By Samindra Kunti in Eindhoven
June 5 – FC Barcelona were crowned European champions following a superb 3-2 comeback against Germany’s Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League final.
It was Barcelona’s second triumph in the continent’s premier club competition, but they did not do it the easy way after the Germans took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Ewa Pajor and Alexandra Popp.
In last season’s final, the Spanish club conceded three times in the first half en route to what star player Alexis Putellas called a “traumatic defeat” against Olympic Lyon, but it seemed they had not learned their lesson. In the fourth minute, Pajor, the competition’s top scorer, robbed Keira Walsh off the ball and capitalised with a fine strike, 1-0.
It got worse when Alexandra Popp’s powerful header left Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Panos with no chance in the 37th minute. Wolfsburg soaked up the Barcelona pressure and proved to be absolutely lethal.
But they couldn’t withstand Barcelona after the break in a thrilling final.
Barcelona were no longer lethargic. Instead, rejuvenated, Patricia Guijarro and her team breezed past their opponents with two goals inside two minutes by the number 12. Transformed, Barcelona played with pace and precision as they dominated the game.
Wolfsburg’s defence, which had been diligent for much of the game, simply crumbled.
Lynn Wilms failed to clear the ball, allowing Fridolina Rolfo, who played higher up the pitch in the second half, to seize the opportunity and make it 3-2. This proved to be one scramble too many in front of the German goalmouth. Wolfsburg’s luck had finally run out, and Barcelona, rightfully, were crowned the new champions of Europe.
Barcelona’s Caroline Graham-Hansen said: “This game had everything you possibly could have. At half-time, I had a big flashback from last year’s final (after being down two-nil against Lyon at the half). I said no, it’s not going to happen again. We scored one, then we scored two, and then the whole stadium exploded.”
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