Corinthians score late to beat Cruzeiro, lead Women’s Brasileirão QF | OneFootball

Corinthians took the lead in the Brasileirão Feminino quarterfinals. On the night of this Monday (31), the Brabas beat Cruzeiro 1-0 at Arena Independência, in Minas Gerais, and built an important advantage for the decisive match. Vic Albuquerque was responsible for the goal that secured the black-and-white side’s victory.

From the opening minutes, Corinthians showed superiority and took control of the game. The team created several chances and relied especially on the physical strength of Jhonson and Gabi Zanotti, along with the runs from Tamires and Gi Fernandes, to put pressure on the opposing defense. Even with greater attacking volume, the Brabas ran into an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Cláudia, who made key saves and prevented the score from being opened before halftime.

Photo: ©Rodrigo Gazznel / Ag. Corinthians

The pattern of the match changed little in the second half. Corinthians remained intense and kept pushing for a goal, while Cruzeiro offered less attacking threat. Cláudia, once again, was kept busy and produced a string of great saves to keep the score level. The Minas Gerais side’s resistance, however, ended in stoppage time. Vic Albuquerque pounced on a loose ball in the play and fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper to seal the Corinthians win.

The result, however, also brought a concern for Corinthians. Jhonson left the field after feeling a muscle problem in her left leg.

With the 1-0 win, Corinthians carry the advantage into the second leg and will advance with a draw. If Cruzeiro win by any margin, the place in the next round will be decided on penalties.

Next match

The Brabas will face Cruzeiro again next Monday, September 7. The match is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m., while the venue has not yet been defined.

Officiating

The referee at Arena Independência was Elizabete Esmeralda Cordeiro dos Santos Gomes, from Ceará. She was assisted by Brígida Cirilo Ferreira and Jordana Pereira Batista. Jéssica Lorrany da Silva served as the fourth official. Elmo Alves Resende Cunha was in charge of VAR.

Corinthians lineup

For the first quarterfinal meeting, Emily Lima only had to manage three absences in the squad. Juliete remains in treatment due to inflammation in her Achilles tendon. Dayana Rodríguez was also out with muscle issues and has not been taking part in recent training sessions with the rest of the group. Ana Vitória completed the list of absences, as she recovers from an abdominal muscle injury.

Thus, Corinthians started the match with Nicole; Gi Fernandes, Thaís Regina, Érika, Thaís Ferreira and Tamires; Duda Sampaio and Gabi Zanotti; Jaqueline, Belén Aquino and Jhonson.

As options on the bench, Emily Lima had: Lelê, Gisela Robledo, Andressa Alves, Ariel Godoi, Ivana Fuso, Vic Albuquerque, Paola Garcia and Duda Mineira.

Cruzeiro lineup

On the other side, Cruzeiro, coached by Jonas Urias, began the match with Cláudia; Giménez, Capelinha and Vitória Calhau; Bedoya, Pri Back, Milena, Gisseli and Vanessinha; Marília Furiel and Byanca Brasil.

First half

The match began at a lively pace, and Corinthians did not take long to create their first chance. In the third minute, Jhonson received the ball with her back to goal and found Belén Aquino. The forward tried her luck from outside the box, but the shot was blocked.

Soon after, Jhonson won the ball back in the attacking half and was fouled after a challenge from Giménez. On the worked set piece, Tamires rolled it to Duda Sampaio, who unleashed a powerful shot. The defense failed to clear completely, Belén Aquino pounced on the rebound and shot after a deflection, forcing a save from Cláudia.

The pressure continued in the 10th minute. After Gisseli handled the ball, Corinthians won another free kick. Tamires sent it into the box and Jhonson got there ahead of her marker to power a header, but Cláudia made an excellent save.

In another well-worked attacking move, Tamires spotted Jhonson making a run down the flank. The No. 9 tried a first-time cross looking for Gabi Zanotti, but put too much weight on it and the ball went out for a throw-in.

Cruzeiro had a chance in the 14th minute, from a free kick won after a challenge between Gi Fernandes and Vanessinha. Byanca Brasil sent the ball into the box, Érika cleared it, and then Giménez sent it back toward goal. Vitória Calhau even headed against the crossbar, but the play had already been stopped for offside.

In Corinthians’ response, Jhonson pulled off a good feint and tried to finish with her left foot, but without direction.

