Corinthians Pull Off Major Upset Against NWSL Champions
In a stunning turn of events at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, Brazilian giants Corinthians secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over NWSL champions Gotham FC in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup semi-final. The match was decided by a single moment of brilliance from Corinthians' veteran captain Gabi Zanotti, who scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute to send her team through to the final.
Late Heroics From Veteran Captain
The 40-year-old Zanotti proved age is just a number as she expertly controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area before slotting it past Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Her celebration was one of pure elation, with the experienced midfielder raising her arms in delight in front of the travelling Corinthians supporters who had made their presence felt throughout the match.
"Everyone was talking about maybe Gotham and Arsenal in the final but Corinthians are here and we played a very good game to beat the NWSL champions," said Corinthians manager Lucas Piccinato after the match. "We know what we can do. It's a momentous moment but we are planning for the final regardless of who we face and we want to leave England with the trophy."
Gotham's Frustration Despite Dominance
Despite controlling much of the game and creating better chances, particularly in the second half when Emily Sonnett's header was blocked on the line, Gotham were unable to find the breakthrough. The American side's decision-making in the final third proved just that bit too slow against a disciplined Corinthians defence.
Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amorós acknowledged his team's shortcomings while praising their opponents: "We wish them all the best. They came with a gameplan they executed, it worked for them and they won the game. On our side I think we also executed everything that we prepared. We dominated the game on every aspect but as we all know football is about goals, you need to score goals. If you don't then you normally get punished and unfortunately that was the case."
Tournament Challenges and Controversy
The match was played under challenging circumstances for both teams, with Gotham in the middle of their off-season and Corinthians having not played a competitive fixture in four months. The Brazilian champions also faced significant logistical hurdles, with three key players only able to travel on Sunday due to visa issues and therefore unable to start the match.
The game ended in controversy when a late Gotham free-kick on the edge of the area led to heated scenes that resulted in a red card for a member of the Corinthians staff. However, Gotham's final effort sailed wide of the post, and the final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the Brazilian contingent.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Corinthians now advance to face either European Champions League winners Arsenal or African Champions League winners AS Far in the final, with significant bragging rights and a share of the $2.3 million prize pot at stake. The victory represents a major statement from the Brazilian champions and raises questions about the balance of power in women's club football globally.
For Gotham, the tournament has highlighted the challenges of competing in a competition shoehorned into an already crowded calendar, with the American side appearing neither mentally nor physically ready for such a high-stakes encounter. FIFA will undoubtedly face scrutiny over the compromises made to establish this new competition in the women's football landscape.
