Corinthians' best run this year ends in first-leg Brasileirão final loss | OneFootball

Throughout the afternoon last Saturday (26), Corinthians faced São Paulo at Neo Química Arena in the first leg of the 2026 Brazilian Women’s Championship final and were defeated 2-1 after coming from ahead. Midfielder Gabi Zanotti, early in the first half, scored the Brabas’ goal after a cross from Vic Albuquerque. The second match is scheduled for next Saturday (3), at 4:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Morumbis. If they want to win the title, they will need to win by two goals. In the event of a one-goal victory, the decision will go to a penalty shootout.

The defeat in Itaquera, besides being the women’s team’s first ever loss at the Casa do Povo, ended the Brabas’ longest winning streak of the season (five). In total, there had been five straight wins. The positive run began on August 26, with a 6-2 rout of Taubaté at Fazendinha in the final round of the first phase of the Paulista Women’s Championship.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

Then, on August 31 and September 7, they beat Cruzeiro 1-0 and 3-1, respectively, in the two legs of the Brazilian Women’s Championship quarterfinals. The first leg took place at Arena Independência, while the second leg was played at Estádio do Canindé. Finally, on September 15 and 21, Corinthians women beat Bahia twice by a 1-0 scoreline in the semifinals of the national competition. The first leg was held at Arena Fonte Nova, while the second leg took place at Neo Química Arena.

Previously, the last defeat had come on August 22. On that occasion, Alvinegro lost to Internacional 3-1 at Fazendinha in a match valid for the 17th and final round of the first phase of the Brasileirão Feminino. Before the five straight wins, the best streak had occurred between April and May. At that time, the Brabas beat América of Mexico 8-0 in the third-place match of the Teal Rising Cup in the United States, adding to victories over Juventude (A – 0-1), Ferroviária (H – 3-1) and Grêmio (A – 0-2).

In addition to the Brazilian Championship, in this final stretch of the year, the Brabas will also play the Paulista Women’s Championship play-in against Red Bull Bragantino – details to be announced by the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF) – and, in October, the Conmebol Libertadores from October 15 to 31 in Ecuador. Corinthians are in Group A alongside Colo-Colo-CHI, Caracas-VEN and Colombia’s second representative. In total, Alvinegro have six titles in the international tournament 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 – the most successful champions.

Corinthians’ campaign in the Brasileirão Feminino

In the first phase of the Brasileirão Feminino, it is worth remembering, Corinthians had the second-best record with 38 points – 12 wins, two draws and three defeats – 42 goals scored and 18 conceded – the fourth-best defense. In the Brasileirão quarterfinals, the Brabas got past Cruzeiro by winning 4-1 on aggregate – 1-0 in the first leg (Independência) and 3-1 in the second leg (Estádio do Canindé). In the semifinals, meanwhile, the next victim was Bahia. In the first leg, a 1-0 win at Fonte Nova. In the second match, in Itaquera, Alvinegro repeated the scoreline. Meanwhile, in the first leg of the final, Emily Lima’s side, as mentioned, lost 2-1. Thus, Timão’s campaign so far stands at: 16 wins, two draws and four defeats – 48 goals scored and 20 conceded.

Alvinegro are the tournament’s most successful club with seven titles, having reached every final since 2017. The women’s section was reactivated in 2016. Only in 2017 and 2019 did they fail to win the title. The second leg of the final will take place next Saturday (3), at 4:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Morumbis Stadium. São Paulo will decide the championship at home because they had the better campaign throughout the competition. Before reaching the final, the Barra Funda side had the following numbers: 16 wins, three draws and two defeats; overall leaders of the first phase. The Barra Funda team eliminated Grêmio and Flamengo in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.