As Arsenal’s Beth Mead played a snap reverse pass, Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius made a quick half turn to adjust her body shape, staying on the shoulder of the Barcelona defence.
“The space opened up,” said Arsenal’s Beth Mead. “Seeing Stina, I thought, ‘Why not put it there?’.”
Blackstenius thought she wasn’t prepared for the pass, but on the stretch, she just managed to control the ball with her first touch, and with her second, did not hesitate, blasting the ball into the back of the net. The goal proved the difference, lifting Arsenal 1-0 over Barcelona in one of the biggest upsets in UEFA Women’s Champions League final history.
“My feelings were all over the place,” Blackstenius, UEFA’s player of the match, said after the game. “I was in shock, then I was scared that I was offside, so I looked to the lino (linesperson).”
At the full-time whistle, Blackstenius dropped to her knees.
The Sweden international’s goal in the 74th minute sealed European victory for Arsenal after an 18-year hiatus since their first Champions League title in 2007. In doing so, they knocked the three-time European champions off their perch.
Stina Blackstenius’s goal proved the difference for Arsenal against Barcelona in the Champions League final….
