Latest news with #CatalinaColl
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Spain cruise into women's Euros semis with 2-0 win over Switzerland
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Spain v Switzerland - Stadion Wankdorf, Bern, Switzerland - July 18, 2025 Spain's Catalina Coll and Ona Batlle celebrate after the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo BERN (Reuters) -Spain forward Athenea del Castillo came off the bench to open the scoring and Claudia Pina added a superb second as they beat hosts Switzerland 2-0 on Friday to reach the women's Euro semi-finals, where they will face France or Germany. After a scoreless first half in which Mariona Caldentey missed a penalty, it took a moment of brilliance from Aitana Bonmati to break the deadlock for the world champions in the 66th minute, teeing up Athenea with an instinctive backheel for the substitute to guide the ball past Swiss keeper Livia Peng. Five minutes later, Pina doubled her side's advantage as Switzerland captain Lia Waelti was dispossessed just outside her own penalty area, and Pina curled a superb shot into the top corner before wheeling away in celebration. The drama continued right to the end, with Spain's Alexia Putellas missing a late penalty and Switzerland's Noelle Maritz shown a straight red card for a stoppage-time challenge asthe hosts exited the tournament having made it to the knockout stages for the first time. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond)
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inspired goalie Cata Coll can't save Barcelona from Women's Champions League shock
Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll runs during a warm up session prior to the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, right, shoots the ball to score the opening goal past Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll, center, during the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, bottom, is comforted by Barcelona President Joan Laporta during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, right, is comforted by a team staff member at the end of the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati walks past the winner trophy during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati walks past the winner trophy during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll runs during a warm up session prior to the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, right, shoots the ball to score the opening goal past Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll, center, during the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, bottom, is comforted by Barcelona President Joan Laporta during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, right, is comforted by a team staff member at the end of the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati walks past the winner trophy during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Cata Coll used everything she had. The Barcelona goalkeeper leapt to tip an on-target goal over the bar. She stabbed a foot out at the last second to deflect another net-bound strike. Advertisement While her teammates floundered against Arsenal, Coll did all she could to keep Barcelona's hopes alive of a third successive Women's Champions League title. Everything she had wasn't enough, though. Coll could do nothing to stop an unmarked Stina Blackstenius from firing home a low shot from inside the box and giving Arsenal the most desired trophy in European women's club soccer with a 1-0 win in Lisbon on Saturday. And, like that, Barcelona's quest to three-peat and claim a fourth title in five years was dashed. A side that boasted two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas and several other world champions from Spain's 2023 title team underperformed across the field. The highest scoring attack in Europe that had blasted all-comers fizzled out against Arsenal, lacking precision in passing and finishing touch. Advertisement Except, that is, for Coll. She stretched high to paw a missile by Frida Maanum over in the first half. She then stood firm and guessed right when Blackstenius broke clear in the second half, using her leg to deflect her strike wide. But she couldn't help where Barcelona most needed it: In the final meters in front of Arsenal's net. 'We played a bad first half and then when we improved, the ball just wouldn't go in. That's soccer,' Coll said. 'Reaching a final is always a success. This is not a slump. I continue to completely believe in this team.' Barcelona won nine straight in the competition and blew out Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea in the knockout rounds. That is a big reason, along with the sixth consecutive Liga F title that Barcelona won this year, that Coll and her teammates pledge that they will be back and challenging for the Champions League title next season. Advertisement No double in Europe for Barcelona The disappointment for its women's team comes after its men's side lost to Inter Milan in a Champions League semifinal that it was moments away from winning. Barcelona was eyeing a possible European triple after its under-19 men's team won the UEFA Youth League. Bonmatí's best effort against Arsenal's disciplined defense met the leg of a defender. Forward Claudia Pina hit the bar early in the second half, but the high-octane attack failed to make a late push for an equalizer. The world champion playmaker said her team will build on this loss. 'We weren't at our best level, but we gave all we had. In situations like that, football sometimes punishes you,' Bonmatí said. 'We need to push onwards and use what's happened here to our benefit in the future.' ___ AP soccer:
