Jhonson decisive again, Corinthians beat Bahia to reach the final | OneFootball

On Monday night (21), Corinthians hosted Bahia at Neo Química Arena for the second leg of the 2026 Brazilian Women’s Championship semifinal and won 1-0. Alvinegro’s goal was scored by forward Jhonson in the first half. With the result, the Brabas eliminated the northeastern side by winning 2-0 on aggregate and are into yet another final of the national competition – they have been in every one since 2017!

In the first match, on the 15th, Timão had already won by the same scoreline, also with a goal from the same player. The Corinthians coaching staff, led by Emily Lima, had the following absences for the decisive match against the northeastern team in the national tournament: center-back Érika (discomfort in her left knee) and midfielder Ana Vitória (recovering from an abdominal injury).

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

With that, Corinthians lined up as follows to start the match: Nicole Ramos; Thaís Regina, Duda Mineira and Thais Ferreira; Gi Fernandes (Andressa Alves), Duda Sampaio, Vic Albuquerque (Ariel Godoi), Belén Aquino (Dayana Rodríguez) and Tamires; Jhonson (Gisela Robledo) and Gabi Zanotti (Jaqueline).

The bench options were: Lelê, Rillary, Agustina, Ivana Fuso, Juliete, Paola García, Dayana Rodríguez, Andressa Alves, Gisela Robledo, Ariel Godoi and Jaqueline.

Bahia lineup

The northeastern side, coached by Felipe Freitas, took the field with: Yanne; Dan, Isa Fernandes, Tchula, Mila Santos, Angela, Raquel, Taty Sena, Cassia, Roque and Wendy.

The substitutes were: Isa Cruz, Suelen, Helô, Treyci, Ju Oliveira, Martina, Tosti, Vilma, Dany Silva, Maia Rodrigues, Ellen and Gica.

Officiating

The referee was Deborah Cecília Cruz Correa (PE), assisted by Fernanda Kruger (MT) and Elaise Juliana Santa Ferreira (PE). The roles of fourth official and VAR (video assistant referee) were performed by Jessica Aparecida Milani (SP) and Paulo Renato Moreira da Silva Coelho (RJ), respectively.

Next match

Now, after dispatching Cruzeiro and Bahia in the Brasileirão Feminino quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, Corinthians will face São Paulo in the grand final of the national competition. In the coming days, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is expected to announce the details, such as date and kickoff time, of the clash.

Alvinegro are the tournament’s most successful club with seven titles – 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 – having reached every final since 2016, the year the women’s team was reactivated. It is worth remembering that the Brabas already faced São Paulo in the final of the same tournament in 2024 and lifted the trophy. Because they had the better campaign throughout the competition, the Morumbis side will host the second leg.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and Bahia were marked by an attempt from the northeastern side to press high on the ball out of the back, as they needed a result to at least take the tie to penalties. In the second minute, Timão threatened down the right. Full-back Gi Fernandes received the ball on the right and sent in a low cross for Jhonson, who flicked it goalward with her heel, forcing a save from Yanne.

Shortly after, Corinthians worked the ball through the middle, found forward Belén Aquino, and she shot just wide of Yanne’s post! Three minutes later, Gabi Zanotti received the ball centrally after Corinthians won possession while Bahia tried to play out from the back, and the Brabas shot wide! With 12 minutes played, the match between Timão and Bahia was balanced, but also full of fouls.

In the 14th minute, Bahia put together a move through the middle, and the opposing player broke through the defense and was about to go one-on-one with goal, but was brought down. She appealed for a penalty, but nothing was given. In the 20th minute, Corinthians won a free kick in midfield, Tamires took it, and the northeastern side’s defense cleared! Then Uruguayan Belén Aquino whipped in a dangerous free kick from the left, and the ball hit the Bahia post.

Bahia also had a chance to launch a counterattack, but wasted it. In the 25th minute, Timão had another opportunity! Right-back Gi Fernandes won the ball in the defensive half and played a through ball to forward Jhonson, but the No. 9 shot wide. Right after that, following a move down the left, Vic Albuquerque was found on the right and tried a waist-high cross, but the opposing defense cleared it. On the loose ball, Gi Fernandes had her shot blocked.

In the 29th minute, after another through ball down the right, Jhonson received it, drove forward, and hit the outside of Yanne’s net! A minute later, Cassia was played in between the Corinthians defenders, went one-on-one with Nicole, but mistimed her shot and sent it over the bar. In the 32nd minute, center-back Thais Regina was sent off after fouling the opposing player in midfield. The red card was shown after a VAR review.

In the 36th minute, with an extra player, Bahia began pressing more intensely in attack and, after a move down the left, Wendy tried a long-range shot that went straight into Nicole’s hands for a comfortable save. Two minutes later, the northeastern side threatened again. After a move down the right, the opposing forward tried to cross but sent it straight out.

