Gotham FC 0-1 Corinthians
by Asif Burhan
at Brentford Community Stadium

THE Fifa Women’s Champions Cup kicked off with a physical encounter in west London as Corinthians prevailed over the NWSL champions Gotham FC today thanks to a late goal from Gabi Zanotti in the battle of the North and South American women’s club champions.

The match promised much, with the Corinthians fans creating an intimidating atmosphere. After five minutes of relentless Gotham pressure at the start, the South Americans began to counter with pace and came close to scoring when Belen Aquino fired narrowly wide of Ann-Katrin Berger’s post. 

Gotham built up more methodically, getting it wide at every opportunity with most of their play going through captain Rose Lavelle. In the 18th minute, they spurned a clear chance when Corinthians goalkeeper Lele was caught in possession, the ball falling to Savannah McCaskill who skewed her volley wide. 

Gotham FC are the reigning NWSL champions having also won the first-ever Concacaf Women’s Champions League earlier in the year overcoming Tigres at their opponent’s home venue in Monterrey. The scorer of the winning goal in that match, Esther Gonzalez, did not travel to London for the tournament as she opted to take maternity leave after the birth of her first child earlier this month.

Without Esther, Gotham lacked a cutting edge. They made two changes at the start of the second half, replacing their two Brazilian players and they began to attack with more purpose, especially down the right flank. From there, the tricky Midge Purce fashioned a clear chance from which substitute Katie Stengel should have done better.

Corinthians responded by bringing on their new superstar striker 20-year-old Jhonson and former Manchester United player Ivana Fuso as the tempo increased. They were rewarded when captain Gabi Zanotti swivelled on a cross and poked a shot goalwards, the ball found the corner despite Berger getting two hands to it.

After the game, a disappointed Berger told the Morning Star: “I think we had a lot of good spells during the match. We should have won that game because we had more chances than them.”

On the goal, she admitted she might have done better. “Yes, maybe, but it’s also because I didn’t have a clear view on the shot and there were so many bodies in between.”

Corinthians have been the dominant force in South American club football, the winners of the last six Brazilian championships and the record six-time winners of the Copa Libertadores. They will now aim to emulate their men’s team, who won the first-ever men’s Club World Cup in 2000.

Their midfielder Andressa Alves said the victory was extra-special because she was a Corinthians fan growing up. On the difference their exuberant travelling supporter group, or torcida, made, she said: “I feel I represent the fans on the stand. I am also one of them.”

The tournament, which is a gateway to the first-ever Fifa Women’s Club World Cup to be played in 2028, had been criticised for its timing right in the middle of the European club season. The British Women’s Super League has let it be known that they believe the scheduling “could be catastrophic” for its clubs. Qatar, the proposed venue of the tournament, has also raised concerns due to its poor record on LGBT rights.

Unlike the European sides, both Gotham FC and Corinthians are in their close season. Berger added: “I think there should be a better system where everyone arrives fit enough into the competition. You want to play against the best teams. I think that’s where you have to figure it out, when the best time is.”

Nevertheless, the world governing body has attempted to deflect any negative publicity by creating the largest-ever prize pot of $4 million (around £3.1 million) in the women’s club game. The winners today have guaranteed themselves $1 million (about £780,000) and a shot at more than doubling that to $2.3 million (roughly £1.8 million) by winning Sunday’s final at Ashburton Grove. There they will be expected to face Arsenal, who took on AS FAR of Morocco in the day’s second semi-final.