The most decorated women’s club in England made more history at the Emirates stadium on Sunday night, Arsenal securing a 3-2 win over the Copa Libertadores champions Corinthians in extra time to see them crowned winners of the inaugural Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.
They were made to work for their victory, the Brazilian side twice coming from behind to force another 30 minutes of football, but it was somewhat of an inevitability. The Uefa Champions League winners benefited from being mid-season with players at full fitness, in contrast to Corinthians being in their pre-season and Concacaf Champions Cup winners Gotham FC in their off-season, and from the decision to hold the tournament in London, and play the final at the Emirates. This was a competition set up for European success and Arsenal delivered. They are officially the world’s best club and they have a nice trophy to prove it. The 13-point gap, albeit with a game in hand, between them and WSL leaders Manchester City though, says otherwise.
The mood prior to kick-off was one of general bemusement at a competition Arsenal did not need in their schedule, sandwiched between critical WSL fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester City. The 6-0 win in the semi-finals against Moroccan champions AS Far on Wednesday had been straightforward, a four-goal lead at half-time allowing for changes to be made and minutes managed. It was essentially a training game, AS Far possessing many ingredients of a good team, but the huge investment and development gap between European and African women’s football on display.
The club from São Paulo offered a far sterner test, having seen off NWSL Championship winners Gotham in their semi-final on Wednesday. The desire to take the title back to Brazil was evident in the talk of the fans, the manager Lucas Piccinato, in the outrage at two unfortunate Arsenal academy players caught in a spying storm because they were spotted looking out the window at the Brazilian side as they trained at Barnet’s stadium, where Arsenal’s academy is based, and in the one million people watching on the stream of the Brazilian broadcaster CazeTV at the same time the men’s team were playing Flamengo in the Supercopa.
The home team were predictably dominant on their home turf, but it was the Corinthians faithful who dominated in the stands, outnumbered but not outsung, the block behind Anneke Borbe’s goal bouncing and vocal throughout. The opening goal arrived 15 minutes in, when Corinthians’ goalkeeper, Leticia, parried Stina Blackstenius’s effort into the path of Olivia Smith who swung home on the half-volley. The Gunners’ lead was deserved, but they should have built on it and their profligacy was punished. Corinthians threatened on the counter but the equaliser came from a set piece, when Borbe failed to prevent a header from the 40-year-old Gabi Zanotti from crossing the line following Andressa’s corner.
Arsenal pushed to take the lead after the break, the rain beating down. Their second came from a less familiar source, centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy pulling away from her marker to head in from Emily Fox’s cross from the right.
Seemingly home, though not dry, they were punished again by the never-say-die Brazilians. Katie McCabe was adjudged to have fouled Gisela Robledo deep into added time despite looking to have got the ball before the player and, after a video assistant review, Vic Albuquerque converted from the spot to force extra time.
The celebrations were wild, but short-lived; the Gunners were patient and punctured the momentum of the visiting team on the counter when Frida Maanum dispossessed Duda Sampaio and found fellow substitute Caitlin Foord, who fired in.
There was a nasty collision at the close when Borbe collided with Wubben-Moy and a Corinthians player as she smothered the ball beneath their feet. The goalkeeper received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being taken off on a stretcher.
It was relief for Arsenal when the final whistle blew, Foord’s strike saving them from embarrassment in a tournament where they had a significant advantage. If this competition is to gain credibility and momentum, it needs a substantial amount of work back at the drawing board.
