Oshoala Wins Copa de la Reina With Barcelona

Oshoala Wins Copa de la Reina With Barcelona By Our Reporter Asisat Oshoala will wrap up her memorable 2020-21 campaign in Spanish football with a treble, following Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Levante in the final of the 2021 Copa de la Reina. Two weeks ago, the 26-year-old was on parade as her side were crowned the Uefa Women’s Champions League winners for the first time, after they thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in the final in Gothenburg. A week earlier, she helped rampant side to a record sixth Spanish league title with eight games to spear, after winning its 26th match, with rivals Levante held to a 1-1 draw by Espanyol. This time, the Nigeria international started on the bench for Barcelona just as her compatriot Francisca Ordega for Levante at Estadio Municipal de Butarque in Leganes. To avoid another final misadventures, Barcelona got off the a bright start as Lieke Martens set up Patricia Guijarro to open the scoring after just five minutes of action. Martens bagged her second brace of the match when she played through Alexia Putellas to double the lead for the Catalans in the 20th minute. The ruthless European champions bagged their third of the encounter when Martens again provided her third assist, teeing up Marta Torrejon nine minutes later. After the restart, Maria Pry’s team came alive in the contest when Alba Redondo struck to pull one back a minute before the hour mark. They continued to pile up pressure and found another breakthrough as Estefania Banini further reduced the defect to one in the 67th minute. Six minutes later, the Spanish queens regained possession of the ball and guaranteed their title triumph through Putellas’ second of the tie. Oshoala was an unused substitute as Barcelona celebrated their third trophy of the season, after the Spanish league and Champions League titles, although narrowly missed a domestic quadruple due to Supercoppa semifinal loss to Atletico Madrid in April. Besides bagging a treble, the Super Falcons captain made her mark as she became the first African born star in history to win the Champions League. On the other hand, Ordega saw the final five minutes of the match, after she replaced Alba Redondo, although could not help her side avoid a final defeat but will find solace in securing her first ever medal as runners up in Spanish football. With three titles in the bag, Oshoala, who has managed 22 goals in all competitions, will now focus on wrapping up her campaign in style, continuing against Madrid CFF on June 6. While Ordega will seek to help Levante guarantee their first Champions League qualification since 2009 when they welcome Athletic Bilbao on the same day. _ SavidNews