We won the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time since 2007 thanks to Stina Blackstenius’ 74th-minute winner against Barcelona in Lisbon.
Under the cosh for much of the second half, the introductions of Beth Mead and Blackstenius proved to be a masterstroke as the former put the ball on a plate for our Swedish forward to bury into the back of the net and become two-time champions of Europe.
WHAT HAPPENED
Daphne van Domselaar was called into action early on when she was first to respond to a ball over the top for Ewa Pajor by Patri Guijarro, with Emily Fox clearing the danger that followed.
We had our first sight of goal at the other end as Kim Little’s cross was headed wide of the far post by Caitlin Foord, before Ona Batlle found Aitana Bonmati in a dangerous area and her effort ricocheted into Van Domselaar’s gloves.
Foord then had a cross from the left volleyed over the bar by Chloe Kelly and Claudia Pina’s ball into the box was then punched away by our number 14.
We carved an opening in the 22nd minute and forced an own goal from Irene Paredes when Frida Maanum delivered a cross into the corridor of uncertainty, but the goal was ruled out by VAR with Maanum found to receive possession in an offside position.
Our Norwegian forward produced a spectacular effort from distance moments later, which Cata Coll did well to get up to and parry over the bar. Little then struck over from a Kelly corner as we grew into the ascendancy without a lead to show for it.
Bonmati worked her way into our 18-yard box and shot straight at Van Domselaar just beyond the half-hour mark, and she met another cross from Caroline Graham Hansen after Foord had tracked back and blocked a delivery to inspire the supporters in red and white.
Leah Williamson dispossessed Pajor in a dangerous area as we continued to carry out our defensive duties with aplomb, with Fox then sniffing out danger again and getting back to block a shot from Pina, before we went into the break level.
STINA SEALS SILVERWARE
Barcelona came out on the front foot in the second half, initially with Pina going for the bottom left from long range, Van Domselaar equal to it. She then watched a cross from Pina loop onto the crossbar before gathering a shot off the heel of Bonmati. Battle was next up to have a go, driving her effort just wide of the bottom left.
Van Domselaar got down to her left to deny Bonmati and concede another corner, before Batlle shot over the bar and straight at our goalkeeper. It was one-way traffic and we made our first two changes in the 67th minute, Blackstenius and Mead coming on for Maanum and Kelly, and they would prove huge.
Fridolina Rolfö’s cross somehow went wide of the target moments later, with replays showing that it was Steph Catley who put it wide for a Barcelona corner.
Barcelona gave the ball away in the 72nd minute, allowing Blackstenius to carry us forward but she was denied by Coll’s left foot, before Pejor headed onto the roof of the net on the counter-attack.
Our super subs combined with 15 minutes remaining, Mead sliding a reverse pass through to Blackstenius who tucked it into the bottom left corner for 1-0 to the Arsenal.
We saw out the remainder of the game and a healthy dose of stoppage-time to make history and end an incredible season on the ultimate high!
LINE-UPS
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Little (C), McCabe, Maanum (Blackstenius 67), Foord (Hurtig 86), Kelly (Mead 67), Russo (Wubben-Moy 90+1)
Substitutes: Zinsberger, Williams, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova
Barcelona: Cata Coll, O. Battle, Paredes, Maria Leon (Engen 79), Rolfo (Brugts 78), Aitana, Patri, Alexia (C), Graham, Pajor, Pina (Paralluelo 62)
Substitutes: Gemma, Roebuck, Jana, Marta, Vicky, Cano, Schertenleib, Serrajordi, Judit
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