Chapter 1: What led to Gotham FC's loss against Corinthians in the Champions Cup?
It's the battle of the Americas. The respective champions of North and South America going head to head. Not cleared by Carter and the effort goes in and Corinthians take the lead. And that is it then. Corinthians are into the inaugural final of the Women's Champions Cup. Gotham nil, Corinthians one.
Hey, it's Tuesday. Clearly, you know what that means. Welcome to Football W. She is two-time World Cup champion Allie Krieger. I'm Christina Alexander. Unfortunately, we are not talking about a Gotham champion. And I say that, unfortunately, just exclusively for you, Allie Krieger. Thank you for bringing that up. Of course. I didn't bring it up. We started with that. That's what I'm saying.
Beto, I see what you're doing here. Yeah, tough weekend for Gotham. But they were able to pull it back in the end in the semifinal and get a bronze medal at the first ever Champions Cup, which was really great to see. But that just proves that teams around the world are getting better and better and the competition is there. And obviously Gotham's you know, the start of their preseason.
So it's just a step in the right direction. International representation there for NWSL through the NWSL champions there with Gotham. We have a lot to break down on today's show. Coming up, Crystal Dunn calls, I don't want to say calls it quits because she's not quitting. She had a fantastic career. So we're so excited to give her all of the flowers that she deserves. And we have a lot of
Chapter 2: How did Arsenal secure their victory in the Champions Cup final?
Very interesting conversations here in the next few weeks. You were in LA last week for NWSL Media Day. So a couple of those convos here today. Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson. So happy to have them back from maternity leave. But first, let's get to what we just touched on with the inaugural Women's FIFA Champions Cup. We're taking it to the semifinal Gotham versus Corinthians.
Sixth minute, Jaclyn crosses the ball. Belen Aquino for the shot goes just wide. So they were letting them know, Ally. Yeah, I was very impressed with the Corinthians performance, obviously all tournament. You see here they created these chances, but the difference was being able to put the ball in the back of the net and being more clinical than Gotham was. Gotham did have about
You know, 20 opportunities on target, but just couldn't hit the back of the net. And you see that here. Once again, Corinthians being able to score in the end, making it 1-0. Tight finish. Great goal. Well done by them to get to the final against Arsenal. Yeah, they were blocking Lily Real there. Really good as well. Nothing to do there for Ann Kautrenberger, or was there?
We will ask you here in a few minutes. Semides gets a yellow for a foul just outside the box. Red is given to the bench. Jaden Shaw was very close. Yeah, very close. She ended up having a few more opportunities that were more successful in the bronze medal game. But they're, yeah, very difficult for them.
But it just goes to show you that the Corinthians were ready to bring it and play their game.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of Man City's recent win over Chelsea?
And they did very well all tournament. The numbers are very interesting. We're going to talk about the shots on goal with 20 versus 1 and 9 and 2 there for Corinthians. But first, let's hear from Jess Carter.
Yeah we're really frustrated obviously winning games is about what happens in both boxes and today we weren't good enough and either of them I think they had maybe two chances and they got into our box twice and for most of the back I think for myself personally you know with the goal disappointed to not clear it but we've also had god knows how many chances in their final third so you know I think that you know obviously we're disappointed but don't put the ball in the back of the net you're not going to win a game.
especially on the second half when you guys were creating more chances. How upsetting is it to concede in the counter because they looked like they were set up to play in the counter?
To be honest, it's no surprise and we did our analysis on them. We knew that that's the kind of team that they would be and we didn't do well enough to prevent that. I think they counted on us quite a few times and we were fortunate enough to not concede maybe in the first half. So I think they played how we expected to play, we just didn't deal with it well enough.
And of course, coming off the back of the winter break, how much rhythm of play was affected today?
I mean, I think you saw today there wasn't much rhythm, to be honest. But I think they've had similar. I don't know what their season is, but I don't think they're in full flow either. You know, you do the best that you can do in two, three weeks of preseason. And I don't think today was about the flow. I think it's just about the fact that we weren't clinical enough in either third.
And obviously, we'll go back. We'll go back to training tomorrow. We have to try and put things right for whoever we play in the next game.
Yeah, I mean, when we talk about a preseason, it's very valuable to have these kind of games, especially with what we just heard from Jess Carter, right? Not only the rhythm, but a lot of things that they can take away from this game. Let's start with that stat that really jumps out. 20 shots, only one on target. Why was there a lack of offensive production here, Ali?
