Corinthians Pull Off Stunning Upset Against Gotham in Women's Champions Cup Semi-Finals
Gabriela Zanotti's late strike gave Corinthians a thrilling 1-0 victory over Gotham FC, sending them through to the final of the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup. The Brazilian champions' win was all the more impressive considering they were playing without three key players due to visa issues.
Gotham began strongly, with Emily Sonnett's header being blocked on the line, but Corinthians gradually gained control as the match wore on. Belén Aquino saw her shot slip narrowly wide from the edge of the box early in the second half, and it was not until the 83rd minute that Zanotti gave the Brazilian side the lead.
The captain, 40-year-old Zanotti, collected a pass on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful strike that beat Ann-Katrin Berger. The Corinthians' bench erupted in joy as their players celebrated what was just their third major trophy under manager Lucas Piccinato.
Piccinato praised his side's performance, saying: "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." He added that he wanted to leave England with the trophy, regardless of who they faced in the final.
Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amorós was gracious in defeat, saying: "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." He acknowledged that his team's lack of preparation had ultimately cost them.
The match marked a significant moment in Corinthians' history, with their Copa Libertadores winners' title being their first major trophy since 2018. The Brazilian champions have been on the rise under Piccinato, who led them to two league titles and now has one more trophy added to his collection.
For Gotham FC, this result was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given that they had long been considered one of the top teams in the NWSL. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the Corinthians' determination and organization.
As for FIFA's Women's Champions Cup, it has sparked debate over its logistical challenges and whether it is fair to include two major domestic leagues – the WSL and NWSL – in a single tournament that also features top European and African teams.
Gabriela Zanotti's late strike gave Corinthians a thrilling 1-0 victory over Gotham FC, sending them through to the final of the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup. The Brazilian champions' win was all the more impressive considering they were playing without three key players due to visa issues.
Gotham began strongly, with Emily Sonnett's header being blocked on the line, but Corinthians gradually gained control as the match wore on. Belén Aquino saw her shot slip narrowly wide from the edge of the box early in the second half, and it was not until the 83rd minute that Zanotti gave the Brazilian side the lead.
The captain, 40-year-old Zanotti, collected a pass on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful strike that beat Ann-Katrin Berger. The Corinthians' bench erupted in joy as their players celebrated what was just their third major trophy under manager Lucas Piccinato.
Piccinato praised his side's performance, saying: "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." He added that he wanted to leave England with the trophy, regardless of who they faced in the final.
Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amorós was gracious in defeat, saying: "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." He acknowledged that his team's lack of preparation had ultimately cost them.
The match marked a significant moment in Corinthians' history, with their Copa Libertadores winners' title being their first major trophy since 2018. The Brazilian champions have been on the rise under Piccinato, who led them to two league titles and now has one more trophy added to his collection.
For Gotham FC, this result was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given that they had long been considered one of the top teams in the NWSL. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the Corinthians' determination and organization.
As for FIFA's Women's Champions Cup, it has sparked debate over its logistical challenges and whether it is fair to include two major domestic leagues – the WSL and NWSL – in a single tournament that also features top European and African teams.
I mean Corinthians didn't even have most of their team due to visa issues, and they still managed to pull off this stunning upset against Gotham FC. That Belén Aquino shot was so close, I swear I was on the edge of my seat! 
Zanotti's goal was pure magic, what a strike! 
I love how Corinthians' bench just erupted in joy, it's like they were celebrating a world cup win or something! 
Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amorós was so gracious in defeat, you gotta respect that. But now Corinthians are one step away from the final and I'm rooting for them all the way! 
they were down 3 key players but still managed to pull off this insane upset 
i mean, can u believe she scored at 83 minutes?! 
lucas piccinato is like the ultimate manager for corinthians right now 
Corinthians totally deserve this win, especially after being down with 3 players 
. Their bench was hella emotional 
. But maybe they should've trained a bit harder 
? The debate around the WSCC's logistics is totally valid though - how do you even make it work with all those teams and leagues? 
FIFA needs to figure that out ASAP! 
OMG what an upset! I'm still reeling from the comeback by Corinthians 
40-year-old Zanotti is literally a superhero captain 
those Gotham players must be feeling frustrated 
who genuinely cares about his players 
and now they've got another trophy to show off 
those women are grinding hard over there 
I've been following this tournament for ages & Gotham was like my favorite team to watch, but they totally got outplayed 
! Zanotti's goal was insane btw! 
. Lucas Piccinato is a genius coach & I'm so glad he's getting all this recognition 
Belén Aquino being just 40 years old and still contributing to her team's success is truly inspiring. It's like she's proving that you're never too old to chase your dreams and make an impact 
️.
. I mean, when you lose in a big match, it's easy to get caught up in bitterness or frustration, but he chose not to take that route instead opting for class and respect 
.
It's like their team's rise to the top is also their personal journey of overcoming obstacles and persevering through challenges 
.
. can't they just make sure everyone's on the same page before the game even starts?
. But what really impressed me is how well Piccinato's team executed their gameplan and worked together as a unit 
, especially after all those years without a major trophy since 2018. And it's awesome to see players like Zanotti breaking records at 40 - she's an inspiration for women's football everywhere 
and that NWSL team is definitely going to be back stronger than ever 
. Maybe we'll see more teams from different leagues participating in future tournaments? 
.
.
. It's a testament to Piccinato's management skills that they were able to adapt and execute their game plan.
. I'm kinda bummed that they didn't make it further 
. It's like a whole new world of women's football has opened up 
. That just goes to show how tough these players are physically and mentally 
and their manager said they didn't prepare properly for the match... yeah, that kinda makes sense. But what I really wanna know is, why did FIFA make this tournament so tricky to organize? 
.
.
.