LONDON (AP) — Caitlin Ford scored on a breakaway in extra time and Arsenal won the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup with a 3-2 win over Brazil’s Corinthians on Sunday.
In the pouring rain at the Emirates Stadium, Corinthians leveled the score at 2-2 with Victoria converting a penalty in stoppage time.
Olivia Smith and Lotte Uben-Moy score in regulation for Arsenal The prize money for winning the intercontinental tournament is $2.3 million. Corinthians will win $1 million for being the runner-up.
Arsenal, who qualified for the tournament as UEFA Champions League winners, defeated Morocco’s ASFAR 6-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final to book their place in the final.
Smith, who also scored in the semi-final, took the lead in the 15th minute when Corinthians goalkeeper Letizia tipped Stina Blackstenius’ shot into Smith’s path.
Six minutes later, Corinthians equalized with a goal from Gabriela Zanotti, which split over the line past Arsenal goalkeeper Anneke Borbe. Zanotti, 40, also scored in Corinthians’ 1-0 semi-final win over Gotham FC.
With FIFA President Gianni Infantino looking on, Lotte Uben Moi scored the winning goal in the 58th with a header off Emily Fox’s cross.
Arsenal looked to have won the trophy, but a video review showed Corinthians were awarded a penalty in stoppage time after a foul on Katie McCabe in the box, sending a vocal group of Corinthians fans into a frenzy.
Ford scored the winning goal in the 104th minute to put Arsenal in the lead again. Arsenal’s Borbe was involved in a collision in front of the goal in the dying minutes of the game and had to be carried away on a stretcher with an injury.
Gotham defeated ASFAR 4-0 in the third-place match earlier in the day. Kya Harper, who started as a substitute in the semi-final, scored in the 27th minute to take the lead.
Gotham doubled their lead on a goal from Savannah McCaskill and a penalty kick from Jadyn Shaw to make it 3-0 before halftime. Midge Perse added the winning goal in the 48th minute.
Gotham won and qualified for the first CONCACAF Champions Cup. 1-0 victory over Mexico’s Tigres Last May. Corinthians qualified by winning the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores Femenina, while ASFAR won the CAF Champions League.
Two continental champions, Auckland United representing Oceania and Wuhan Chago Jiangda representing Asia, were eliminated in the previous round.
The six-team Women’s Champions Cup was created as an intercontinental championship for women’s club teams. It builds on the growing number of regional club competitions, led by the success of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
FIFA has also introduced a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup to begin in 2028 and be held every four years. The new Champions Cup will be held every year except in years when the Club World Cup is held.
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