Latest news with #FridaMaanum
Fox Sports
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Arsenal has stunned Barcelona to win the Women's Champions League
Associated Press LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Arsenal has upset defending champion Barcelona 1-0 to win the Women's Champions League for a second time. Stina Blackstenius scored in the 75th minute after being set up by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on Saturday. 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 soccer. Arsenal's players embraced on the final whistle and ran to celebrate in front of the red-and-white corner of the stands otherwise mostly dressed in burgundy-and-blue. Barcelona was considered the heavy favorite. It was 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 Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas won nine straight in the competition and blew out Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea in the knockout rounds. But Arsenal locked down in defense — except for early in the second half — and created the best chances. Only two superb saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll to deny Frida Maanum and Blackstenius kept it scoreless until Blackstenius finally beat her. The victory marks an incredible finish to a rocky season for Arsenal, which included coach Jonas Eidevall resigning and being replaced by assistant Renée Seglers. Since taking over, Seglers steered the team through a spectacular European campaign. Arsenal built its confidence from come-from-behind wins over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in the knockout rounds before laying low the almighty Barcelona. The loss was a huge disappointment for the large group of Barcelona fans who filled the stadium that is home to Sporting Lisbon. Blue-and-burgundy shirts and flags outnumbered the red-and-white section, but their calls of 'Yes we can!' in the final minutes weren't enough to inspire a comeback by the Catalan club. The closest Barcelona came to a goal was a shot by Claudia Pina that hit the crossbar just after halftime when the Spanish team had its best period. Otherwise, the game was to Arsenal's liking. Arsenal imposes its game Arsenal shook off some early jitters in defense and soon had Barcelona on the back foot. Its pressure up the field stopped Barcelona from getting its possession game going, and Arsenal found spaces with long balls down the left flank. England striker Alessia Russo was a rock for Arsenal, using her size to win balls and keep the attack going. Arsenal thought it went ahead in the 22nd but a video review waived off an own goal by Barcelona's Irene Paredes when the referee spotted an offside by Frida Maanum. Maanum then went close with a long shot in the 27th that Coll did well to stretch and push over her bar. Bonmatí was the only Barcelona player who seemed to be in the flow before halftime. Her dribble moves through the middle created a few threats and kept Arsenal on guard in defense. Leah Willamson blocked her best shot deep in the box in the 12th. Barcelona came out of the restart firing. Pina hit the woodwork with her chipped shot from a sharp angle in the 49th. Bonmatí forced goalie Daphne van Domselaar to get low to parry her shot, and Ona Battle bombarded the area with three shots from long range. But Blackstenius set the tone when she had a golden chance when she stole a ball with only Cata to beat, but the goalie got her leg out to block her effort in the 72nd. The Sweden forward would not be denied a second time. ___ AP soccer:
South Wales Guardian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Arsenal's route to the Women's Champions League final
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Gunners' route to Saturday's showdown with the holders in Lisbon. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECURED 😁✅ — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 26, 2024 Having finished third in the 2023-24 Women's Super League table, Arsenal had to get through two qualifying rounds, playing three teams, to make it into the Champions League group stage. The first saw them thrash Rangers 6-0, with Caitlin Foord netting four times, and beat Rosenborg 1-0 courtesy of a Frida Maanum finish. That took them to a second-round, two-legged tie against Hacken and after losing 1-0 in Sweden, they won leg two 4-0 to advance. Things started badly for Arsenal in Group C, with them being thumped 5-2 at Bayern Munich in their opener, six days after which, in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, boss Jonas Eidevall resigned. But with Renee Slegers taking charge from there, the team won each of their remaining five pool fixtures, defeating Valerenga and Juventus home and away before coming from behind to beat Bayern 3-2 as they claimed top spot. Slegers' side took on Real Madrid in the last eight and were 2-0 down after a first leg played at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in wet conditions on a pitch branded a 'disgrace' by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. They subsequently turned the tie around back at the Emirates Stadium, where an Alessia Russo brace and Mariona Caldentey goal saw them triumph 3-0, 3-2 on aggregate. Chloe Kelly, signed on loan from Manchester City in January, provided two assists. Onwards to the final – together 👊 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 27, 2025 Arsenal again produced a second-leg fightback after a first-leg defeat, this time suffered at the Emirates as Lyon, managed by ex-Gunners boss Joe Montemurro, won 2-1 thanks to a late Melchie Dumornay effort. Slegers saw her team bounce back with a hugely impressive performance in France, ruthlessly punishing their out-of-sorts opponents to triumph 4-1 on the day, 5-3 on aggregate, and set up the clash with Barca. The tie was level after five minutes via a Christiane Endler own goal, Caldentey put Arsenal in front with a stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, and they then made the most of Lyon sloppiness after the break as Russo and Foord added finishes before Dumornay pulled a goal back for the hosts.
