Arsenal claim inaugural Women's Champions Cup title in nail-biting extra time thriller against Corinthians.
The 2019-2022 UEFA Champions League winners secured their first-ever international club trophy by coming from behind twice to beat Copa Libertadores champions Corinthians 3-2 in a heart-stopping extra-time finish. The Brazilian side made Corinthians a force to be reckoned with, forcing Arsenal into three additional 30-minute segments of play after initially falling behind.
Despite the intense contest, several factors ultimately played in Arsenal's favor - their mid-season status and full fitness levels, as well as the tournament's London venue and final held at the Emirates Stadium. The fact that Corinthians were struggling to adapt to their pre-season schedule and had a one million-strong audience watching on Brazilian broadcaster CazéTV during their men's Supercopa match added further complications.
Manager Renée Slegers credited her team's success to their ability to 'train for' games like this, emphasizing the need to balance competition with player health. The Gunners boasted an impressive 13-point lead over Women's Super League leaders Manchester City - although they still have a game in hand.
However, it was clear that Corinthians had been a formidable opponent and would be back next time. Manager Lucas Piccinato acknowledged his side's initial dominance at home but praised the competitive spirit of the Arsenal faithful, who outnumbered the Brazilian supporters but proved more vociferous in their support for their team.
The match had its share of drama, including an early goal from Corinthians' goalkeeper Leticia and a stunning equalizer from Gabi Zanotti. Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy then sealed the second-half comeback with her header. The Gunners took the lead only to be pegged back again after a video assistant review in added time.
Frida Maanum's clever dispossessing of Corinthians' Duda Sampaio set up Caitlin Foord for the winning strike, which ended the contest and secured Arsenal their maiden international club trophy.
The 2019-2022 UEFA Champions League winners secured their first-ever international club trophy by coming from behind twice to beat Copa Libertadores champions Corinthians 3-2 in a heart-stopping extra-time finish. The Brazilian side made Corinthians a force to be reckoned with, forcing Arsenal into three additional 30-minute segments of play after initially falling behind.
Despite the intense contest, several factors ultimately played in Arsenal's favor - their mid-season status and full fitness levels, as well as the tournament's London venue and final held at the Emirates Stadium. The fact that Corinthians were struggling to adapt to their pre-season schedule and had a one million-strong audience watching on Brazilian broadcaster CazéTV during their men's Supercopa match added further complications.
Manager Renée Slegers credited her team's success to their ability to 'train for' games like this, emphasizing the need to balance competition with player health. The Gunners boasted an impressive 13-point lead over Women's Super League leaders Manchester City - although they still have a game in hand.
However, it was clear that Corinthians had been a formidable opponent and would be back next time. Manager Lucas Piccinato acknowledged his side's initial dominance at home but praised the competitive spirit of the Arsenal faithful, who outnumbered the Brazilian supporters but proved more vociferous in their support for their team.
The match had its share of drama, including an early goal from Corinthians' goalkeeper Leticia and a stunning equalizer from Gabi Zanotti. Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy then sealed the second-half comeback with her header. The Gunners took the lead only to be pegged back again after a video assistant review in added time.
Frida Maanum's clever dispossessing of Corinthians' Duda Sampaio set up Caitlin Foord for the winning strike, which ended the contest and secured Arsenal their maiden international club trophy.
but at the same time, gotta give props to corinthians, they were an awesome team and gave arsene a run for their money 
i think the fact that they played in london and had some home-field advantage helped them get more fans cheering them on, plus they were playing with a lot of heart 
renée slegers said it all about adapting to games like this and finding that balance between competing and taking care of your players, totally true 
Arsenal totally deserved this win 
The Corinthians were giving them a run for their money but in the end, it was the Gunners who came out on top 
. I loved how Renée Slegers praised her team's ability to 'train for' games like this, it shows she's a genius coach 
. And can we talk about Lotte Wubben-Moy's goal? 
Caitlin Foord's winning strike was pure magic 
. The Emirates Stadium crowd was EVERYTHING 
. I'm already hyped for the next Women's Champions Cup and Corinthians will definitely be back, strong! 
I love how they managed to bounce back, especially with the win in extra time 
Arsenal finally got that trophy! They were so down and out, but they fought back like lions 
. That Corinthians team was no joke though - they gave them a run for their money 
. It's crazy how a million-strong audience on TV can affect a game that much... it must've been super tough for Corinthians to deal with all those added pressure 
.
, but I'm hyped to see what they do next season!
! I mean, they were down twice but came back stronger than ever 
️! 
. I love how she emphasized the importance of balancing competition with player health 
. It's not just about winning, it's about taking care of those amazing players too 
Leticia's early goal and Gabi Zanotti's equalizer had me on the edge of my seat 
. But in the end, Arsenal's spirit and teamwork paid off 
. Caitlin Foord's winning strike was like a dream come true 
!
. And now, that 13-point lead over Manchester City is looking even more secure 
️ my only complaint is that corinthians were a bit unlucky with their schedule but you can't blame them for wanting to take on all comers in a major tournament 