Corinthians midfielder rues draw in Libertadores debut: "Feels like defeat"

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Central do Timão

·3 ottobre 2025

Corinthians midfielder rues draw in Libertadores debut: "Feels like defeat"

By Daniel Keppler / Central do Timão Editorial Team

This Thursday, the 2nd, Corinthians made their debut in the Women's Copa Libertadores. In a match valid for the first round of the group stage of the competition, the Brabas faced Dragonas Independiente del Valle-EQU at the Florencio Sola Stadium in Banfield, and left the field with a 1-1 draw – the goal for the black-and-white team was scored by Gabi Zanotti.

After the match, midfielder Duda Sampaio spoke to the press in the mixed zone, evaluating the result: “We had many chances, just like in the last games in Brazil, and we were punished with one ball. We had already talked about this. It was an opponent that is growing a lot, it's their second year here in the Libertadores and it would be a great game. They have the courage to play, they also like to have the ball. They managed to control a lot in the midfield too.”

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She also recalled that the debut in 2024 also ended in a draw. “We started the competition playing poorly and managed to turn it around. Now we have to take advantage of this draw, with this taste of defeat, to learn. In the locker room, everyone felt it a lot, but we know that it's in these moments that we also show the strength of Corinthians. And we will do that. From tomorrow, we will switch gears for the next opponent and aim for two wins in the group”, she said.

Duda Sampaio stated that the attitude needs to change in the next games: “We need to look for the second goal all the time, not leave it at one-nil to feel comfortable. This is something we need to learn. In two days, we play again, but I think this will show our strength. Mentally, we are very strong.”

Finally, she spoke about her substitution, which happened by decision of coach Lucas Piccinato in the first minutes of the second half. “I have a pretty bad headache because of a play, but I think it's natural. I don't know if they were a bit concerned. We have very qualified athletes. It could also be their reading”, she pondered.

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