Final: Arsenal 3-2 Corinthians (aet)
Smith 15; Wubben-Moy 58; Foord 104; Zanotti 21, Albuquerque 90+6 pen
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 Brazilians 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.
