Latest news with #Women'sCup
Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Football sisters Nurhidayu and Natasha reunite for Singapore-Hong Kong friendly
Sisters Natasha Naszri (left), 17, and Nurhidayu Naszri, 21, will be representing Singapore for the international football friendly against Hong Kong. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM SINGAPORE - The last time sisters Nurhidayu and Natasha Naszri were on a football pitch together was Dec 5, 2024, when the Lionesses played the third-place play-off at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women's Cup. Then, the team posted a 1-0 victory over Timor-Leste to claim the final qualifying berth for the 2025 Asean Women's Championship – a first for the Singapore women's football team. Though the team later withdrew from the competition, the qualification remains a cherished memory for the sisters. 'We really sacrificed a lot and put in a lot of effort to play for that competition. So having to really win it, and achieve something, was a really happy moment for us,' said Nurhidayu, 21. The duo are looking forward to more happy moments on the field together on June 15, when the Lionesses play 80th-ranked Hong Kong in an international friendly at Choa Chu Kang Stadium. This is the world No. 139 Singaporeans' first international home fixture of 2025. Both players are among the 23-member squad picked by national women's team head coach Karim Bencherifa for the game. Left-back Nurhidayu and central midfielder Natasha, 17, have not spent much time together as the latter has been training in Spain's LaLiga academy as part of the Unleash the Roar! (UTR) overseas scholarship programme, while Nurhidayu trains here with the Lion City Sailors women's team and Temasek Polytechnic. Nurhidayu said: 'We have known each other our whole life, so we understand each other. If I have a problem, I go to her; if she has a problem, she goes to me. This stuff helps us to develop as a player as well.' Natasha has followed keenly in her older sister's footsteps, joining her first in their Telok Kurau Primary School football team, and then to the national youth team. During the 2024 Women's Premier League (WPL) season, they both played for the Sailors, who topped the league. When Natasha was called up to the national senior team in 2023, Nurhidayu was out due to a knee injury. Nonetheless, she still had advice for her younger sibling, telling her to 'just play, don't have to be nervous'. Family support is important for the pair as their parents, two siblings and other relatives will show up in the stadium to cheer them on during their games. Though they may be four years apart, the sisters share a close bond, as seen in their banter and teasing during the interview with The Straits Times. They bicker about their favourite football teams – Natasha supports Liverpool and Real Madrid like their father, Nurhidayu is a Tottenham Hotspur fan – and who is better at mathematics. Though they may be four years apart, the sisters share a close bond, as seen in their banter and teasing during the interview with The Straits Times. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM But playing football is serious business for them. Nurhidayu, who received her maiden call-up in 2021 and has 18 appearances to Natasha's seven, said: 'To come back and contribute for the country, it's always an honour. We take every call up as an opportunity for us to actually give what we can.' The Hong Kong game is the second fixture in the week for the Lionesses, who played the same opponents in a closed-door match on June 12. While Bencherifa did not reveal the score, he noted it was a close contest and that he was pleased with the competitiveness and performance of his team. Singapore were beaten 1-0 in their last game against Hong Kong in 2022 – Nurhidayu was also part of the team then. The two matches will also serve as preparation for the Lionesses for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Held in Jordan from June 23 to July 5, Singapore has been drawn into Group A alongside 68th-ranked Iran, Jordan (75), Lebanon (130), and Bhutan (171). The squad for the Hong Kong friendly and AFC tournament has an average age of 21 and comprise a mix of experienced and young players. They include senior players Lim Li Xian, captain Rosnani Azman and forward Farhanah Ruhaizat, returning overseas players Danielle Tan and Venetia Lim, and five from the UTR programme. Among the newcomers are Still Aerion's Nurul Unaisah, Albirex Niigata's Nurzaherra Maisarah and Balestier Khalsa's Sharifah Nur Amanina, who won a women's singles gold in teqball at the 2023 SEA Games. However, the Lionesses will be without key midfielder Putri Syaliza, who is studying at Oakland University in the US and is unavailable due to personal commitments. Bencherifa earlier noted that the match against Hong Kong 'will be a good test for us to assess where we are and what we need to improve on'. He added: 'We try always to have a good performance, and the result is also important.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Metro
