Corinthians edge Ferroviária, close in on top of Paulistão Feminino | OneFootball

Corinthians secured an important victory in the Paulista Women’s Championship. On Friday night, the Brabas defeated Ferroviária 1-0 at Fazendinha in the fourth round of the state tournament. Jhonson scored the only goal of the match and earned three crucial points for the black-and-white side.

Ferroviária tried to take control of the game from the opening minutes, relying on passing sequences from the back and using goalkeeper Luciana to build up play. Corinthians responded with a high press, looking to disrupt the opposition’s buildup and win the ball back in dangerous areas of the field.

Photo: ©Rodrigo Gazzanel / Ag. Corinthians

The strategy worked on several occasions. The Brabas managed to regain possession near the opposing box and created good chances, but struggled to turn those opportunities into goals. The team from Araraquara, meanwhile, did little to trouble Nicole Ramos.

As halftime approached, Corinthians finally broke the deadlock. After winning the ball back inside the opposing box, Jhonson took advantage of the chance and finished to put Timão ahead.

In the second half, the pace dropped compared to the first. Ferroviária tried to find an equalizer but had trouble breaking through Corinthians’ defensive system. The Brabas also had chances to extend the lead, especially on counterattacks, but failed to make the most of their best opportunities.

With the win, Corinthians reached seven points and reclaimed second place in the Paulista Championship. The team cut the gap to Ferroviária, who remain in first place, to two points.

In the final three rounds of the first phase, Corinthians will still face Palmeiras, Mirassol, and Taubaté. The match against Palmeiras will be at Arena Barueri, while the clash with Mirassol will take place at Estádio Manoel Ferreira. The game against Taubaté will once again be at Fazendinha.

Next match

Before that, the Brabas now turn their focus to the Copa do Brasil. Next Monday, July 21, Corinthians will visit Ferroviária at 8 p.m. at Arena Fonte Luminosa in a single-leg Round of 16 match. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals.

Corinthians lineup

Emily Lima had three absences for the match. Goalkeeper Lelê remains in physical transition after dealing with tendinopathy in the back of her thigh. Center-back Agustina is still recovering from a recurring muscle strain associated with scar tissue in her left leg.

Left-back Tamires was also unavailable, as she was released by Corinthians during the World Cup to take part in Globo’s Central da Copa coverage.

As a result, the coach started Nicole Ramos; Ivana Fuso, Thaís Ferreira, Érika and Rhaizza; Ana Vitória, Duda Sampaio and Andressa Alves; Jaqueline, Gabi Zanotti and Jhonson.

On the bench, Emily Lima had Ana Morganti, Letícia Teles, Thaís Regina, Gisela Robledo, Ariel Godoi, Vic Albuquerque, Letícia Monteiro, Paola Garcia, Juliete, Gi Fernandes, Belén Aquino and Duda Mineira.

Ferroviária lineup

Ferroviária, coached by Leonardo Mendes, started the game with Luciana; Sissi, Camila, Andressa, Grazy, Fátima Dutra, Nicoly, Maressa, Dos Santos, Vendito and Mariana Santos.

Officiating

The match was refereed by Talita Ximenes de Freitas, assisted by Juliana Vincentin Esteves and Eduarda Gomide Rubio. VAR was overseen by Adriano de Assis Miranda

First half

The away team began by trying to impose its style of play, keeping possession and exchanging passes from the back. Corinthians, however, quickly adjusted its marking and began pressing Ferroviária’s buildup.

The game’s first shot came precisely from that pressure. In the sixth minute, Rhaizza received the ball on the left, cut inside and found Andressa Alves. Wearing the No. 8 shirt, she tried a shot from outside the box but mishit it and sent it wide of goal.

Soon after, Corinthians had to make a substitution due to a physical issue. Ana Vitória was hit by Maressa during a challenge and, even after receiving treatment, was unable to continue. Vic Albuquerque replaced her in the 15th minute.

The change almost had an immediate effect. After another mistake in Ferroviária’s buildup, Gabi Zanotti won the ball back in midfield and played it to Vic Albuquerque. The forward found Andressa Alves making a run, and she crossed into the box. The defense partially cleared it, and Duda Sampaio tried to pounce on the rebound, but Luciana made the save.

Midway through the first half, the referee stopped the match for a hydration break. During the stoppage, Emily Lima instructed her players to stay calmer in possession, especially after regaining the ball in the attacking half.

Ferroviária responded shortly after. Camila launched the ball from the back and found Fátima Dutra behind Ivana Fuso. The full-back got off a dangerous shot, but Nicole Ramos was alert. Then Maressa tried from long range and sent it over.

Corinthians threatened again in the 35th minute with a good team move. Andressa Alves started the buildup in midfield, passed wide to Ivana Fuso and then received it back. The full-back crossed into the box, Jaqueline flicked it on with a header, and Jhonson got the shot away, but Luciana saved it.

Shortly afterward, from a corner kick, Jhonson was unable to finish on the first attempt. Jaqueline recovered the ball and delivered another cross. Gabi Zanotti rose to head it, but sent it over the bar.

Corinthians’ persistence paid off in stoppage time. In the 49th minute, the team’s pressure worked again inside the opposing box. Gabi Zanotti and Jhonson closed down Ferroviária’s buildup, and Jhonson managed to dispossess Andressa. She then drove into the six-yard box and finished left-footed under Luciana to make it 1-0.

Second half

For the final period, Emily Lima made one change. Juliete came on for Rhaizza, and the team no longer played with an improvised player at left-back.

The pattern of the opening minutes remained similar to the first half. Ferroviária kept insisting on short buildup from the back, while Corinthians maintained the high press to force mistakes.

In one such situation, Jaqueline intercepted a pass and shot from the left side of the area. Luciana, however, made the save.

Ferroviária also found room to attack. After a corner kick, Camila picked up the loose ball and tried a shot from outside the box, but Nicole Ramos saved it without much trouble.

As time went on, the away side became more present in attack, while Corinthians found it increasingly difficult to maintain its offensive production. Emily Lima then made further changes: Ariel Godoi and Gi Fernandes came on for Jaqueline and Ivana Fuso.

Later, the match was stopped again for hydration. The coaching staff used the moment to reinforce the need to better choose when to press and to prevent Ferroviária from developing its plays.

After the break, Corinthians managed to regain some control of the match. The Brabas started to keep the ball more and reduced the spaces offered to the opponent.

In the 33rd minute, Emily Lima made two more substitutions. Jhonson and Andressa Alves left the field, with Belén Aquino and Letícia Monteiro coming on.

Needing to chase an equalizer, Leonardo Mendes made Ferroviária more attacking-minded. Corinthians began to exploit the spaces left by the away side and had a great chance to extend the lead on a counterattack.

Ariel Godoi advanced through the middle and set up Belén Aquino with a clear chance one-on-one with Luciana. The Uruguayan forward, however, struck it weakly and sent it wide.

In the final minutes, the game became more scrappy, and Gabi Zanotti was subjected to a series of hard fouls. Despite the challenges, no Ferroviária player received a yellow card.

The team from Araraquara still tried to apply pressure in the closing moments, but failed to create a clear scoring chance. Corinthians defended solidly, held onto the narrow lead, and confirmed an important victory at Fazendinha, ending Ferroviária’s unbeaten run in the Paulista Championship.

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