‘Very scary’: Matildas trio rocked after teammate collapses on field

Three of Australia’s biggest stars could do nothing but look on after one of their teammates collapsed in terrifying scenes.

The team huddled up as Maanum received attention. Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

A trio of Matildas stars have been rocked after Arsenal teammate Frida Maanum collapsed in shocking scenes during the women’s League Cup final.

The 24-year-old Norwegian star collapsed in the 95th minute, requiring oxygen during a nine-minute stoppage as medical staff worked on her.

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Maanum appeared to be unresponsive for several minutes, but did not appear to require CPR before leaving the field on a stretcher.

It took a bit of the shine off Arsenal’s back-to-back women’s League Cup titles, having come away with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Chelsea.

They were terrifying scenes in the League Cup decider. Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP

Matildas Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord played a key role in the 116th minute goal for Stina Blackstenius, while Kyra Cooney-Cross is also part of the Arsenal side.

Catley passed to Foord, who dribbled into the box before a short pass found the striker.

Despite some traffic, the Swede poked the ball home to break the deadlock and claim the win.

But the thoughts were all about Maanum after the confronting scenes.

“I’m sure she had Frida in the back of her mind when she put that away,” Foord told Optus Sport.

The Aussie trio celebrate the win. Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images

The club released a statement after the match, revealing Maanum was “conscious, talking and in a stable condition”.

“She will continue to be monitored closely by our medical team,” the club said.

“We’re all with you, Frida.”

Speaking after the match, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall described the situation as “very scary” but added he had spoken to his player.

“I have been able to have a conversation with her but not on a medical perspective,” he told talkSPORT.

“I just checked in with her, how she is doing and telling her that we won and understanding a little bit about the next steps, but I don’t have any medical update.

“She is going to travel back with the team and after that we will provide an update.”

In a conversation with the BBC, Eidevall said: “Immediately after the game, we don’t care about winning, we care about Frida – that is most important

“But there was nothing we could do to control that situation, we can concentrate on football, and we wanted to make Frida a champion.”

Maanum was taken from the field on a stretcher with oxygen. Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP

Alessia Russo, who replaced Maanum after she left the pitch, agreed they were scary scenes.

“It’s devastating to see one of your teammates go down like that,” Russo said. “We’re all wishing and praying that she’s OK. I think it was written in the stars that her best mate went and scored the winner for her.

“Frida is a massive player and plays with every bit of her body. She did that today. We just hope she’s OK.”

Blackstenius, speaking to the BBC after scoring the winner, said of Maanum: “It’s always really hard. She’s a teammate and a friend to all of us. We care so much about her.

“You worry a bit when stuff like this happens. We said we wanted to do this for her, to get this win for her because she couldn’t be with us at that point.”

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who will depart the club at the end of the season to take charge of the US women’s national team, said: “Player welfare comes first every time. I really hope (Maanum) is OK. It’s always worrying when that happens.”

The match ended in ugly scenes as the managers had a confrontation, with Hayes pushing Eidevall before accusing the Swede of “male aggression” on the sideline.

Eidevall denied the claims and chipped back that others “need to look in the mirror”.

With AFP

Originally published as ‘Very scary’: Matildas trio rocked after teammate collapses on field