Australia defeated 1-2 by Brazil in international women’s football friendly | Matildas

And now it’s the turn of caretaker coach Tom Sermanni to talk about the game with Network Ten, asked first about the difference between his outfit and Brazil.

“The difference is, first and foremost, the referee gave a couple of early yellow cards, so that settled the game down a little bit. Outside of that, I think it was a very similar kind of contest. Again, they are a very high press and high tempo team. And I thought we, in general, to look over the 90 minutes, I think we coped with that a little bit better than we did the other night. The objective tonight was to finish strongly, and I thought the subs that we brought on made a big impact that we did.”

Yet again, however, Brazil proved more clinical than the Matildas, something the coach reflected on.

“There was a couple of times where we were in great positions and had we just executed the pass better or made a better decision we’d have been in Because, the downfall of the way Brazil plays that, if you get out of the pressure, there are real opportunities to hurt them. And we got into positions to do that and just took the wrong options sometimes, or the pass just wasn’t quite up to what it needed to be.”

Tameka Yallop reflecting on tonight’s game on Network Ten:

“We do want to play Top 10 teams. That’s what we wanted to, here on home soil as well. Disappointed we couldn’t a the result but I think we put out a better performance tonight.

“We obviously looked at [Thursday’s] performance, and I think there were some changes that we made. You saw that in the formation that we came out with. I think it was frustrating for us because we did create a lot of opportunities. And there was possibly a few, almost one-on-one situations that if the play had of run on, we might have got a few chances. So I think we did much better today, creating those 100% chances then we did in the last game.”

And on the rising talent in the Brazilian side.

“I think they’ve got a whole squad of players, honestly. I think they have variety in their players as well. You’ve got a player that can come into the six [role], into the midfield and then also into the back line. So honestly, I think they’ve got a whole team of Marta’s coming through.”

Emily van Egmond speaking to Network 10:

“They got the better of us on set pieces, something we have to get better at. But I thought towards the end, the girls put in a great shift, and probably unlucky not to come up with an equalizer.”

Brazil has come to Australia and taken two games from two from the Matildas; the rejuvenation this South American power is undergoing ahead of a home World Cup in 2027 adding another major milestone after their silver medal earlier this year.

They deserved both of these wins, too.

They created more and better chances than the Matildas across both games and proved clinical when they needed to be. Playing in just her third and fourth caps, 23-year-old Amanda Gutierres, who added an assist tonight to go alone with her brace from Thursday evening, looks as if she’s going to be an absolute star.

The Matildas will now head to Victoria for two games against Taiwan where, despite several of their bigger European names being expected to head back to their clubs, they’ll be expected to win. There will be plenty of lessons and questions to take from tonight and Thursday’s games, as well; especially given that, like Brazil, they too are going through their own period of renewal. What lessons can be taken from As Canarinhas?

One thing that should be certain, though, as if we needed another reminder, is that Caitlin Foord is very, very, very good at football. Sam Kerr continues to near a return and will be a massive in for this side but across this past year, Brazil being the latest example, the Arsenal attacker has shown that she will still have a huge role to play when she does.

90+7 Mins: We’re entering last roll of the dice areas now, the frustration evident on Gielnik as she has a forthright exchange with Bruninha after another attack can’t find an equaliser.

90+5 Mins: More desperate efforts to find an equaliser as they launch more balls into the box. This time, though, Brazil are able to grab the ball and get it up the other end, where forces Micah into another save. The visitors now have a corner which is promptly wasted.

90+2 Mins: The Energizer Bunny has posters of Ellie Carpenter on its wall … that’s good, I’m going to Tweet/BlueSky that.

The fullback gets forward yet again and wins her side a corner with her hustle. It falls to Raso for a shot at the back post but as with Dudinha looming, she drags it wide.

90+1 Mins: Brazil burst forward in transition and finds space in behind … only for the flag to go up to indicate she was offside when the pass to her was played.

90 Mins: Increasing desperation from the Matildas as they try to find an equaliser. Brazil’s attacking shift feels a bit of a memory now as they clear the ball away and there’s no attacker in the vicinity to pressure Micah as she collects the ball near the halfway line.

89 Mins: Kennedy pulls rank to take the free kick. She bends it towards goal but Lorena has the time to take a step to her right and punch it over the bar.

88 Mins: The Matildas get things going with a throw in, with Raso – don’t tell her defeats in friendlies don’t matter, either – winning a corner.

That set piece comes to nothing but soon afterwards the Matildas get forward and Galic wins a free kick just on the edge of the penalty area.

87 Mins: Results don’t matter in friendlies? Don’t tell that to Carpenter, who is having a word with the referee to make sure all of the time lost to Lorena’s treatment is to be added on.

85 Mins: Gielnik forces a strong save from Lorena after she turns Haas and lashes a shot towards the top corner. Replays showed it looked to be going wide but the keeper couldn’t take that chance and forced it out for a corner.

Lorena falls awkwardly on her left shoulder after she punches away the corner – her arms getting bent up awkwardly as she falls on it – and requires treatment.

83 Mins: Brazil’s admirable attacking intent forces a turnover and the ball is worked to Nycole on the right, only for Kennedy to twice close down her crosses.

