CommBank Matildas star Caitlin Foord was among the goalscorers as Arsenal completed a sensational fightback to book their spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
Foord, in the starting XI with fellow Australia international Steph Catley while Kyra Cooney-Cross came off the bench, completed the scoring in the 63rd minute in Arsenal’s incredible 4-1 victory away to A-Leagues great Joe Montemurro and Ellie Carpenter’s Lyon on Monday (AEST).
The rout against the eight-time champions and most successful club in Champions League history meant Arsenal overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to not only clinch a 5-3 aggregate triumph but reach the Champions League final for the first time in 18 years having not made it this far in the competition since winning it in 2007.
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As a result of the drought-ending win on a memorable night in France, A-Leagues graduates Foord, Catley and Cooney-Cross as well as Australian assistant coach Aaron D’Antino will meet Spanish juggernaut and reigning champions Barcelona in Lisbon on May 24.
“Of course, when they scored the 4-1, Lyon, there was a couple of minutes left to play. The scenario goes through your head,” said Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers.
“What if they score another goal? What if we let it slip so we have to do everything right? I’m so proud of how we defended that lead.
“And then when they blow the whistle and I look around and I look up into the stand, they’re on the opposite side and I see them and I see the players running onto the pitch. I see everything happening. Staff, all Arsenal people. This is the moment and this is what we do it for. It’s such a special moment.
“I’m very happy and, of course, very proud because I think what the club have been doing for so long, investing in women’s football and I think what we get to do now is something that’s been worked on for a long, long time. But, of course, what we’re doing in the moment, what the players are doing at the moment, it’s unbelievable.
“I’m so proud of the team and their investments and the work ethic and how they stayed calm because I think that was the biggest key for us today, to stay calm in all the scenarios that would happen. I think we get challenged in a lot of different scenarios today, but the players stayed calm and that was key today. So, I’m very, very proud.”
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Slegers added: “They believe in what we’re doing and they believe in each other. They believe in themselves.
“They are willing to put the work in and I think that’s what creates belief as well because we see ourselves working really hard every day. Of course, we’ve proven it before that we’re able to score goals in short periods of time and come back from setbacks.
“So, belief is an inner conviction that you don’t need proof for, but I think we had the evidence going into this game and that’s what made the confidence so big and the belief so high.”
