‘Our unity defined our team’: how tiny Torreense made the Women’s Champions League
Portuguese club come from a city of 19,000 people and their stadium holds 2,400 – next season they’ll be up against the best in Europe, and they can’t waitFor the first time ever, the blue-and-garnet colours of SCU Torreense will be worn in a continental tournament. Based in the city of Torres Vedras, about 30 miles north of Lisbon, they qualified for the Women’s Champions League after finishing third in Portugal’s BPI League. Qualification is just the latest success for the club, which had already won the Taça da Liga and Supertaça this season, after their Taça de Portugal title last year. Over the past few seasons, Torreense have fought to establish themselves as a force in Portuguese women’s football alongside traditional powerhouses Benfica, Sporting and Braga, all of whom have featured in the WCL in recent seasons.“These have been incredible times, we made history with Torreense,” team captain Carolina Correia tells us. The 24-year-old Portuguese international defender started 15 of 18 league games in a season where the team began inconsistently, but grew stronger and secured important results in the final stretch, including a 2-0 win over Sporting in March. “Looking back to my first days at the club,” Correia continues, “I would never have believed I’d have three trophies and a spot in the Champions League. I’m filled with pride … we are a very ambitious team, and as time goes by, we consolidate our style and achieve our goals. These achievements will for ever be in our memories and, of course, in our history.” Continue reading...