The most heartwarming moment from the Women’s Spanish Super Cup final played on 23 January has to be Barcelona Players throwing Atletico Madrid’s Virginia Torrecilla up into the air at the final whistle. Torrecilla was playing for the first time since undergoing a successful brain surgery in May 2020.
The front page of foremost Spanish sports newspaper, Marca, on Monday, 24 January accentuated this unique gesture with the headline: Sports is wonderful.
A hat-trick from Caroline Graham Hansen, a brace from Lieke Martens and a goal apiece from Fridolina Rolfo and Ingrid Syrstad Engen secured a dominant 7-0 victory for Barcelona over Atletico Madrid as they claimed the Super Cup title for a second time.
DOUBLE CELEBRATION In addition to this, an even bigger win for the team was the return to action of a former teammate, who currently plays for Atletico. Barcelona players celebrated Torrecilla’s victory against cancer at the end of the game.
As posted on the FC Barcelona Femení Twitter handle, alongside the video of the Barcelona players’ emotional gesture; “The Super Cup has not been the only victory today.”
In her reply, Torrecilla wrote: “You deserve everything good that happens to you, you are a great team, but above all, exemplary! Thanks Culés, today women’s sport continues to win for teams like you! Deep.”
683 DAYS The 27-year-old midfielder, who hadn’t played in 683 days after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, came on as substitute in the 85th minute in Las Rozas on Sunday. The last time she played a competitive match was when she featured for Spain in a 1-0 win over England in the SheBelieves Cup in Texas in March 2020.
After her operation and a course of chemotherapy treatment, she was able to return to training in March 2021.
VERY HAPPY “I’m very happy to be here with [my teammates] and to share everything,” Torrecilla said in a video posted by the Atletico Madrid Femenino on Twitter. “This is a very important step… A lot of time has passed. It has been about effort, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of training.
“I have to thank the club, they’ve always been with me. This is my reward. Being here in the dressing room and on the pitch, it’s very special.”
Source: AIPS
Shuaeeb Is a seasoned sportswriter, social worker, and philanthropist. He has been renowned for his support of disabled sports persons and championing for equal rights and opportunities for all sports persons. He is also a father of 4 children and married to His partner Moana who is of Australian descent. He currently does sports volunteering and disability support work aside from writing for this August media.
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