Having said that, it did feel like last weekend was the crowning point for the nation’s forwards with Asisat Oshoala winning the Women’s Champions League with Barcelona Femeni, Kelechi Iheanacho enjoying Leicester City’s first FA Cup title after beating huge favourites Chelsea and Simy scoring his 20th Serie A goal of the campaign, equalling his personal best from last season.
Admittedly, the latter may not have won a trophy with that leveller against Benevento; still, scoring 20 times in Serie A deserves a lot of recognition.
Having never reached double figures in top flight football he netted three in 16/17 and seven the following year the towering frontman surely wasn’t backed to score so many times on his return to Italy’s top division.
It may feel anti-climactic after the huge let-down of their UEFA Women's Champions League final loss but Sam Kerr and her Chelsea teammates have one more chance to end a landmark season with a knockout flourish.
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Hayes has the energy, drive and intellect to ensure that this experience will be a defining one for her team. Sir Alex Ferguson, who beat Real Madrid to win the Cup Winners Cup with Aberdeen here, 38 years, always considered setbacks the most significant occasions.
Hayes could also not have legislated for the kind of night her forward Pernille Harder experienced, spurning four opportunities, including a shot levered over the bar at 1-0 which could have changed everything. The course of the night could also have been different without the knee injury which deprived Hayes of right back Maren Mjelde.
I can only thank God who has made everything possible through sheer hard work, by playing alongside this incredibly talented group that creates a lovely family atmosphere. It is a great feeling and I can t really put my emotions into words because it has been a tough journey to get here. I hope this will continue to inspire other young girls in Africa and motivate everyone around the world that you can achieve whatever you put your mind to and work hard for it.
On Sunday, Lluis Cortes’ women had taken a first-minute lead at the Gamla Ullevi after Melanie Leupolz turned the ball into her own net.