The inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup is back with the highly anticipated semifinal round. Four top teams will compete for a coveted spot in Saturday`s final match. The semifinals feature two powerhouses from Liga MX Femenil, Club America and Tigres Femenil, going head-to-head against NWSL clubs Portland Thorns and Gotham FC, respectively. These four are the last standing in this historic first edition of the competition.
The knockout stage matches are scheduled to be held at Estadio Universitario (UNAL) in Monterrey, Mexico. The teams emerging victorious from the semifinals will advance to the final. Club America enters this round after recently finishing as runners-up in the Liga MX Femenil Gran Final, where they were defeated 2-3 on aggregate. They will face Gotham FC, a team currently experiencing a two-game losing streak in the NWSL regular season.
Tigres Femenil has had a longer break from competitive play, with their last match being a quarterfinal elimination back on April 28. Their fifth-place finish in the recent Clausura season represents the lowest in the club`s history, and there are also questions surrounding the fitness of key player Jacqueline Ovalle and potential minute restrictions. They are set to challenge a formidable Portland Thorns side. Although the Thorns are without Sophia Wilson due to maternity leave, they are arguably the most in-form team returning to the tournament since the group stage matches took place last October.
Here`s a look at the key narratives, how to follow the matches, and more details:
Concacaf W Champions Cup Schedule
Wednesday, May 21
All times Eastern
- Club America vs. Gotham FC, 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)
- Tigres Femenil vs. Portland Thorns, 10:30 p.m. (Paramount+)
Saturday, May 24
- Third place match: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. (Paramount+)
- Champions Cup final: TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. (Paramount+)
Path to the Semifinals
The four remaining teams finished at the top of their respective groups following a five-team round robin format in the group stage. Tigres dominated Group A, remaining undefeated with three wins and one draw to earn ten points in last year`s preliminary rounds. Gotham FC secured second place in the same group with eight points from two wins and two draws in their four matches.
In Group B, both Club America and Portland Thorns finished with nine points after four games. However, Club America claimed the top spot based on their superior goal differential of plus-11 compared to the Thorns` plus-eight.
Players to Watch
Montserrat Saldívar, Club America: This versatile left wingback is a dynamic player for Club America and Mexico`s U20 national team, covering extensive ground. Her role in the game could significantly impact the outcome. She was instrumental in Club America`s journey back to the Gran Final, contributing eight goals during their campaign.
Midge Purce, Gotham FC: Purce was largely unavailable during Gotham`s group stage matches last year, but she`s back in form this season and looking dangerous. She has been working her way back over the past few weeks, and the semifinals could be the perfect opportunity for the attacker to deliver a standout performance.
Ana Dias, Tigres Femenil: The Portuguese forward was Tigres` leading scorer in the group stage, netting four goals and providing two assists. Given the injury concerns surrounding other attackers for Tigres, starting Dias could be a strategic move for manager Pedro Martinez, potentially replicating their group stage success.
Caiya Hanks, Portland Thorns FC: This rookie forward is experiencing a scoring breakthrough for the Thorns in the current NWSL season. She has scored two goals and registered one assist during the Thorns` recent four-game undefeated run, highlighting her growing impact.
Prediction: Club America vs. Gotham FC
Club America boasts considerable talent and is still fresh from their recent Gran Final appearance against Pachuca just a week ago. However, injuries that affected them during their Liga MX championship pursuit might also impact their Concacaf title bid. The silver lining for Club America is that Gotham FC is also facing challenges with their recent form.
Following an impressive four-game period that included three wins and seven goals from forward Esther Gonzalez, Gotham`s attack has recently gone cold. The team enters the Concacaf semifinal having not won in their last three matches and failing to score any goals during that time.
This match could start cautiously, becoming more open as it progresses. Ultimately, roster depth is likely to be the deciding factor, and Gotham appears to have a slight edge over Club America in this regard.
Pick: Gotham 2, Club America 1
Prediction: Tigres Femenil vs. Portland Thorns
There are significant uncertainties regarding Tigres Femenil`s current state, making it difficult to predict how they will perform against a top-tier Thorns squad. While Tigres possesses talent throughout their roster, manager Martinez will be relying on players who haven`t seen competitive action in several weeks.
Conversely, Thorns manager Rob Gale has a wealth of options available, including promising rookies who are seizing their opportunities and making an impact whenever they play.
Pick: Portland Thorns 3, Tigres 1
Adrian Whitmore