Gotham FC’s Stumble in Women’s Champions Cup Semifinal

This week, Gotham FC is in London participating in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, treating it as an extension of their successful 2025 NWSL title-winning season.

They aimed for a significant win on this international stage to set a positive tone for 2026.

However, their semifinal match against Brazilian club Corinthians ended in disappointment and some concern.

Midfielder Rose Lovell suffered concussion-like symptoms and was sent off in stoppage time after being hit in the head by the ball. Forward Gabi Portillo was also substituted due to an ankle injury.

The exact seriousness of their injuries is still uncertain.

“I hope both of them are fine,” commented Gotham’s head coach Juan Carlos Amoros post-match.

Portillo’s availability for Sunday’s third-place match against Morocco’s ASFAR is questionable, while Lovell is expected to be out for an indefinite period as she enters concussion protocol.

Gotham understood the potential ups and downs of participating in the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup, which they earned entry into after winning the CONCACAF W Champions Cup last May.

The chance to claim the title of “The Best Club in the World” and receive $2.3 million in prize money outweighed the challenges of a shortened offseason.

Unfortunately, their unexpected defeat to Corinthians overshadowed this opportunity.

Now, the best Gotham can hope for is a third-place finish, which comes with a $200,000 bonus.

Defender Jess Carter expressed a bit of disappointment after the loss, saying, “I feel like I should have done better and been more clinical in both boxes.” She added, “There’s not much to say other than maybe feeling a little disappointed.”

Gotham entered the tournament as favorites, with their expected toughest competition being Arsenal, who easily won their semifinal.

For the majority of Wednesday’s game, Gotham controlled the match, outshooting Corinthians 21-9 and having seven corner kicks compared to one for their opponent. They held the ball 66 percent of the time.

However, a goal from Gabi Zanotti in the 83rd minute turned out to be enough to secure the win for Corinthians.

Jadyn Shaw had a chance to equalize at the end of stoppage time, but his free kick from outside the box just missed the near post.

Although the result wasn’t what Gotham hoped for, Amoros still found positives in the team’s performance.

“The team did well in every aspect except for scoring,” he noted. “I think we had the advantage. We prepared for this for a month, but unfortunately, today didn’t go our way on that front.”

Wednesday’s match offered a foundation for their 2025 NWSL title defense, which officially starts on March 14.

Yet, there’s a sense they would have preferred to play more on Sunday.

“We always want to make it to the finals. It’s disappointing not to make it,” Carter remarked. “But I think there’s a lot we need to reflect on, revise, and improve not just for this tournament, but for the rest of the season.”