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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland must learn from unacceptable mistakes in Poland loss, admits Tanya Oxtoby
A nightmare start, in which Poland scored twice inside the opening nine minutes, saw hopes of victory quickly evaporate and those two goals were a horror for Northern Ireland. First, Martyna Wiankowska was afforded the freedom of Seaview when she had acres of space on the left wing to deliver a cross into the box for Ewa Pajor to score the opening goal after four minutes. Pajor then took the ball of a the toe of a hesitant Jackie Burns just outside the box before doubling the lead five minutes later. It is the response from her players in such circumstances and how they reacted over the course of the 80 minutes that followed that is Oxtoby's real focus going into a crucial trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina, with second place in the Nations League group on the line now that top spot has been secured by Poland. It was a tough night for teenage debutant Abi Sweetlove to come into the defence, while she was later joined on the pitch by Glentoran's Aimee Kerr – which Oxtoby highlighted as positives to take from the game. 'We spoke about starting well and staying in the game and we didn't do that,' said Oxtoby. 'I don't think you can play a team like this and make mistakes. They will punish you. They did that tonight and they did it when we played them away as well. 'It's a lesson to be learned, but that's why they're going to Euros. They're a top side with top players and if you make errors, whether that be collectively or individually, they're going to punish you for that. 'That's the level we want to be at. So we have to take that on the chin and we have to learn from it, and we have to keep moving forward.' Poland's three major threats, Paulina Tomasiak, Pajor and Adriana Achcinska, combined for the third and fourth goals – the former smashing home after 28 minutes before the latter slotted the fourth a minute into the second half to wreck Oxtoby's half-time reorganisation. There was a distinct difference from the first two goals, which were heart-breaking for Northern Ireland compared to the sheer quality that Poland displayed for the latter two. 'There were mistakes all over the pitch and I think it's the reaction to that that we're looking for,' said Oxtoby. 'Do you have the resilience to turn that around and really then impact the game in a positive way? Credit to the girls I thought they did that, each and every one of them. 'The changes we made at half-time had an impact, the subs we made during the second half had an impact and the girls will learn from that. 'We've had two debuts tonight and you look at what Poland put out, you look at what we're put out and, you know, we're on a journey and I'll take those mistakes while we're continuing to learn.' After going three games unbeaten since a 2-0 defeat in Poland, results which had given hope to pipping the Poles for top spot in the group, Oxtoby wasn't completely downbeat. 'There are group errors, there are individual errors across the whole campaign and it's just about learning from those and making sure that we continue to develop the players,' said Oxtoby. 'One result doesn't define our campaign, we've been brilliant across this campaign and we're still in a great position and that has got to be the focus for us. 'We've said that in the group there. We've got to learn from tonight, the bits that we need to take and be better at, no doubt, short term and long term. But our focus has got to be on Tuesday and making sure that we get that right.' The focus is now very much on Tuesday and, with Bosnia being very much a different level of opposition, Northern Ireland's approach will be very different in Zenica. 'You probably have to be flawless against a team like (Poland), and in the second half what pleased me was the opportunities we had going the other way,' said Oxtoby. 'We could have easily gone into our shell and not really expressed ourselves and we still did that. We take the positives and we've got to take those into Tuesday because it's a massive game for us.'
Fox Sports
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Barcelona seeks 3-peat of Women's Champions League titles when it faces Arsenal in Lisbon final
Associated Press LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Barcelona is aiming to complete a three-peat of Women's Champions League titles and win its fourth European crown in five years when it faces Arsenal in Lisbon on Saturday. Barcelona is out to reaffirm its status as the dominant force in European women's soccer after it finally beat Lyon and successfully defended its title in last year's final. Its possession-hungry and high-scoring attack is led from the midfield by Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas and several other members of Spain's World Cup-winning team that beat England in the 2023 final. Barcelona will be play its sixth Champions League final in seven seasons and a record-equaling fifth in a row at Lisbon's 50,000-capacity Estádio José Alvalade. The Catalan club has the chance to become the only team other than Lyon to lift the European Cup in three consecutive years. Standing in its way is an Arsenal team that has excelled as a spoiler this campaign and hopes it can pull off another upset and win its second European title. 'They're a fantastic team and they've obviously got the recent history to prove it,' Arsenal defender Leah Williamson said about Barcelona in the buildup to the final. 'We respect them a lot, but it's a final, so everybody turns up and everybody gives their best.' Barcelona's weapons First-year Barcelona coach Pere Romeu has a side that can hit from all angles with multiple scoring options. It leads all the major team statistics in attack: most goals scored with 44 — to Arsenals' 25 — the highest possession, best pass accuracy and most shot attempts. Barcelona forward Claudia Pina leads the competition in scoring with 10 goals, ahead of Arsenal pair Mariona Caldentey, who joined from the Spanish club last summer, and Alessia Russo with seven each. Bonmatí and teammate Patri Guijarro lead the competition with five assists each. Barcelona added to its winning squad in the offseason by signing Poland striker Ewa Pajor, who went on to lead the Spanish league with 23 goals. Pajor, 28, is seeking her first European title after losing four finals with former club Wolfsburg, including the 2023 final to Barcelona after leading 2-0. 