Champions League glory for McCabe as Arsenal win final

Katie McCabe played her part for Arsenal as the Gunners stunned holders Barcelona to win the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Lisbon.

The Republic of Ireland captain started at left back and featured for the full 90 minutes as Stina Blackstenius' 74th minute goal sealed a 1-0 victory at Estadio Jose Alvalade and ensured that Arsenal tasted European glory for the second time in their history and first time since 2007 when Irish trio Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy were part of the winning side.

"When I first came to the club I was a young naive kid that came over from Dublin and Fara (Williams), (Emma Mitchell) and Emma Byrne took me under their wing right from the very start," McCabe, who was draped in the Irish tricolour, told TNT Sports after the match.

"They taught me what it meant to be a professional footballer and play for Arsenal and wear the badge and here I am.

"It's just an unbelievable feeling. I'm a Champions League winner, we all are. To give that to our fans today, they've been unbelievable and with us for every kick of the game."

Katie McCabe in action during the final

Arsenal had a first-half opener disallowed, but resolutely fended off waves of attack from the Liga F champions before Renee Slegers introduced Blackstenius and England forward Beth Mead.

It proved a prescient decision by the Dutch boss after the pair combined in the 74th minute at the home of Sporting Lisbon to emphatically ink their names in the history books.

About 5,000 Arsenal fans made the trip as part of the club's official travelling delegation, though more red shirts could be spotted in general admission.

Co-owner Josh Kroenke flew over from America, joining an executive contingent that also included executive vice-chair Tim Lewis, managing director Richard Garlick and director of women's football Clare Wheatley.

Irish trio Ciara Grant, Emma Byrne and Yvonne Tracy won the title with Arsenal in 2007

The Women's Super League runners-up swerved danger a few times early on, losing control of the ball inside their 18-yard box, but there were a couple of chances, too - Caitlin Foord misdirecting a header before trying to set up Chloe Kelly on the volley, the Manchester City loanee's effort clearing the bar.

The ball was in the back of the Barcelona net just after Slegers appeared to encourage her side to settle down, but the 21st-minute own goal - which had been charged to Irene Paredes - was chalked off after VAR determined Frida Maanum had been offside in the build-up.

The Gunners kept pressing, coming close again when Cata Coll tipped Maanum's effort from 25 yards out over the bar.

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe, left, celebrates with Arsenal team-mate Caitlin Foord, after Stina Blackstenius, not pictured, scored the winning goal

Barca began to reassert themselves, Daphne van Domselaar called into action to deny Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, but the deadlock remained intact at the break after Arsenal stayed resolute in defence against an increasingly agile Barca attack that piled on more pressure after the restart.

Claudia Pina twice tried to break the deadlock, clipping the crossbar with a deflected effort early on, former Manchester United full-back Ona Batlle rifled just wide of the right post, then she whistled an effort from distance over the bar just after the hour before Ewa Pajor nodded marginally over.

But it was Blackstenius, who had already been denied by Coll, who finally opened the scoring seven minutes after she replaced Maanum in the 67th minute, picked out with a brilliant reverse pass from fellow substitute Mead, before swivelling and firing across the Barca keeper into the bottom corner.

England captain Leah Williamson's vital nodded clearance denied Barca a chance to level from a late corner.

Her side then heeded Slegers' call to fight bravely, seeing out seven minutes of stoppage time and denying Barca the chance to become just the second team to win the competition for three successive seasons.

Additional reporting: PA

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