Zanotti the difference, Corinthians beat Juventude away, go top | OneFootball

On Monday night (20), Corinthians visited Juventude at Estádio Montanha dos Vinhedos, in Bento Gonçalves, for the seventh round of the first phase of the 2026 Brazilian Women’s Championship, and won 1-0. The Brabas’ goal was scored by midfielder Gabi Zanotti late in the first half. With the result, the Corinthians side regains the lead in the national tournament with 16 points — five wins, one draw, and one loss — with 18 goals scored and seven conceded.

The Corinthians coaching staff had the following absences for the match: goalkeeper Lelê, center-backs Gi Fernandes and Thaís Ferreira, midfielders Ana Vitória, Dayana Rodríguez and Duda Sampaio, as well as forwards Belén Aquino and Gisela Robledo. All of them were with Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela for the FIFA international window. In addition, Agustina Barroso, Thaís Regina and Juliana Passari remain unavailable — they are in the medical department.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

Thus, Emily Lima sent out the team as follows: Nicole Ramos; Ivana Fuso (Rafa Rocha), Duda Mineira, Letícia Teles and Tamires (Juliete); Paola Garcia (Jhonson), Andressa Alves and Letícia Monteiro (Carol Nogueira); Vic Albuquerque (Rhaizza), Jaqueline and Gabi Zanotti. The bench options were: Rillary, Rafa Rocha, Erika, Juliete, Manu Olivan, Rhaizza, Carol Nogueira and Jhonson.

Juventude lineup

Coach Luciano Brandalise started the match with: Thais Amorim; Limpia Fretes, Carla Cruz, Leka and Carol Ladaga; Tefinha, Luciane Baião and Laurinha; Núbia, Teté and Joyce Manfio.

Refereeing

The match was officiated by Elizabete Esmeraldinha Cordeiro dos Santos Gomes, representing Ceará. Her assistants were Jeissyevan Freitag Gonçalves and Ariela Duarte da Silveira, both from Rio Grande do Sul, while Bruna de Miranda Martins served as the fourth official. It is worth remembering that, in this initial phase of the Brazilian Championship, video assistant referee (VAR) is not yet being used.

Next match

After facing Juventude away from home in the Brasileirão Feminino, Corinthians remain focused on the national competition. That is because next Friday (24), at 9 p.m. Brasília time, the Brabas will host Ferroviária at Estádio Alfredo Schürig, Fazendinha, for the eighth round of the first phase of the national tournament.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Juventude and Corinthians saw the Brabas pushing more into the attacking half, pressing the opponent’s buildup and with all 10 outfield players in the offensive sector. Just one minute in, the club from Parque São Jorge threatened through Gabi Zanotti. Wearing the number 10 shirt, she received the ball inside the box and shot over the goal.

In the second minute, Corinthians won a corner on the left, took it short and had a shot go wide. Right after that, Letícia Monteiro was played through down the right and struck toward the goalkeeper’s left corner, but it was saved. Three minutes later, midfielder Vic Albuquerque met a cross from the right and headed it into the goalkeeper’s hands.

After 10 minutes, Corinthians were completely dominating the action and not allowing the team from Rio Grande do Sul to play. In the 12th minute, the Brabas built through the middle with Jaqueline, who played it toward Duda Mineira on the left, but the ball stayed with Thais Amorim. Soon after, Letícia Monteiro was found near the byline on the right, got past her marker and, when trying to send a low cross into the area, the defender put it out for a corner.

From the set piece, Duda Mineira headed it upward and the opposing defense cleared it. By the 20th minute, Corinthians still had the match fully under control and were increasingly edging closer to the opening goal. Six minutes later, Duda Mineira lofted a ball from the right side of midfield into the penalty area for Vic Albuquerque, who headed it wide, sending it the wrong way for the goalkeeper.

In the 28th minute, midfielder Gabi Zanotti made an individual play down the right touchline and, when she whipped in a tight cross, the ball hit the crossbar and went straight out for a goal kick! Three minutes later, Tamires found Andressa Alves with a chipped pass at the edge of the area. Wearing number 8, she laid it off for Jaqueline, who shot over the top-left corner of Thais Amorim’s goal.

A few minutes later, Gabi Zanotti received a pass inside the area, laid it into the middle, and Vic Albuquerque shot over! In the 40th minute, Tamires received the ball in depth down the left flank and crossed for Andressa Alves near the penalty spot. But the move was stopped for offside against number 37.

When the clock hit 45 minutes, one minute was added. Right after that, Corinthians scored the opener! Vic Albuquerque received the ball by the byline on the right and crossed onto the head of Gabi Zanotti, who finished into the back of the net! 1-0 Timão! The Brabas completely dominated the first half and only failed to extend the lead due to a lack of efficiency.

Second half

To begin the second half, coach Emily Lima made no changes. The opening minutes of the final period followed the same script, with the Brabas occupying the attacking half and Juventude pinned back in defense. In the first 10 minutes, the Brabas kept up their attacking volume and still looked to kill off the game.

In the 15th minute, Vic Albuquerque received the ball inside the box and had her shot blocked. Then came Corinthians’ first two substitutions: right-back Rafa Rocha and forward Jhonson came on for Ivana Fuso and Paola García, respectively.

Six minutes later, Andressa Alves took a corner from the right and the Corinthians attack finished wide. In the very next play, Jaqueline received the ball in midfield and hit the post! Midway through the second half, the Brabas kept up the intense pace, always looking for the attacking half, while Juventude tried to hold firm defensively to avoid a bigger scoreline.

In the 25th minute, Jaqueline switched play to Tamires on the left. When she laid it back toward Vic Albuquerque, the Juventude defense cleared it. Soon after, left-back Tamires and midfielder Vic Albuquerque were taken off for Juliette and Rhaizza. In the 31st minute, Letícia Monteiro received the ball on the left and found Rhaizza, who shot wide of the Juventude goalkeeper’s left post!

Soon after, Corinthians made their fifth and final substitution: midfielder Letícia Monteiro made way for forward Carol Nogueira. By the 38th minute of the second half, the club from Parque São Jorge was in total control of the match and stifling the actions of the team from Rio Grande do Sul, which showed little variety on the ball even after the substitutions made.

In the 39th minute, Juliete crossed from the left side of midfield toward the far post where Rhaizza was, but when she went to shoot, the ball slipped away from her feet and ended up in the hands of the Juventude goalkeeper. In the 44th minute, Andressa Alves took a corner from the left and the Juventude goalkeeper produced a miracle save after Duda Mineira’s shot from inside the six-yard box!

When the clock reached 45 minutes, seven more were added. Corinthians managed the result in the closing moments. With two minutes remaining, Carol Nogueira received the ball in midfield and blasted her shot over. In the 52nd minute, full time: Juventude 0-1 Corinthians.

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