'The final is played in the details and we can prepare the details before the game,' Pajor said. 'What I have also learned – because I've played in four finals – you have to be there in the first minute until the end.' Not unbeatable Barcelona has rolled to a sixth consecutive Liga F title and has reached another Copa de la Reina final, but at the same time it has proven beatable. Barcelona's home unbeaten run in Liga F came to an end after a record 64 games this season, and it lost to Real Madrid for the first time in 19 clasicos since its top rival founded a women's team. It also started the Champions League with a rare group stage loss to Manchester City. 'We lost a couple more games than we are used to and we lost some games that hurt more than others,' Barcelona forward Caroline Graham said, adding about the City defeat: "A lot of people thought that our run to be good in the Champions League was a bit over. That was a motivation to show that we still are good and that we can still compete against the best.' Gunning from behind Arsenal remains the only English team to win the biggest title in women's club soccer after it won UEFA's Women's Cup in 2007 when it beat Umea, two years before the tournament was reformatted and renamed the Women's Champions League. Arsenal may be the underdog, but it is likely comfortable with that role given its recent run of comebacks. Renee Slegers's side rallied against Madrid in the quarterfinals, and then shocked eight-time winner Lyon in the semifinals when rebounded from a 2-1 loss in London by winning 4-1 in France. This is the English club's only chance to win some silverware this campaign after finishing second to Chelsea in England's Women's Super League and failing to reach the finals of the FA Cup or League Cup. 'We've had to come back from a lot of difficult situations, from setbacks, but the persistence of the team and the (fact we) keep on believing, that's been key for us,' Slegers said. 'We've done some magical things.' ___ AP soccer:
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Barcelona seeks 3-peat of Women's Champions League titles when it faces Arsenal in Lisbon final
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Barcelona is aiming to complete a three-peat of Women's Champions League titles and win its fourth European crown in five years when it faces Arsenal in Lisbon on Saturday. Barcelona is out to reaffirm its status as the dominant force in European women's soccer after it finally beat Lyon and successfully defended its title in last year's final. Its possession-hungry and high-scoring attack is led from the midfield by Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas and several other members of Spain's World Cup-winning team that beat England in the 2023 final. Barcelona will be play its sixth Champions League final in seven seasons and a record-equaling fifth in a row at Lisbon's 50,000-capacity Estádio José Alvalade. The Catalan club has the chance to become the only team other than Lyon to lift the European Cup in three consecutive years. Standing in its way is an Arsenal team that has excelled as a spoiler this campaign and hopes it can pull off another upset and win its second European title. 'They're a fantastic team and they've obviously got the recent history to prove it,' Arsenal defender Leah Williamson said about Barcelona in the buildup to the final. 'We respect them a lot, but it's a final, so everybody turns up and everybody gives their best.' Barcelona's weapons First-year Barcelona coach Pere Romeu has a side that can hit from all angles with multiple scoring options. It leads all the major team statistics in attack: most goals scored with 44 — to Arsenals' 25 — the highest possession, best pass accuracy and most shot attempts. Barcelona forward Claudia Pina leads the competition in scoring with 10 goals, ahead of Arsenal pair Mariona Caldentey, who joined from the Spanish club last summer, and Alessia Russo with seven each. Bonmatí and teammate Patri Guijarro lead the competition with five assists each. Barcelona added to its winning squad in the offseason by signing Poland striker Ewa Pajor, who went on to lead the Spanish league with 23 goals. Pajor, 28, is seeking her first European title after losing four finals with former club Wolfsburg, including the 2023 final to Barcelona after leading 2-0. 'The final is played in the details and we can prepare the details before the game,' Pajor said. 'What I have also learned – because I've played in four finals – you have to be there in the first minute until the end.' Not unbeatable Barcelona has rolled to a sixth consecutive Liga F title and has reached another Copa de la Reina final, but at the same time it has proven beatable. Barcelona's home unbeaten run in Liga F came to an end after a record 64 games this season, and it lost to Real Madrid for the first time in 19 clasicos since its top rival founded a women's team. It also started the Champions League with a rare group stage loss to Manchester City. 'We lost a couple more games than we are used to and we lost some games that hurt more than others,' Barcelona forward Caroline Graham said, adding about the City defeat: 'A lot of people thought that our run to be good in the Champions League was a bit over. That was a motivation to show that we still are good and that we can still compete against the best.' Gunning from behind Arsenal remains the only English team to win the biggest title in women's club soccer after it won UEFA's Women's Cup in 2007 when it beat Umea, two years before the tournament was reformatted and renamed the Women's Champions League. Arsenal may be the underdog, but it is likely comfortable with that role given its recent run of comebacks. Renée Slegers's side rallied against Madrid in the quarterfinals, and then shocked eight-time winner Lyon in the semifinals when rebounded from a 2-1 loss in London by winning 4-1 in France. This is the English club's only chance to win some silverware this campaign after finishing second to Chelsea in England's Women's Super League and failing to reach the finals of the FA Cup or League Cup. 'We've had to come back from a lot of difficult situations, from setbacks, but the persistence of the team and the (fact we) keep on believing, that's been key for us,' Slegers said. 'We've done some magical things.' ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Barcelona seeks 3-peat of Women's Champions League titles when it faces Arsenal in Lisbon final
