This week we look at the results from the 2019 Copa Libertadores Femenina, which was held in Ecuador in October. We also discuss the recent announcement that Olympique Lyon's Parent Group was purchasing the Tacoma/Seattle Reign FC of the NWSL and the short and long-term implications of the ground breaking move.
2019 Copa Libertadores Femenina
For the first time ever, two nations from the same country faced off in the 11th edition of the Copa Libertadores Femenina, the South American Football Confederation Club Championship, as Corinthians of the city of Sao Paolo defeated Ferroviarai of Araraquara in São Paulo State 2-0. The South American continental women's club championship was held in Quito, Ecuador in October 2019, with some games delayed due to social unrest in the country. Sixteen teams from the 10 CONMEBOL member nations were invited for the first time, up from 12 in 2018. The lineup included the reigning champions of all ten CONMEBOL associations, the title holders, an additional team from the host association and four additional teams from associations with the best historical performance in the tournament (Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Paraguay).Corinthians also won the title in 2017 while playing jointly with Audax, who they separated from in 2018, while Ferroviarai lifted the crown in 2015.
In the Group Stage, 2018 Copa LibertadoresFemenina title winners Atletico Huila of Chile won Group A with 9 points on 3 wins, with Cerro Porteno of Paraguay also advancing to the knock out stage with 6 points, having lost the crucial match to Huila 3-0. Penarol of Uruguay and Colo-Colo of Chile (in their ninth tournament and Champions in 2012) finished at the bottom with 1 point each.
In Group B, Deportivo Cuenca of Ecuador finished top of the group on 9 points, with Brazilian side Ferroviaria second on 6 points, losing to Cuenca 2-1 in the key match of the group. Estudiantes de Caracas of Venezuela finished in third with 1 point and Mundo Futuro of Bolivia were fourth with 0 points and only 2 goals for and 17 against.
In Group C, Corinthians of Brazil won on 7 points, one point ahead of second place America of Colombia, while Libertad Limpeno of Portugal had 4 points and Nanas of Ecuador had 0, with 2 goals for and 12 against.
In Group D, Argentinian powerhouse UAI Urquiza won the group on 7 points, with Santiago Morning of Chile second on 5, while Colombia's Independiente Medellin/Formas Intimas (in their 8th tourney and runners up in 2013) finished third with 4 points and Peru's Municipalidad de Majes was fourth with 0 points, with 0 goals for and 17 against.
In the quarterfinals Ferroviaria knocked out Atletico Huila of Chile 3-2, while their Brazilian compatriots Corinthians knocked out another Chilean side in Santiago Morning 2-0. Two surprise results were America of Colombia knocking out UAI Urquiza of Argentina 3-2, while Cerro Porteno of Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties over the home favorites Deportivo Cuenca.
In the semifinals, Brazil's Ferroviaria knocked out Cerro Porteno 2-1 while Corinthians defeated America 4-0.
America of Colombia—in their first ever Liberatordes tourney—captured third with a 3-1 win over the Cerro Porteno of Paraguay, who were appearing for the 6th time and finished third in 2014. Corinthians defeated Ferroviaria 2-0 in the Final for their second Copa Libertadores Femenina crown.
Nathane of Ferroviaria, who played with Flamingo of Rio de Janeiro in 2018 and 2017 after moving from Iranduba in 2016, won the Golden Boot with 9 goals, with 5 coming against overmatched Mundo Futuro of Bolivia.
This tournament becomes even more important as the Asian Football Confederation just recently launched a women's club championship, the first edition which we will cover this month. Hopefully, the Copa Libertadores Femenina winner will be able to play other regional champions in a FIFA Women's World Club Championship within the next few years.
Olympique Lyonnaise Groupe is in the Process of Purchasing the NWSL's Reign FC
On November 25,Reign FC announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to sell the club to OL Groupe, the parent company of Olympique Lyonnais of France. Reign FC and OL Groupe expect the transaction to be completed before January 31, 2020. This is a fundamental change to the NWSL ownership model, which has previously been a mix of joint ownership with a men's MLS or division 2 USL Championship side, or as an independent women's football club—the latter which included the Tacoma, Washington-based Reign F.C. This is the first international ownership for a NWSL side which could open the door for other international groups to buy into the league, including Spain's Barcelona, which has expressed interest in the past, particularly in a team in Los Angeles.
Olympique Lyonnais plays in Division 1 Féminine (women) and Ligue 1 (men). Olympique Lyonnais Féminine is the most successful women's soccer team in the world, with thirteen consecutive domestic league titles and six UEFA Women's Champions League titles, including the last four in a row. Reign FC majority owner Bill Predmore explained, "Our ambition has always been to operate the best women's football club in the world. This is a distinction long held by OL, making them the perfect organization to help us achieve our long-term objectives for the club. Growing the club, the league, and the sport demands increased investment in our facilities, our staff, our players, and the league. OL has the capacity to make these needed investments, and the knowledge and experience to make those investments in the manner most likely to yield results. We believe the combination of OL's experience and expertise with our knowledge of the market and league will allow future investments to deliver the optimal impact to the club and to the NWSL." Current Reign FC majority owners Teresa and Bill Predmore will retain a minority stake in the club after the sale to OL Groupe has been completed, and Bill Predmore will serve as the CEO of Reign FC while Teresa will continue to run the club's academy system in a state that has always been rich in developing talent. The Hanauer Family (part of the 2019 MLS Champion Seattle Sounders ownership team) and Tacoma Soccer Ventures (who run the minor league Tacoma Rainiers baseball team)—who were announced as investors in Reign FC in conjunction with the team's move to Tacoma in January 2019—will not have an ownership position in the club after the sale to OL Groupe has been completed.
Reign FC will continue to play its home matches at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington, and will continue its collaboration with the Sounders and Rainiers, supporting their efforts to build a new soccer-specific stadium in Tacoma.
Reign FC original and Welsh international Jess Fishlock has a unique perspective on Reign FC's anticipated acquisition by OL, having played for Reign FC since its inaugural match in 2013, while winning a UEFA Women's Champions League medal with OL during her loan to the club in 2019. She said, "When Bill shared the news I was stunned, but my mind was immediately racing and dreaming about all the possibilities of what the two clubs could accomplish together. Lyon and Reign are both amazing organizations and I am so proud to have played for both clubs. Bringing the clubs together is for me the perfect combination—I literally can't think of a better outcome for two clubs who are so dedicated to the growth of the women's game. I am incredibly excited about what the future holds for both clubs."
This is a great move for the league but raises short-term and long-term questions, including if the Reign will stay in Tacoma long-term, or go back to Seattle and try to work an accommodation with the MLS Sounders, which had 69,000 people at their MLS final recently in the Emerald City, with an estimated 10,000 outside the gates soaking up the atmosphere. Predmore was never able to accomplish a meaningful working accord with the Sounders—one wonders if he ever wanted to—but I think Olympique Lyon should have more success if they approach the two-time MLS Champions, who are iconic in the Pacific Northwest. Another possibility is if Lyon wants to explore another city, again possibly L.A. or even Miami has been mentioned. One also wonders if this deal will allow Megan Rapinoe to transfer back to Lyon, possibly after the Olympic Games next summer. Rapinoe played parts of two seasons with the club in 2013 and 2014, making the Women's Champions League final in 2013, where the club lost to Wolfsburg (1-0). Will there be loan agreements between the two clubs, involving Rapinoe or others? We will closely follow this transformative new ownership acquisition within the NWSL and see how OL's involvement will change the league.
Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.
Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey
