Buchanan helps Lyon win eighth Champions crown

TURIN, ITALY Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan was on the winning side in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final for the fifth time, helping Lyon beat defending champion Barcelona 3-1 on Saturday.

Lyon, which won the trophy for a record-extending eighth time, was 3-0 up after just 33 minutes and cruised home. The French side has taken eight of the past 12 editions. Captain Wendie Renard, Sarah Bouhaddi and Eugénie Le Sommer have been part of all those successes.

Barcelona went into the final as the favourite after just one loss all season, but Lyon struck quickly with goals by Amandine Henry, a header from Ada Hegerberg — the league’s all-time leading scorer — and a tap-in from Catarina Macario. Barcelona captain and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas pulled one back shortly before halftime, but they ended up repeating their 2019 loss to Lyon.

It was a fitting way for Hegerberg to crown her comeback season, after almost two years on the sidelines with injuries.

Buchanan came on in the 14th minute for the injured Ellie Campbell. The 26-year-old from Brampton, who has won 118 caps for Canada, joined Lyon in January 2017. The French powerhouse went on to win the European title in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and now 2022.