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Barcelona is aiming to complete a three-peat of Women's Champions League titles and win its fourth European crown in five years when it faces Arsenal in Lisbon on Saturday. Barcelona is out to reaffirm its status as the dominant force in European women's soccer after it finally beat Lyon and successfully defended its title in last year's final. Its possession-hungry and high-scoring attack is led from the midfield by Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas and several other members of Spain's World Cup-winning team that beat England in the 2023 final. Barcelona will be play its sixth Champions League final in seven seasons and a record-equaling fifth in a row at Lisbon's 50,000-capacity Estádio José Alvalade. The Catalan club has the chance to become the only team other than Lyon to lift the European Cup in three consecutive years. Standing in its way is an Arsenal team that has excelled as a spoiler this campaign and hopes it can pull off another upset and win its second European title. 'They're a fantastic team and they've obviously got the recent history to prove it,' Arsenal defender Leah Williamson said about Barcelona in the buildup to the final. 'We respect them a lot, but it's a final, so everybody turns up and everybody gives their best.' Barcelona's weapons First-year Barcelona coach Pere Romeu has a side that can hit from all angles with multiple scoring options. It leads all the major team statistics in attack: most goals scored with 44 — to Arsenals' 25 — the highest possession, best pass accuracy and most shot attempts. Barcelona forward Claudia Pina leads the competition in scoring with 10 goals, ahead of Arsenal pair Mariona Caldentey, who joined from the Spanish club last summer, and Alessia Russo with seven each. Bonmatí and teammate Patri Guijarro lead the competition with five assists each. Barcelona added to its winning squad in the offseason by signing Poland striker Ewa Pajor, who went on to lead the Spanish league with 23 goals. Pajor, 28, is seeking her first European title after losing four finals with former club Wolfsburg, including the 2023 final to Barcelona after leading 2-0. 'The final is played in the details and we can prepare the details before the game,' Pajor said. 'What I have also learned – because I've played in four finals – you have to be there in the first minute until the end.' Not unbeatable Barcelona has rolled to a sixth consecutive Liga F title and has reached another Copa de la Reina final, but at the same time it has proven beatable. Barcelona's home unbeaten run in Liga F came to an end after a record 64 games this season, and it lost to Real Madrid for the first time in 19 clasicos since its top rival founded a women's team. It also started the Champions League with a rare group stage loss to Manchester City. 'We lost a couple more games than we are used to and we lost some games that hurt more than others,' Barcelona forward Caroline Graham said, adding about the City defeat: 'A lot of people thought that our run to be good in the Champions League was a bit over. That was a motivation to show that we still are good and that we can still compete against the best.' Gunning from behind Arsenal remains the only English team to win the biggest title in women's club soccer after it won UEFA's Women's Cup in 2007 when it beat Umea, two years before the tournament was reformatted and renamed the Women's Champions League. Arsenal may be the underdog, but it is likely comfortable with that role given its recent run of comebacks. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Renée Slegers's side rallied against Madrid in the quarterfinals, and then shocked eight-time winner Lyon in the semifinals when rebounded from a 2-1 loss in London by winning 4-1 in France. This is the English club's only chance to win some silverware this campaign after finishing second to Chelsea in England's Women's Super League and failing to reach the finals of the FA Cup or League Cup. 'We've had to come back from a lot of difficult situations, from setbacks, but the persistence of the team and the (fact we) keep on believing, that's been key for us,' Slegers said. 'We've done some magical things.' ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona beats Wolfsburg 4-1 in Women's Champions League quarterfinals
WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Barcelona took a big step toward a third straight Women's Champions League title by beating Wolfsburg 4-1 in the first leg of their quarterfinal encounter Wednesday. In the first meeting of the two teams since Barcelona beat Wolfsburg 3-2 in the 2023 Champions League final, Barcelona showed how the gap between the two teams has only grown. Barcelona dominated throughout and largely shut Wolfsburg's forwards out of the game as former Wolfsburg player Ewa Pajor caused her old team plenty of problems. Barcelona took the lead when Pajor, who joined Barcelona from Wolfsburg last year, pressured defender Caitlin Dijkstra into conceding an own goal as she tried to stop Pajor connecting with Aitana Bonmati's cross in the 26th minute. Two goals in the space of three minutes early in the second half took the game further away from Wolfsburg as Irene Paredes scored to finish off a short corner routine before Salma Paralluelo made it 3-0 soon after with a deflected shot. Wolfsburg had some hope of a comeback when Janina Minge scored a header from a corner in the 79th, but Barcelona's 18-year-old substitute Sydney Schertenleib responded with a curled shot that went in off the crossbar. Manchester City hosts Chelsea in the quarterfinals later Wednesday. ___ AP soccer:
