s biggest European game in 18 years.
It was almost two decades ago (2007) that Arsenal claimed a Champions League trophy for the first time.
Gunners legend Ian Wright, watching from the stands, had urged Slegers side to embrace the moment.
PAIan Wright watched on from the stands[/caption]
PAArsenal chairman Josh Kroenke was seen chatting to Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin[/caption]
PAArsenal legend Alex Scott watched alongside partner Jess Glynn[/caption]
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For periods of the game they certainly did with some of Arsenal’s top brass watch from the stands including co-owner Josh Kroenke and managing director Richard Garlick.
The queens of Spain’s top-flight have pretty much demolished most of their Champions League rivals, lifting the trophy three times in the last four years.
Ever since their first triumph in 2021, with Chelsea thrashed 4-0, they have been a force to be reckoned with.
From the WSL this season, Manchester City were the only side able to lay a glove on Barcelona in Europe, with their tactically smart 2-0 win in the group stage.
WSL champions Chelsea tried and failed to get past them conceding eight times across their two-leg semis tie.
So the odds were very much against Arsenal at the home of Sporting where a large Barcelona contingent roared the holders on.
After some panicky defending in their box early on, Slegers players appeared to settle into the game restricting the holders to just ONE first half shot on target.
The Gunners thought they had taken the lead after Irene Paredes poked home an own-goal but a VAR check found Frida Maanum was offside.
After Claudia Pina had a 58th minute shot blocked and Barca fired some efforts narrowly over the bar.
Arsenal took the lead much to the Catalan giants dismay. And they held out to capture the trophy for the first time in almost 20 years.
AFPBlackstenius found the bottom corner from inside the area to score the only goal[/caption]
AFPArsenal put on a defensive masterclass to stop Barcelona from scoring[/caption]
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