Blackstenius opens up after scoring Champions League winning goal | OneFootball

Stina Blackstenius says scoring the winning goal in Arsenal’s Champions League final victory means “everything”.

Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Stina Blackstenius said she felt “immense joy” after coming off the bench to score the winning goal in the Champions League final, sealing a 1–0 victory for Arsenal over Barcelona in Lisbon.

The 29-year-old, who has often played a supporting role under Renee Slegers, replaced Frida Maanum in the 67th minute with the game goalless and Barcelona in the ascendancy.

Just seven minutes later, she struck the decisive goal to secure Arsenal’s first European title since 2007.

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

“When I saw the ball go in, I just felt so much joy,” Blackstenius told reporters in the mixed zone. “I know what this means for us as a team and how much we’ve wanted to stand here as winners. Being able to contribute means everything. I’m so proud of the trip here.

“This is what you’ve been dreaming about since you started playing football.”

Her impact was almost immediate. Within moments of coming on, she forced a save from Cata Coll, creating a chance from nothing. Then, in the 74th minute, she broke through again and finished with precision, sending the large Arsenal support into raptures.

In the stands, her father, partner Erik, and agent Linus watched on, visibly emotional. “It’s incredibly nice and it means so much to share moments like this with the family,” she said. “I don’t know why my voice is hoarse. I haven’t screamed that much, but it’s okay.”

Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Blackstenius’s goal ensured that Arsenal remain the only English club to have won the Women’s Champions League, and they have now done it twice. Their first triumph came in the 2006–07 season, when the tournament was still known as the UEFA Women’s Cup.

Reflecting on that history, Blackstenius said: “It’s hard to touch, hard to take in.”

Blackstenius’s future at Arsenal remains uncertain, but her goal in Lisbon will never be forgotten. For a player who has had to be patient this season, her moment arrived when it mattered most and, more importantly, she stepped up and took it.