Well, I think, you know, they were just the semifinal exposed those issues in the final third. Once again, Jess Carter, you know, hit the nail on the head in saying they weren't clinical enough in front of goal. Then we saw that, those opportunities being taken advantage of in the bronze medal game where they were actually able to finish and win 4-0.
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Chapter 4: Is the WSL title race over after Man City's performance?
So I think defensively there was just that opportunity that Corinthians put away. But yes, they need to be more clinical in front of goal. And that's just a step forward for preseason. I think these are just getting the kinks out, right? There's a couple of new players added to the roster. You know that the relationships are building.
We're missing one of the best forwards in the world for Gotham to be able to put the ball in the back of the net. So there are a few key pieces that I think they're still trying to work out. And the team has only had not even two months off of time to rest and recover and recharge for the season coming up. Obviously, this is an amazing opportunity.
This is the first chance that you have this tournament ever in the world. But once again, there's a couple of teams that are different stages in their career of the year. I'm not surprised. I think they're going to go back to the drawing board and continue to get better and better. We saw that already. The details were figured out in the next game, which they were able to win.
So it's exciting to see that little success. But obviously that just goes to show you that the game is getting better and better for a lot of teams around the world. Yeah. And that one opportunity there for Corinthians that that is the name of the game at the end of the day. And Katrin Berger what did you make of that play specifically. Could she have done a little bit more. Yes and no.
I mean I think you know that's uncharacteristic of her to even make one mistake in the game because that's how good she is. So she's she's the anchor in the back line. She's you know the I mean that's that's tough. Obviously you have a lot of players in front of you. You're not seeing the ball as clearly. It could have taken a slight deflection here and there. Yes.
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Chapter 5: What challenges did Gotham FC face in their preseason preparations?
But usually you see her Perry that away cleanly. That's something that I'm sure she's disappointed in. But once again that situation you know they had many chances on the opposite end of the field to put the ball in the back of the net. So it's it's disappointing that that's that one mistake that led to the win.
for Corinthians but you know you continue to learn you continue to grow and they should just be proud that they were able to compete in this competition and you know be one of the best in four teams in the world.
Yeah and you mentioned one of the best that notable absence here is that Gonzalez who congratulations to her becoming a new mom to there with her partner she is on parental leave so congratulations We're not sounding any alarms. We know that Gotham fans are always worried about her health. So, no, it has nothing to do with that. But when it comes to, obviously, it's upsetting, right?
Gotham is very much used to winning as of late, especially when it comes to international trophies, of course, at the NWSL level. But what needs to be Juan Carlos Amoroso's biggest takeaway from this one? Well, I think it's, you know, the first game of the year, the first game of the new season. I think you're also giving players opportunities to perform. Yes, you do want to win.
It's a business, right? This is the biggest tournament so far of the year. And you wanted to get to the final and play against Arsenal, which would have been an insane match. And everyone, I think, would have loved to see that play out. Credit to Corinthians. They came to to play and perform and win as well.
And I think he's going to go back and make sure that the discipline in the final third is going to be better. And you know this is giving him a lot of answers I think for for players and relationships that are built within the team. And it's a good start, but obviously he even mentioned that they do need to be critical, just like Jess Carter had said.
And that was very obvious with the 20 opportunities on target. And to not put the ball in the back of the net, that's something that at this level just can't happen. Yeah, just taking a little note of that as well. We would have loved to have seen Gotham in the final.
I would have loved it because it would have meant a bet between our Allie Krieger and producer Beto, who was happy to see Arsenal in the final. So let's take it there now with Arsenal and Corinthians in the first edition of the Women's Champions Cup.
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Chapter 6: How are Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson preparing for their return to NWSL?
We're going to go straight into the 15th minute on this one. Arsenal also very much used to playing the finals at the big international stage. Olivia Smith collecting a rebound and saying thank you for that. Yeah, that was brilliant because it's so difficult to take a ball down like this in the air off of a volley and for her to keep it low right in the back of the net. Beautiful first goal.
How about this though? Six minutes later, Corinthians coming back on this one. The ball still very much alive in the box. and putting it away, Ali. Yes, this was, you know, obviously for the goalkeeper, really difficult to try to keep the ball in such that, you know, scramble there, but great for Corinthians to tie that up.
Yeah, Ruben Moy too, speaking of clinical there with Arsenal heading that in 2-1. This is so difficult to do because you have to redirect it and make sure you keep it low and sometimes those balls that come from those areas aren't as pacey so it makes it more difficult so you have to be super precise on placement and she does really well there. Penalty there for you? Slight. Okay. Well.
