Corinthians women extend season-opener unbeaten run to 29 after Gotham win | OneFootball

Corinthians beat Gotham FC 1-0 on Wednesday morning to reach the Copa das Campeãs da Fifa final, extending a 29-year run of avoiding defeat in season openers.

According to Meu Timao, the women's side have not started a season with a loss since 1997, when the department was launched. Across 17 active years there have been 15 opening wins and two draws.

The sequence began in 1997 as the Campeonato Paulista Feminino returned after a 10-year hiatus, with Corinthians beating USP 3-2 before finishing third.

In 1998 the expanded state tournament saw a 9-0 debut win over São Judas, with elimination arriving only in the final to Portuguesa.

After two seasons away, 2001 brought a 2-1 opening victory against Palmeiras and another third place. In 2005, partnered with Mackenzie, the team drew 2-2 with Nova Granada.

Corinthians fielded their own side again in 2008 and 2009, starting with a 5-0 win against Kurdana then a 2-2 draw with São José, finishing fourth in both campaigns.

The modern era resumed in 2016, initially alongside Audax for the first two seasons, and since then the Brabas have won every season opener. First matches came variously in the Brasileiro, Paulista or the Supercopa, with 2021 counted by first official fixture rather than the 2020 Libertadores staged in March 2021.

They now chase a maiden title in the competition, facing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 1 February at 15:00.

Source: Meu Timao