In the 19th minute, Jaqueline was fouled after contact with Giménez. Tamires swung it into the box, the defense deflected it, and Corinthians won a corner. After the initial clearance, Belén Aquino tried another cross, but sent the ball straight over the end line.

Later, Jaqueline received a pass from Belén Aquino and was brought down as she tried to turn. Duda Sampaio took the free kick and struck it hard, but the ball went over the goal.

In the 31st minute, Tamires took on Giménez and had her cross blocked, winning another corner. After the partial clearance, Jaqueline picked up the loose ball and struck left-footed, but missed the target.

Corinthians nearly opened the scoring shortly after. Jhonson found Gabi Zanotti, who touched it past the onrushing Cláudia. The ball was rolling slowly toward goal, but Capelinha appeared practically on the line to prevent the goal.

The Brabas also had a chance to launch a counterattack after a Cruzeiro corner, but Duda Sampaio was dispossessed as she tried to carry the ball forward.

In the 38th minute, Byanca Brasil escaped Duda Sampaio’s marking and crossed for Vanessinha, who shot wide. Corinthians responded quickly: Tamires struck a fine shot and forced Cláudia into action once again.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Belén Aquino delivered the ball well, Gabi Zanotti got a touch, and Jaqueline tried to finish the move, but was blocked at the moment of the shot, earning another corner for the black-and-white team.

Second half

Emily Lima kept the same team for the start of the second half. In the fifth minute, Jaqueline led a counterattack and was brought down by Bedoya, who received the first yellow card of the match.

Three minutes later, Gisseli crossed for Marília Furiel, but Nicole came off her line well to claim the ball. Right after that, Duda Sampaio found Jhonson with a beautiful through ball. The forward beat Vitória Calhau in the race, but could not finish the move well.

After the shot, Jhonson fell to the ground in pain in her left thigh and had to be substituted. Gisela Robledo came on in her place.

Cruzeiro threatened again in the 13th minute, when Byanca Brasil received the ball in space and tried a feint before shooting, but Gi Fernandes got in the way to block it.

Corinthians responded shortly after. Belén Aquino was played through and tried to find Gisela Robledo, but Giménez got there first and sent it out for a corner. From the resulting play, Érika pounced on a loose ball and attempted a bicycle kick, but the effort was weak and easily saved by Cláudia.

In the 17th minute, Robledo was found on the right and had her cross blocked, earning another corner for the Brabas. The set piece, however, caused no danger and the defense cleared.

Soon after, Gi Fernandes sent the ball into the area and saw the defense clear only partially. Duda Sampaio gathered the loose ball, shifted it onto her left foot and tried to shoot, but once again found the defense in the way.

In the 22nd minute, a loose ball from a challenge fell to Gi Fernandes, who passed it to Belén Aquino. The forward hit it first time and threatened Cláudia’s goal.

On the next play, Belén Aquino produced a good individual move and crossed for Gisela Robledo. The forward got a slight touch, and Cláudia, even out of position, managed to save it with the tip of her boot and send the ball out for a corner.

Belén Aquino took the corner toward the edge of the box, where Duda Sampaio arrived to finish with quality. Once again, however, Cláudia made a good save.

With play stopped, Emily Lima made another change. Tamires left the field and Andressa Alves came on.

In the 27th minute, Belén Aquino drove into the box and was pulled as she prepared to shoot. The Corinthians players appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved play on.

Corinthians’ third substitution came in the 34th minute. Belén Aquino was replaced by Vic Albuquerque. Shortly after coming on, the No. 17 shoved Gisseli and received a yellow card.

The black-and-white pressure continued until the end. In the 40th minute, Jaqueline took advantage of a poor clearance and tried a trivela shot. The effort nearly surprised Cláudia, who got just enough on it to send it out for a corner.

From the set piece, Andressa Alves sent the ball into the box and Vic Albuquerque appeared unmarked to power a header. The attempt, however, was cleared by Marília Furiel, who prevented the goal practically on the line.

When everything pointed to the match ending in a draw, Corinthians finally managed to break through the opposing defense. In the 50th minute, Vic Albuquerque tried to release Gi Fernandes on the overlap, but the defense intercepted the pass. The No. 17 herself collected the rebound and made no mistake with her second chance: she fired a powerful shot past Cláudia to score the Brabas’ winning goal.

With the 1-0 away win, Corinthians ended the first quarterfinal clash with the advantage and will now have the chance to confirm qualification in the second leg.

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