Corinthians strike early, but São Paulo come back in Paulista opener | OneFootball

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

Corinthians hosted São Paulo on Thursday night (7) at Estádio Alfredo Schürig, Fazendinha, for the opening round of the first phase of the 2026 Paulista Women’s Championship, and were beaten 2-1 after coming from ahead. The Brabas’ goal was scored by Colombian Gisela Robledo early in the first half. With the result, Timão begin the state competition in sixth place out of eight teams.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for the match: center-backs Thaís Regina and Agustina Barroso, who are recovering from a left calf injury and left ankle surgery. In addition, midfielders Ana Vitória, under concussion protocol after a Brazilian National Team training session ahead of the FIFA Series 2026, and Juliana Passari, being treated for a right thigh injury, also remained unavailable.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

With that, Emily Lima started the match with: Rillary; Gi Fernandes (Rafa Rocha), Duda Mineira, Letícia Teles and Tamires; Dayana Rodríguez (Jaqueline), Gisela Robledo (Manu Olivan), Letícia Monteiro (Paola García) and Vic Albuquerque (Belén Aquino); Rhaizza (Ariel Godoi) and Jhonson (Carol Nogueira). On the bench were: Ana Morgani, Thaís Ferreira, Ariel Godoi, Rafa Rocha, Manu Olivan, Paola Garcia, Belén Aquino, Jaquelina and Carol Nogueira.

São Paulo lineup

Thiago Viana started the derby with the following XI: Anna Bia; Mylena, Barbosa, Calazans and Rafa Soares; Clara, Cris and Karla Alves; Pereyra, Gadú and Soraya.

Officials

The match was officiated by Jéssica Aparecida Milani. The assistant referees were Daniel Luis Marques and Marcela de Almeida Silva. Ana Caroline D’Eleuterio de Sousa Carvalho served as the fourth official, while José Cláudio Rocha Filho was in charge of VAR.

Next match

After this Thursday’s Majestoso (7), the Brabas’ next opponent will once again be São Paulo, but this time in the 10th round of the Brasileiro qualifying phase. The match will take place next Monday (11), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, at Estádio Alfredo Schürig, Fazendinha. Timão lead the tournament with 22 points, while their rivals sit second with 20.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and São Paulo saw the visitors trying to push a bit more into the attacking half, but without truly threatening the Brabas. Their attempts came mainly down the left side. As time went on, Emily Lima’s side took control of the tempo and opened the scoring before the 10-minute mark.

In the 8th minute, Corinthians built a move from the back and, after a long pass, a São Paulo player tried to intercept it in midfield but was dispossessed by Colombian Gisela Robledo, who fired a brilliant shot into the top-left corner past goalkeeper Anna Bia. After taking the lead, Timão remained the better side, although in the 11th minute the Morumbis team threatened from an aerial ball into the box.

In the 15th minute, Corinthians broke on the counterattack, catching São Paulo disorganized at the back, and forward Jhonson went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored the second, but it was ruled out for offside. Two minutes later came São Paulo’s equalizer. Argentine winger Pereyra was played in on the left after a move through the middle, cut onto her right foot and finished into the corner past young goalkeeper Rillary. Score: Corinthians 1-1 São Paulo.

By the midway point of the first half, the match was balanced. But after leveling the score, São Paulo adopted a slightly more aggressive approach and took advantage of some spaces left by the Brabas. In the 26th minute, Corinthians launched a counterattack and Jhonson was played through. The No. 40, however, dragged her shot wide.

Soon after, São Paulo nearly turned it around. Soraya received the ball on the right wing and shot, with a deflection, toward the Corinthians goal. Rillary made the save and Duda Mineira cleared it off the line as the ball was dropping into the net. From Clara’s corner, the comeback came. Milena headed backward at the near post, the ball looped over the Brabas’ goalkeeper, and São Paulo scored their second. Score: Corinthians 1-2 São Paulo.

After conceding the second goal, Corinthians tried to build fresh pressure in the attacking third with several crosses into the box. After a move worked down the right byline, Vic Albuquerque headed dangerously and the São Paulo defense cleared it, also with a header, before the ball could reach Anna Bia’s goal. From another delivery, Tamires whipped in a ball toward the near post and the visitors cleared the danger.

Moments later, Jhonson got on the end of a cross from the right side of midfield, won the aerial duel with a São Paulo defender and headed just wide. Shortly after, in the 38th minute, Corinthians earned a free kick on the left side of midfield. Tamires delivered it, and a Brabas player finished wide.

In the following minutes, the match cooled off in terms of chances created. São Paulo allowed the Brabas more control of the ball and looked to exploit any counterattacks to perhaps extend the lead. When the clock hit 45 minutes, six minutes were added.

In the first minute of stoppage time, the Brabas nearly equalized! After an attack down the right and a low cutback, Jhonson almost made it 2-2 for Corinthians, but the São Paulo defense blocked the shot. At 51 minutes, the first half ended: Timão 1-2 São Paulo. The opening half featured several shifts in control, but the Morumbis side were more clinical and went into the break ahead.

Second half

To begin the second half, coach Emily Lima made three changes. Right-back Rafa Rocha, defensive midfielder Paola García and forward Ariel Godoi came on for Gi Fernandes, Letícia Monteiro and Rhaizza, respectively. The opening minutes of the second half saw the Brabas pushing further forward in search of an equalizer.

From a free kick in midfield, Tamires lofted the ball into the box, Letícia Teles glanced it with her head, and Anna Bia made a good save! A few minutes later, from another set piece taken by Tamires, the No. 37 crossed toward the far post and, after a knockdown into the six-yard box, Letícia Teles had her shot blocked and the danger was cleared!

In the 13th minute, São Paulo won a corner on the left and, from the delivery to the far post, a header went over the bar. Corinthians, still chasing at least an equalizer, made two more substitutions: Vic Albuquerque and Dayana Rodríguez left the field for forwards Belén Aquino and Jaqueline, respectively.

The club from Parque São Jorge was pressing with a high attacking volume, but repeatedly failed in the final action. By the midpoint of the second half, the picture remained the same, while São Paulo looked only for an opening to counterattack and widen the score. In the 28th minute, Ariel Godoi got in behind, pushed the ball too far ahead, challenged Anna Bia, and missed a crystal-clear chance.

Five minutes later, Gisela Robledo was played through on the right and saw Anna Bia come off her line to shield the ball out for a goal kick. Shortly afterward, the Colombian No. 7 pushed the ball ahead on the right wing and was fouled on the right side of midfield. From the free kick, Tamires struck it and, after a deflection, it went wide.

From the corner, she delivered with her left foot, curling it in, but the São Paulo defense dealt with it. Before the set piece, Corinthians made their final change: forward Jhonson left the field and Carol Nogueira came on. Even with the substitutions, the Brabas could not find solutions to at least level the score, repeatedly falling short in attack.

In the 41st minute, São Paulo attacked down the left and goalkeeper Rillary gathered the ball at the second attempt. After that, Gisela Robledo left the field and Manu Olivan came on. In the 44th minute, the Brabas pressed down the left side and won a corner, but the São Paulo defense cleared the danger right after. When the clock reached 45 minutes, seven more were added.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Corinthians reached the attacking third with a through ball down the right, and Anna Bia gathered it after a cross into the six-yard box. In the final moments, Timão tried to apply pressure with aerial balls, but could not find a second goal. At 52 minutes, full-time: Corinthians 1-2 São Paulo.

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