In the 42nd minute, while trying to play out from defense, Vic Albuquerque was fouled in midfield. In the next phase, Gi Fernandes received the ball on the right and tried to cross, but was blocked. From Tamires’s delivery, the ball drifted wide and ended up on the opposite side. Thaís Ferreira controlled it, tried to get past her marker, and was fouled. Duda Sampaio struck it at mid-height, Yanne parried, and on the rebound Jhonson scored Timão’s opener! Score: Corinthians 1-0 Bahia!

When the clock hit 45 minutes, eight more were added. In the first minute of stoppage time, Jhonson received the ball on the byline, made an individual move and, when trying to play it into the middle of the box, was blocked! In the 48th minute, Timão launched a counterattack. Vic Albuquerque received the ball in midfield and passed to Tamires on the left. No. 37 shot wide!

In the 51st minute, the club from Parque São Jorge launched another counterattack. Jhonson passed to Gi Fernandes on the right. No. 23 switched play to Tamires, who received it and shot, forcing goalkeeper Yanne to tip it out for a corner. From the set piece, the ball bounced around inside the box, but the danger was cleared.

Second half

To start the second half, head coach Emily Lima brought on forward Jaqueline in place of midfielder Gabi Zanotti. The opening minutes of the second half between Corinthians and Bahia saw Timão pushing forward. In the first minute, after a move down the left, in behind the defense, Jaqueline shot over Yanne’s goal.

In the third minute, forward Jhonson hit the crossbar! Vic Albuquerque received the ball centrally and slipped it through to No. 9 between the center-backs. She went one-on-one with Yanne and nearly doubled the lead. Bahia then responded with a long-range shot straight into Nicole’s hands. Shortly after, the visitors had a free kick from midfield and, after the shot, Nicole parried it out for a corner. From the delivery into the middle of the box, Nicole punched poorly, but Bahia sent the rebound wide.

In the 12th minute, Corinthians nearly got their second! Bahia were pressing high in search of an equalizer. Timão won the ball back in defense and quickly launched a counterattack. Right-back Gi Fernandes received it in midfield and tried an audacious chipped shot, but Yanne sent it out for a corner!

Then came two more changes for Corinthians: Andressa Alves and Gisela Robledo replaced Gi Fernandes and Jhonson, respectively. In the 17th minute, Roque received the ball in midfield and nearly scored Bahia’s first with a volley over Nicole’s goal. Then Tamires crossed from the left and Belén Aquino hit a low angled shot, but it was blocked by the opposing defense. On the rebound, Duda Sampaio unleashed a rocket from outside the box and Yanne made a huge save, tipping it out for a corner. From the set piece, the danger was cleared.

In the 22nd minute, Bahia had a free kick in midfield. The shot went straight into Nicole’s hands. Shortly after, Timão responded on the counter and nearly scored a second! Gisela Robledo was picked out centrally and side-footed it toward Yanne’s left corner, but the goalkeeper parried it away for a throw-in! Four minutes later, the club from Parque São Jorge conceded a free kick on the edge of the box. After the attempt, Nicole pushed it out for a corner. From the set piece, the northeastern side headed wide!

In the 28th minute, Corinthians responded with a counterattack. Gisela Robledo was sent through, accelerated, and lost the duel with the center-back, who put it out for a corner. Then Jaqueline received the ball up front after a clever flick from midfielder Vic Albuquerque, produced a beautiful sombrero flick, and shot wide.

In the 31st minute, Corinthians made their fourth change: midfielder Dayana Rodríguez came on in place of Belén Aquino. Two minutes later, Bahia threatened again, but Timão’s defense blocked two shots from the northeastern side inside and around the box. In the 34th minute, Gisela Robledo was played over the top down the left and won a corner. From the corner on the right, Alvinegro got a shot away, but the opposing defense blocked it twice.

In the 38th minute, Corinthians nearly got their second! Gisela Robledo was played over the top down the right, burst forward, and fired a low shot wide! Three minutes later, Bahia lost the ball in attack and Timão tried to kill off the game with Robledo, who saw Yanne off her line and tried to chip her, but hit it straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.

In the closing moments, Bahia tried to apply pressure, but Timão held firm in defense. In the 45th minute, Alvinegro made their final change: midfielder Vic Albuquerque came off for forward Ariel Godoi. Eight more minutes were added. In the second minute of stoppage time, Corinthians won a corner after a move by Robledo. From the short corner, Timão tried to keep the ball by the flag, but Bahia won it back.

In the 50th minute, the Brabas had a set piece from the left-center area. Andressa Alves delivered it onto Ariel Godoi’s head, and she directed it into Yanne’s hands. In the 53rd minute, full-time! Corinthians 1-0 Bahia! The Brabas are finalists of the Brazilian Women’s Championship for the tenth straight time!

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