Foord sees off Corinthians in extra time to put Arsenal on top of the world | OneFootball

The most decorated women’s club in England made more history in London 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 something of an inevitability. The Champions League winners benefited from being mid-season with players at full fitness – in contrast to Corinthians being in their pre-season and the 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 Stadium. 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 Women’s Super League 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 City. “I think we all, and the players first, want to be competing at the highest level and they want to play games,” said the Arsenal manager, Renée Slegers, when asked about how they managed to fit these games into their season.

“That’s what they train for, what they live for. What’s important is that if the schedule goes further and further in adding games that we do it in a tempo that is fair to the players and the players’ health. We are in a position where we have a really good squad with a lot of quality, but I’m also aware that not all teams have this luxury. So I think we have to be really aware of what we’re doing, how we’re growing competitions and adding competitions to the schedule, so we grow it in the right way.”

The club from São Paulo offered a far sterner test than semi-final opponents AS Far. 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 CazéTV at the same time the men’s team were playing Flamengo in the Supercopa.

“It was a big advantage playing in their home, but it is what it is,” said Piccinato. “We hope next time Arsenal will come to Brazil to play against us. I think it would be better if it was in a neutral venue.”

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 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.

Corinthians threatened on the counter but the equaliser came from a set piece, when Anneke Borbe failed to prevent a header from the 40-year-old Gabi Zanotti from crossing the line following Andressa’s corner.

Arsenal’s second came from a less familiar source, the 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 Brazilian side. Katie McCabe was adjudged to have fouled Gisela Robledo deep into added time despite appearing 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 her fellow substitute Caitlin Foord, who fired in.

There was a nasty accident at the close when Borbe collided with Wubben-Moy and a Corinthians player as she smothered the ball beneath their feet. The goalkeeper left on a stretcher and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

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.

Header image: [Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters]