The Zero was no match for the newer, more powerful, faster, better armed and armoured Corsair. The Zero could perhaps out turn it in a dogfight but thats it, they never stood a chance against the F4U. A better comparison would be against the late war fighters such as the Ki-84 or N1K2-J Shiden, both were excellent planes which differed from the early war beliefs in low power, light armour and very good maenouverabilty