Leader Live
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Arsenal's route to the Women's Champions League final
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Gunners' route to Saturday's showdown with the holders in Lisbon. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECURED 😁✅ — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 26, 2024 Having finished third in the 2023-24 Women's Super League table, Arsenal had to get through two qualifying rounds, playing three teams, to make it into the Champions League group stage. The first saw them thrash Rangers 6-0, with Caitlin Foord netting four times, and beat Rosenborg 1-0 courtesy of a Frida Maanum finish. That took them to a second-round, two-legged tie against Hacken and after losing 1-0 in Sweden, they won leg two 4-0 to advance. Things started badly for Arsenal in Group C, with them being thumped 5-2 at Bayern Munich in their opener, six days after which, in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, boss Jonas Eidevall resigned. But with Renee Slegers taking charge from there, the team won each of their remaining five pool fixtures, defeating Valerenga and Juventus home and away before coming from behind to beat Bayern 3-2 as they claimed top spot. Slegers' side took on Real Madrid in the last eight and were 2-0 down after a first leg played at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in wet conditions on a pitch branded a 'disgrace' by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. They subsequently turned the tie around back at the Emirates Stadium, where an Alessia Russo brace and Mariona Caldentey goal saw them triumph 3-0, 3-2 on aggregate. Chloe Kelly, signed on loan from Manchester City in January, provided two assists. Onwards to the final – together 👊 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 27, 2025 Arsenal again produced a second-leg fightback after a first-leg defeat, this time suffered at the Emirates as Lyon, managed by ex-Gunners boss Joe Montemurro, won 2-1 thanks to a late Melchie Dumornay effort. Slegers saw her team bounce back with a hugely impressive performance in France, ruthlessly punishing their out-of-sorts opponents to triumph 4-1 on the day, 5-3 on aggregate, and set up the clash with Barca. The tie was level after five minutes via a Christiane Endler own goal, Caldentey put Arsenal in front with a stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, and they then made the most of Lyon sloppiness after the break as Russo and Foord added finishes before Dumornay pulled a goal back for the hosts.
Powys County Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Arsenal's route to the Women's Champions League final
Arsenal have travelled a long road to get to this weekend's Women's Champions League final against Barcelona, starting in the first qualifying round in early September. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Gunners' route to Saturday's showdown with the holders in Lisbon. Qualifying CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECURED 😁✅ — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 26, 2024 Having finished third in the 2023-24 Women's Super League table, Arsenal had to get through two qualifying rounds, playing three teams, to make it into the Champions League group stage. The first saw them thrash Rangers 6-0, with Caitlin Foord netting four times, and beat Rosenborg 1-0 courtesy of a Frida Maanum finish. That took them to a second-round, two-legged tie against Hacken and after losing 1-0 in Sweden, they won leg two 4-0 to advance. Group stage Things started badly for Arsenal in Group C, with them being thumped 5-2 at Bayern Munich in their opener, six days after which, in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, boss Jonas Eidevall resigned. But with Renee Slegers taking charge from there, the team won each of their remaining five pool fixtures, defeating Valerenga and Juventus home and away before coming from behind to beat Bayern 3-2 as they claimed top spot. Quarter-finals Slegers' side took on Real Madrid in the last eight and were 2-0 down after a first leg played at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in wet conditions on a pitch branded a 'disgrace' by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. They subsequently turned the tie around back at the Emirates Stadium, where an Alessia Russo brace and Mariona Caldentey goal saw them triumph 3-0, 3-2 on aggregate. Chloe Kelly, signed on loan from Manchester City in January, provided two assists. Semi-finals Onwards to the final – together 👊 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 27, 2025 Arsenal again produced a second-leg fightback after a first-leg defeat, this time suffered at the Emirates as Lyon, managed by ex-Gunners boss Joe Montemurro, won 2-1 thanks to a late Melchie Dumornay effort. Slegers saw her team bounce back with a hugely impressive performance in France, ruthlessly punishing their out-of-sorts opponents to triumph 4-1 on the day, 5-3 on aggregate, and set up the clash with Barca. The tie was level after five minutes via a Christiane Endler own goal, Caldentey put Arsenal in front with a stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, and they then made the most of Lyon sloppiness after the break as Russo and Foord added finishes before Dumornay pulled a goal back for the hosts.
North Wales Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Arsenal's route to the Women's Champions League final
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Gunners' route to Saturday's showdown with the holders in Lisbon. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECURED 😁✅ — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 26, 2024 Having finished third in the 2023-24 Women's Super League table, Arsenal had to get through two qualifying rounds, playing three teams, to make it into the Champions League group stage. The first saw them thrash Rangers 6-0, with Caitlin Foord netting four times, and beat Rosenborg 1-0 courtesy of a Frida Maanum finish. That took them to a second-round, two-legged tie against Hacken and after losing 1-0 in Sweden, they won leg two 4-0 to advance. Things started badly for Arsenal in Group C, with them being thumped 5-2 at Bayern Munich in their opener, six days after which, in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, boss Jonas Eidevall resigned. But with Renee Slegers taking charge from there, the team won each of their remaining five pool fixtures, defeating Valerenga and Juventus home and away before coming from behind to beat Bayern 3-2 as they claimed top spot. Slegers' side took on Real Madrid in the last eight and were 2-0 down after a first leg played at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in wet conditions on a pitch branded a 'disgrace' by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. They subsequently turned the tie around back at the Emirates Stadium, where an Alessia Russo brace and Mariona Caldentey goal saw them triumph 3-0, 3-2 on aggregate. Chloe Kelly, signed on loan from Manchester City in January, provided two assists. Onwards to the final – together 👊 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 27, 2025 Arsenal again produced a second-leg fightback after a first-leg defeat, this time suffered at the Emirates as Lyon, managed by ex-Gunners boss Joe Montemurro, won 2-1 thanks to a late Melchie Dumornay effort. Slegers saw her team bounce back with a hugely impressive performance in France, ruthlessly punishing their out-of-sorts opponents to triumph 4-1 on the day, 5-3 on aggregate, and set up the clash with Barca. The tie was level after five minutes via a Christiane Endler own goal, Caldentey put Arsenal in front with a stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, and they then made the most of Lyon sloppiness after the break as Russo and Foord added finishes before Dumornay pulled a goal back for the hosts.