For the bar, at least, it was definitely a penalty. And what a way to take advantage of it. Victoria steps up and converts there. So Corinthians tie the game 2-2. The game goes into extra time. Kaitlyn Ford said, I don't need that much time. Puts it 3-2 for Arsenal. No, and I mean the goalkeeper is pretty late on trying to get a touch on this ball. But well done. Beautiful game.
Arsenal was able to solidify the win. But great, great match when Corinthians would come back in the end, tie it up, make it that exciting for one of the first, obviously the first game of the Champions Cup. So brilliant tournament. I thought both teams played excellent and it was an amazing final to see that excitement.
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Chapter 7: What impact did Crystal Dunn have on her teammates and the sport?
Yeah, it was great for Arsenal to their year in review has been spectacular. They won as you just saw the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions come back in May. Arsenal won its second UEFA Women's Champions League title and first in 18 years. That's the biggest gap between two titles for a club and Champions League history after runner up finished last season.
The club is currently fourth in the Women's Super League, 13 points behind first place Manchester City. We will talk about it after we hear from Kim Little and Becky. Always when we represent this club in any manner, and likewise tonight, like the Champions League, it's obviously incredible to lift a trophy again.
We set our targets at the start of the season. There's one trophy that we can obviously call ours, and we aim to obviously fight for every trophy that's in front of us still. So, yeah, nice start, but yeah, a long way to go with the rest.
It's a good way to start the 2026 year at least in the football calendar. We are deep into that halfway through the year. But let's talk about this game here for Arsenal because as you said Corinthians made this very exciting. Arsenal led twice. They conceded late. How did they pull this one off? Yeah, I think just a collective team effort.
I think it's tough in the middle of your domestic season to have a match this big in the start of other teams' preseason year. So I think for Arsenal in the middle of the season, having a tough game coming up on the weekend domestically, trying to get back up to the top of the table, You know, having all the depth they have, but they have to, you know, stay fit and healthy.
And then having a game like this, extremely important. This is now, you know, one of the, it's a milestone for the women's club. They've, you know, won a lot in recent years. And so I'm excited to see that, you know, they continue down this path. They deserved it. They played a back and forth game. It was very transitional. They created opportunities. They finished opportunities.
Obviously, they conceded late in the match, which I'm sure was really difficult for them.
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Chapter 8: What can we expect from the upcoming NWSL season with returning players?
But to have that mentality to come back and to stay in it to the very end and be able to finish and win the first ever trophy. Yeah, that was pretty incredible from a group who's been successful quite often in recent years. Yeah, and who has dealt with the pressure too. I mean, their biggest star is obviously participating in a summer tournament with the Euros.
So they've been pretty busy up to this point and still expected to perform. But with this title, I mean, the world title, right? In a sense, Ali, are they really the world's best at this moment for you? I've been watching the WSL and I think Man City, obviously their mentality is on a different level at this moment. And I think obviously Arsenal winning the Champions League last season.
Domestically, I don't think they're quite there this year. It proves that with the points that they have and where they are on the table. But that doesn't mean that as a club and as a whole with the players and the quality that they have. that they can't be that team, the best team, club team in the world. They've proven that, and right now they are.
And we'll see coming up in the Champions League if they can get past the playoff matches to see if they can get back to where they want to be. But they've taken a dip, I think, this year, especially domestically and within the Champions League because they aren't in the top four, they were number five. So I do think they have some, you know, play to prove.
And they need to get back to where they want to be. But this is a starting point. And I think they have such quality. They have great depth. They have the players there. They have the personnel to do it. And now they just have to figure out how to make it click again. But they are one of the best in the world. There's no doubt there.
And it was great to see that they could win this tournament that was now just huge for them as champions. I think they've won now at every level. But it's exciting to see the success of the club and the success of those players specifically. And also for Emily Fox, who went over there to see the success that she's had in the years that she's been there now, too. I think she's performing so well.
And I'm just really happy that we have an American player representing us at the World you know, largest stage. Yeah, absolutely. You mentioned how they're doing domestically. Just a reminder, fourth place in WSL, 13 points off from the leader, Manchester City.
And I want to go there now because of the game that we saw this weekend, a spectacular performance from Manchester City, obviously against a Chelsea that wanted to bring a lot more to the table. So... Let's get into that with what we saw with the WSL here this week. And obviously we didn't see Arsenal because this game was postponed for them.
But obviously with Manchester City now facing Chelsea, if we can get there now, because obviously speaking of Americans, we wanted to see how Sam Coffey was going to do in this matchup as well. We'll get to that in just a second. But just to wrap up here, we're talking with Arsenal now at the WSL level.
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