By Victor Kanayo
Arsenal stunned defending champions Barcelona 1-0 to win the Women’s Champions League for a second time.
This was after Stina Blackstenius scored in the 75th minute, after being set up by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead in the final at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Saturday night.
Arsenal’s title came 18 years after it became the first, and still the only, English club to win the top club title in women’s football, Al Jazeera reports.
Surprise Slip
Barcelona were considered the heavy favourites.
They were aiming for a fourth title in five years and to become the only team other than Lyon to win three consecutive titles.
The team, led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, won nine straight in the competition and blew out Wolfsburg and English champions Chelsea in the knockout rounds.
Topsy-Turvy Season for Gunners
For Arsenal, the victory marks an incredible finish to a rocky season.
The club had coach Jonas Eidevall resigning and being replaced by assistant Renee Seglers.
Since taking over, Seglers steered the team through a spectacular European campaign.
Arsenal built its confidence through come-from-behind wins over Real Madrid and eight-time champions Lyon in the knockout rounds before laying low the almighty Barcelona.
