Corinthians defender: below-par display, celebrates cup win

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Central do Timão

·19 ottobre 2025

Corinthians defender: below-par display, celebrates cup win

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Last Saturday, the 18th, Corinthians was crowned the Libertadores champion after defeating Deportivo Cali in penalties, 5 x 3, following a 0-0 draw in regular time. After the final whistle, defender Erika analyzed the match and acknowledged that Timão's performance was below expectations, but celebrated the victory and the opportunity to compete in the Club World Cup.

“I think we're still in shock, maybe we didn't play a good match, and when I say that, I mean everything, you know, technical aspects, shooting more at the goal, which we didn't do, we hardly tested the goalkeeper, anyway, but I think we didn't lack the will to win, and back there we were saying, oh my God, the second half is all about them here, we have to clear this ball out of here somehow, but we were completely focused there.”, started the number 99 in the mixed zone.

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Photo: Staff Images Woman/CONMEBOL

“I'm very happy with the victory, I think that's the goal, the three points, sometimes you can't play so well, but the three points there, the qualification, we joke, right, a qualification for the World Cup, okay? But just knowing that we're going to the World Cup, which I think was what we wanted to bring to our country, to Corinthians, to the Corinthians fans. That was already an achieved goal and that's why everyone is in shock, but very happy about this moment.”, she continued.

The defender also talked about the goal she scored at the end of the first half, but which was disallowed due to an offside by Vic Albuquerque, who was involved in the play. Erika explained her expression of surprise during the celebration and joked about her teammate's offside position.

“Oh man, I never score goals, right? So when I do, I don't know how to celebrate, what to do, everything the referee always says, she says, wait because it will be reviewed, you don't even feel like celebrating, right? And I said, I'm going to celebrate, I will, God will bless me with that little goal.”, commented the defender.

“Then the legend says that Vic's glute was a little too prominent there, I think it's a lot of glute work, right Vic, it broke me a bit, but thank God the important thing was to come out with this victory here, but if I had that little goal, I would be unbearable today, I would walk by here saying, hi guys, I'm not going to talk to you, just kidding.”, she continued.

Erika was also asked about expectations for the rest of the season, as Corinthians still has the final stages of the Campeonato Paulista to play. The defender pointed out that the team needs to enjoy the moment of celebrating the title, to later focus on the state championship.

“Oh, now we calm down, we're going to a party, we're going to celebrate somehow and then tomorrow you ask me this question, because then I'll switch gears and tomorrow it's a different story. But today we are very happy about this and soon after arriving in Brazil, you can be sure that we will switch gears and go in search of another title.”, she concluded.

Now, there is a FIFA date in women's football, and Corinthians returns to Brazil with an eye on the final stages of the Paulistão Feminino. The world championship will only take place at the beginning of next year, between the end of January and the beginning of March, before the Brazilian calendar starts.

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