The inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup is back in action with its semifinal round. The final four teams will compete on Saturday for a coveted spot in the tournament final. Club America and Tigres Femenil, both prominent Liga MX Femenil clubs, are set to face NWSL sides Portland Thorns and Gotham FC, respectively, as the last teams remaining in this first-ever competition.
The tournament`s knockout stage matches are being held at Estadio Universitario (UNAL) in Monterrey, Mexico. The winners of the semifinals will advance to the final. Club America recently finished as runners-up in the Liga MX Femenil`s Gran Final, where they were defeated 2-3 on aggregate. They will play against Gotham FC, who are currently experiencing a two-game losing streak in the NWSL regular season.
Tigres Femenil have had a break from competitive play, with their last game being a quarterfinal elimination on April 28. Their fifth-place finish in the Clausura season marks the club`s lowest-ever historical ranking. There are also concerns about injuries, potentially limiting the minutes for key player Jacqueline Ovalle. They face a highly in-form Portland Thorns side, who are missing Sophia Wilson on maternity leave. The Thorns appear to be the team with the most momentum heading back into the tournament since the group stage games took place last October.
Here`s a look at the key storylines, details on how to watch the matches, and more:
Concacaf W Champions Cup Semifinal Schedule
Wednesday, May 21
All times Eastern
- Club America vs. Gotham FC, 7:30 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
- Tigres Femenil vs. Portland Thorns, 10:30 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
Saturday, May 24
- Third place match: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
- Champions Cup final: TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
Road to the Semifinals
The four semifinalists topped their respective groups following a five-team round robin group stage. Tigres dominated Group A, going undefeated with three wins and one draw to earn ten points. Gotham FC finished second in the group with eight points from two wins and two draws.
In Group B, Club America and Portland Thorns were level on nine points after four matches. However, Club America secured the top spot in the group stage thanks to a superior goal differential of +11 compared to the Thorns` +8.
Key Players to Watch
- Montserrat Saldívar, Club America: This versatile left wingback is vital for Club America and the Mexico U20 squad. Her performance will be a significant factor. She was instrumental in the club`s journey back to the Gran Final, scoring eight goals during the campaign.
- Midge Purce, Gotham FC: Purce was largely unavailable during Gotham`s group stage matches last year but is back this season and making an impact. She has regained her form over the past four weeks and could be set for a standout game as an attacker.
- Ana Dias, Tigres Femenil: The Portuguese forward was the team`s leading scorer in the group stage (four goals, two assists). Manager Pedro Martinez might consider starting her to replicate that success, especially given the injury concerns surrounding other Tigres attackers.
- Caiya Hanks, Portland Thorns FC: This rookie forward is experiencing a goal-scoring breakthrough for the Thorns during the NWSL regular season. She has recorded two goals and one assist during the Thorns` current four-game undefeated run.
Prediction: Club America vs. Gotham FC
Club America possesses considerable talent and played recently in the Gran Final just a week ago. However, injuries affected them during their run for the Liga MX championship and could potentially impact their Concacaf title aspirations. The good news for Club America is that Gotham FC is also struggling for form recently.
After an impressive four-game stretch that saw three wins and seven goals from forward Esther Gonzalez, both the team and the player have cooled off. Gotham enters the Concacaf semifinal on a three-game winless streak, having failed to score in any of those matches.
This game might start cautiously before becoming more open later on. Roster depth is likely to be the deciding factor, and Gotham FC slightly edges out Club America in this regard. Prediction: Gotham 2, Club America 1
Prediction: Tigres Femenil vs. Portland Thorns
There are simply too many questions surrounding Tigres Femenil`s current state to confidently predict how they will perform against a top Portland Thorns side. While Tigres have abundant talent throughout their roster, manager Martinez will be asking a lot from players who haven`t been in competitive action for weeks.
Conversely, Thorns manager Rob Gale has a wealth of options available, including rookies who are making the most of their playing opportunities. Prediction: Portland Thorns 3, Tigres 1
