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Macario, Horan And Lyon Slay Mighty Barcelona With Dominant Showing And Insane 30-Yard Golazo

American stars Catarina Macario and Lindsey Horan became the fourth and fifth USWNT players to win the UEFA Champions League as Lyon defeated the seemingly unstoppable Barcelona 3-1 on Saturday in Turin.

Macario and Horan played the entire game and the 22-year-old phenom made history as the first American to score in the final

Lyon has now won eight Champions League titles winning six of the previous seven. Despite the near decade of dominance Lyon wasn’t the favorite against the seemingly unstoppable and defending champions Barcelona.

Saturday’s final was a rematch of the 2018 final when Lyon defeated Barcelona 4-1. The Catalan club conceded four goals in the first 30 minutes of that final four years ago and was likely having flashbacks on Saturday.

Another first half flurry of goals got the job done for Lyon.

Lyon vs Barcelona Champions League Final Highlights

The final couldn’t have had a more exhilarating start. Amandine Henry started the fireworks show early with a screamer from 30 yards to open the scoring in the sixth minute.

The usually dominant Barcelona, which had a perfect LaLiga season winning every game and only one defeat in the Champions League, was a deer in headlights for a majority of the first half. Lyon was one step ahead at every turn and in the 23rd minute Ada Hegerberg doubled the lead.

Hegerberg sits atop the all-time Women’s Champions League scoring list with the goal against Barcelona being her 59th in the competition. 

Ten minutes after Hegerberg’s goal it was the American Macario poking in Lyon’s third.

This was the first time in four years that Barcelona trailed by three goals. The previous time was the 2018 final vs. Lyon.

Barcelona needed a lifeline after Lyon’s third goal, and they would find it through Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas minutes before halftime.

Putellas finished as the top scorer in this season’s Champions League with 11 goals.

The atmosphere at halftime felt like it was all to play for in the second half.

Lyon called off the attack in the second half and defended admirably while Barcelona couldn’t convert any chances. Barça midfielder Patricia Guijarro was inches away from a midfield wonder goal, however the crossbar denied her.

Horan put in a shift on Saturday and was full of emotions after the final whistle sounded and Lyon were crowned champions.

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