London — Gotham’s unexpected early exit from the Women’s Champions Cup can easily be seen as a classic underdog tale with Corinthians emerging victorious. A second look at the match reveals that with 21 shots directed at Letizia’s goal, Gotham nearly broke through, highlighting the electrifying atmosphere from the stands to the pitch. The final score of 1-0 in favor of Corinthians, achieved by Gabi Zanotti’s counter-attack in the 83rd minute, underscored the consensus that Gotham entered the match as the favorites.
This result, however, shouldn’t be perceived as a mere upset; rather, it reflects how one side successfully navigated the match’s critical moments. In the 90th minute, goalkeeper Jess Carter was caught off guard, allowing veteran Gabi Zenotti to capitalize on the opportunity.
The match’s outcome ultimately hinged on capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes. This isn’t surprising, given that both teams were competing during what would typically be their offseason. For Gotham, this was their first game since clinching the NWSL Championship against the Washington Spirit on November 22, while Corinthians concluded their season shortly thereafter with a loss to Palmeiras. Despite the absence of energy, Gotham lacked the sharpness and fluidity that often comes with more matches under their belts.
In the second half, Gotham attempted to isolate Midge Perth at full-back, yet it was only substitute Katie Stengel’s single chance that posed a real threat. Although Gotham found it relatively easy to penetrate Corinthians’ defenses in the first half, they struggled to create meaningful opportunities in the box, resulting in just two saves from Letizia despite their impressive shot tally.
Their best chance came when Jadyn Shaw intercepted a careless pass from Letizia and set up Savannah McCaskill, but her shot went off target. This moment echoed Juan Carlos Amoros’s post-match observation: “In soccer, goals are the lifeblood, and if you don’t score, you’re punished.”
While Amoros stated Gotham was in control of the game, it was ambiguous if that was truly the case. While they dominated possession—finishing with around 65%—the game felt like it was unfolding against them. Corinthians executed a solid midfield strategy, waiting for Jacqueline to launch counters, effectively playing to their strengths.
“We knew we had to change a little bit,” said Luca Piccinato. “We always want the ball, but we managed it well and could have finished better. We recognized that when we had possession, we could find the right moments to succeed.”
“The game was a bit unsettling at first,” he added, “but we found our footing and maintained aggression where necessary. In matches like this, adaptation is key.”
It’s possible that being in a familiar environment aided these adjustments. That Wednesday lunchtime, parts of west London echoed the vibrancy of São Paulo, with Corinthians experiencing an enthusiastic turnout at the Brentford Community Stadium even before kickoff.
After ninety minutes and various substitutions, Corinthians celebrated passionately in the stands, with Ji Fernandes atop a billboard, arms wide in triumph, basking in the disbelief of their victory. This moment embodies the spirit of Brazilian clubs on international stages, though fans will have to wait for the awaited NWSL vs. WSL final showdown.
“Before the match, no one had won, but everyone was discussing Gotham and Arsenal in the final,” remarked Piccinato, who boasts six Copa Libertadores titles. He expressed his ambition, stating, “We want to leave England with this title and believe that with more time, we could make better adjustments for future matches.”
“In the final, we’ll need to improve our transitions. Against a formidable team like Gotham, we tightened our defensive blocks, but there were areas where we can improve,” he continued.
What they established defensively remained a consistent threat to Gotham, and perhaps the result shouldn’t have been so shocking. Despite Opta’s power rankings positioning the NWSL champions at 11th and Corinthians at 39th, the disparity between the two is not as vast as it seems—placing them closely around teams such as Boston Legacy and Angel City. It was always believed that Corinthians could take the match to Gotham’s level.
“We understood how Corinthians would approach the game,” Amoros reflected. “Football varies worldwide, and this style is quite different from the American leagues. But that’s the beauty of the sport.”
As the match concluded, so did the celebration for Corinthians, symbolizing the next chapter for the South American champions. Regardless of the result in Sunday’s final, this impressive display of strength will be remembered.
Fan Take: This match highlights a crucial aspect of soccer: even the perceived underdogs can seize key moments to secure victories against stronger opponents. For fans, this result emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the sport, igniting excitement for future international competitions and showcasing the global rise of women’s soccer.