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Is Women's Champions League final on YouTube? How to watch Arsenal vs Barcelona
Arsenal can make history tonight when they take on Barcelona in the final of the Women's Champions League. The Gunners are the only English club to have won the competition, doing so in 2007 when it was known as the Women's Cup, but it will be a tough task to become European champions again. Barcelona are arguably the best team in the world having won three of the last four titles and thrashed domestic treble winners Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals. But following their heroic comeback win over Lyon in the last-four, Renee Slegers' Arsenal will have every hope of bringing the trophy back to north London. Ahead of Saturday's clash, here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Women's Champions League final for free and on TV in the UK. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. The Women's Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona will kick-off at 5pm UK time on Saturday, May 24. More Trending The match is being held at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, the home of Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. UEFA say that the 50,000 stadium has been sold out for the final. Yes, you can watch the final for free on the DAZN Women's Football YouTube channel. Their live stream begins at 4pm. Alternatively, you can watch the big game on TNT Sports 1 with their coverage underway at 4pm, or stream the action live on Discovery+. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal begin talks as Mikel Arteta decides between Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres MORE: Kevin De Bruyne reaches agreement with new club ahead of final Manchester City game MORE: Gary Neville banned from Premier League ground for final game of the season
North Wales Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
5 talking points ahead of Arsenal's Champions League final clash with Barcelona
Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points going into the clash at Estadio Jose Avalade. On this day in 2007, we became European champions 🏆 One goal from Alex Scott was the difference across two legs against Umeå 🔥 We remain the only team in the land to lift the trophy. — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 29, 2025 Arsenal are making their second appearance in the final, 18 years on from winning the competition when it was known as the UEFA's Women's Cup. As part of a quadruple in 2007, Vic Akers' Gunners defeated Swedish outfit Umea 1-0 over two legs, Alex Scott scoring the only goal late in the first. It remains the only time an English side have been winners – the only other time one has reached the final was when Chelsea did so in 2021, suffering a 4-0 loss to Barcelona. Arsenal have made it back to the final as part of an impressive turnaround this season under Renee Slegers, who took charge – initially on an interim basis and then permanently – after boss Jonas Eidevall resigned in October. Eidevall had overseen a 5-2 loss at Bayern Munich in first of the team's Group C matches. They would finish them with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Germans and top of the pool, and subsequently produced second-leg fightbacks to get past Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and Lyon in the semis, the latter a stunning 4-1 win in France. Introducing your 2024-25 #BarclaysWSL@BarclaysFooty Player of the Season winner… @ArsenalWFC's Mariona Caldentey 🏆 — Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 11, 2025 Saturday's contest is set to see a star of Arsenal's season go up against their old club in Mariona Caldentey. The Spain international, recently named the Women's Super League 2024-25 player of the year and scorer of seven goals in the European campaign, joined last summer after 10 years with Barca, during which time she won a multitude of trophies including three Champions League titles. Arsenal also have former Barca defender Laia Codina in their ranks. 🇪🇸 Barcelona advance to the #UWCLfinal for the fifth time in a row 😎#UWCL || @FCBfemeni — UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) April 27, 2025 Barca, whose squad features the likes of double Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, are heading into their sixth final and fifth in a row, having won the last two to add to their maiden success in 2021. When the sides met in the 2021-22 group stage, the Catalans won 4-1 and 4-0. This season Pere Romeu's side opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss at Manchester City, but they have been in ruthless form since, thrashing Wolfsburg 10-2 and Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the last eight and semi-finals respectively. When Arsenal triumphed against Umea in 2007, Slegers was a teenager coming towards the end of a brief spell with the club's academy, while her current assistant Kelly Smith was a prolific Gunners forward. Smith, who scored 125 goals in 144 appearances across three spells as an Arsenal player, was key in the quadruple and netted twice in the European semi-final against Brondby – but had to sit out the final due to suspension.
South Wales Guardian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
5 talking points ahead of Arsenal's Champions League final clash with Barcelona
Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points going into the clash at Estadio Jose Avalade. On this day in 2007, we became European champions 🏆 One goal from Alex Scott was the difference across two legs against Umeå 🔥 We remain the only team in the land to lift the trophy. — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 29, 2025 Arsenal are making their second appearance in the final, 18 years on from winning the competition when it was known as the UEFA's Women's Cup. As part of a quadruple in 2007, Vic Akers' Gunners defeated Swedish outfit Umea 1-0 over two legs, Alex Scott scoring the only goal late in the first. It remains the only time an English side have been winners – the only other time one has reached the final was when Chelsea did so in 2021, suffering a 4-0 loss to Barcelona. Arsenal have made it back to the final as part of an impressive turnaround this season under Renee Slegers, who took charge – initially on an interim basis and then permanently – after boss Jonas Eidevall resigned in October. Eidevall had overseen a 5-2 loss at Bayern Munich in first of the team's Group C matches. They would finish them with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Germans and top of the pool, and subsequently produced second-leg fightbacks to get past Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and Lyon in the semis, the latter a stunning 4-1 win in France. Introducing your 2024-25 #BarclaysWSL@BarclaysFooty Player of the Season winner… @ArsenalWFC's Mariona Caldentey 🏆 — Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 11, 2025 Saturday's contest is set to see a star of Arsenal's season go up against their old club in Mariona Caldentey. The Spain international, recently named the Women's Super League 2024-25 player of the year and scorer of seven goals in the European campaign, joined last summer after 10 years with Barca, during which time she won a multitude of trophies including three Champions League titles. Arsenal also have former Barca defender Laia Codina in their ranks. 🇪🇸 Barcelona advance to the #UWCLfinal for the fifth time in a row 😎#UWCL || @FCBfemeni — UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) April 27, 2025 Barca, whose squad features the likes of double Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, are heading into their sixth final and fifth in a row, having won the last two to add to their maiden success in 2021. When the sides met in the 2021-22 group stage, the Catalans won 4-1 and 4-0. This season Pere Romeu's side opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss at Manchester City, but they have been in ruthless form since, thrashing Wolfsburg 10-2 and Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the last eight and semi-finals respectively. When Arsenal triumphed against Umea in 2007, Slegers was a teenager coming towards the end of a brief spell with the club's academy, while her current assistant Kelly Smith was a prolific Gunners forward. Smith, who scored 125 goals in 144 appearances across three spells as an Arsenal player, was key in the quadruple and netted twice in the European semi-final against Brondby – but had to sit out the final due to suspension.
Leader Live
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
5 talking points ahead of Arsenal's Champions League final clash with Barcelona
Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points going into the clash at Estadio Jose Avalade. On this day in 2007, we became European champions 🏆 One goal from Alex Scott was the difference across two legs against Umeå 🔥 We remain the only team in the land to lift the trophy. — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 29, 2025 Arsenal are making their second appearance in the final, 18 years on from winning the competition when it was known as the UEFA's Women's Cup. As part of a quadruple in 2007, Vic Akers' Gunners defeated Swedish outfit Umea 1-0 over two legs, Alex Scott scoring the only goal late in the first. It remains the only time an English side have been winners – the only other time one has reached the final was when Chelsea did so in 2021, suffering a 4-0 loss to Barcelona. Arsenal have made it back to the final as part of an impressive turnaround this season under Renee Slegers, who took charge – initially on an interim basis and then permanently – after boss Jonas Eidevall resigned in October. Eidevall had overseen a 5-2 loss at Bayern Munich in first of the team's Group C matches. They would finish them with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Germans and top of the pool, and subsequently produced second-leg fightbacks to get past Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and Lyon in the semis, the latter a stunning 4-1 win in France. Introducing your 2024-25 #BarclaysWSL@BarclaysFooty Player of the Season winner… @ArsenalWFC's Mariona Caldentey 🏆 — Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 11, 2025 Saturday's contest is set to see a star of Arsenal's season go up against their old club in Mariona Caldentey. The Spain international, recently named the Women's Super League 2024-25 player of the year and scorer of seven goals in the European campaign, joined last summer after 10 years with Barca, during which time she won a multitude of trophies including three Champions League titles. Arsenal also have former Barca defender Laia Codina in their ranks. 🇪🇸 Barcelona advance to the #UWCLfinal for the fifth time in a row 😎#UWCL || @FCBfemeni — UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) April 27, 2025 Barca, whose squad features the likes of double Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, are heading into their sixth final and fifth in a row, having won the last two to add to their maiden success in 2021. When the sides met in the 2021-22 group stage, the Catalans won 4-1 and 4-0. This season Pere Romeu's side opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss at Manchester City, but they have been in ruthless form since, thrashing Wolfsburg 10-2 and Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the last eight and semi-finals respectively. When Arsenal triumphed against Umea in 2007, Slegers was a teenager coming towards the end of a brief spell with the club's academy, while her current assistant Kelly Smith was a prolific Gunners forward. Smith, who scored 125 goals in 144 appearances across three spells as an Arsenal player, was key in the quadruple and netted twice in the European semi-final against Brondby – but had to sit out the final due to suspension.