Australia quickly advances back in the other direction only for Gielnik to have her shot charged down.

81 Mins: There’s been a few more changes for Brazil, with Bruninha coming on for Portilho, Fe Palermo for Kaká, and Laís Estevam replacing Lauren.

This has been accompanied by a switch to a more attacking formation, too, as the visitors look for a third that would put this game to bed.

79 Mins: Carpenter is running her guts out – one wonders what Joe Montemurro is thinking, given that Lyon play Reims on Friday evening – again getting down the right and threatening the Brazilian backline.

76 Mins: The official crowd on the Gold Coast is 25,297, beating out the 24,644 that watched the Socceroos lose to Bahrain at this venue a few months ago.

It’s the 16th consecutive home sell-out for this side.

75 Mins: Nycole plays the ball out to Duda, who in turn tries to slide a pass through to Gomes on the left but there’s just to much mustard on it and it goes out for a goal kick.

75 Mins: Galic plays the ball out to Carpenter on the right, who in turn combines with Raso as the Matildas get forward.

After Kennedy comes up to get a bit of the action, too, the Spurs attacker sends in a cross that bounces out to Yallop but before she can get a shot off, Nycole comes up behind her like a librarian and pokes the ball away.

71 Mins: Galic shoots from the top of the box but it’s a comfortable enough save for Lorena.

Lauren went down injured before the shot came in and Brazil aren’t happy play was allowed to continue.

Both sets of players head to the dugout for a drink and further instruction as the defender receives treatment.

69 Mins: A reminder of the danger of Brazil. Another dangerous looking switch from the visitors gets the ball to Adriana on the right. Freier gets back to help the defence and puts it out for a corner.

Substitute Dudinha gets her first shot of the game off that set piece after Brazil work the ball to her outside the penalty area but her long-range effort is high.

66 Mins: Haas pretty much hip checks Freier from behind, giving away a free kick. Nominally, she’s signed to Internacional but after this series maybe the Broncos or Titans might be interested; we’ve already seen Sheridan Gallagher make the football – league – football jump, after all!

The free kick is taken quickly and springs Raso into a dangerous area of space on the right but her attempt to cut the ball back from the byline is closed down.

63 Mins: Carpenter charges straight down the middle of the park before laying it off for Raso on the right. She keeps the ball low in search of Gielnik but the ball is cleared away by Brazi.

The visitors take the ball up the other end quickly but Grant wins a free kick from Portilho to end the danger.

62 Mins: Brazil make a couple of changes as Dudinha replaces Gio and Nycole Raysla replaces the dangerous – just four games into her international career and she’s properly established that adjective – Gutierres.

60 Mins: Charli Grant has joined Gielnik and Galic as a waiting substitute and now replaces Nevin. The Melbourne Victory attacker replaces a fellow A-League Women striker in Heyman and Galic has replaced van Egmond.

Raso stays out there … and immediately has a heavy collision with Duda.

59 Mins: Freier threatens to burst down the left flank but Kaka gets across to lay in a challenge and shuts down the danger, winning a throw in for her side.

57 Mins: The Matildas have a corner! Nevin swings it just beyond the penalty area but the Australians can’t get a strong head on it. Nonetheless, they retain and recycle possession across the backline.

Raso was flattened behind play before the corner, too, and looked a bit sore. Her Spurs have Everton on Sunday and with Emily Gielnik and Daniela Galic warming up, she might soon be coming off.

55 Mins: Duda gives away a free kick in a dangerous area after bringing down Yallop. The Brazilian midfielder and her dugout are none too pleased about it but Kennedy’s resulting free kick goes straight into the wall.

54 Mins: Australia break quickly in transition down the right through Carpenter, their first real attack of the half.

It’s one that ends in disappointment, though, as van Egmond sends a wayward pass towards her right back that goes out for a Brazilian throw-in and brings the threat to a close.

53 Mins: Brazil twice find space on the right flank to drive low crosses into the box but twice the Matildas clear, the latter time for a corner.

Haas meets Angelina’s resulting delivery with an acrobatic looking attempt but it bounces wide.

52 Mins: It’s currently 24 degrees on the Gold Coast but the humidity is sitting at 94%. How this game is still going as quickly as it is? That’s beyond me.

50 Mins: Another corner, again sent short to Gutierres but this time the Matildas clear it before she can pick out a teammate.

49 Mins: Brazil swings in their eighth corner of the game – Australia has had none – but it comes to nothing.

After Brazil keeps the ball in their attacking third, Prior blocks an attempted cross by Duda out for a throw-in.

48 Mins: Not the type of first impression that Prior will have wanted to make, the ball is slid past her and springs Gio into space. Fortunately for the debutant, the resulting shot goes high over the bar.

46 Mins: We are back underway on the Gold Coast, with Brazil leading the Matildas two goals to one.

Confirmation of those changes, with Foord replaced by Freier and Prior coming on for Hunt.

Looks like some changes are coming for the Matildas.

After showing some late flashes on Thursday – albeit after Brazil had the game won – Sharn Freier will be coming on for Caitlin Foord, while Tash Prior is entering the game and, in doing so, becomes Matilda #231.

Here’s the goal that saw the Matildas halve the deficit in the shadow of the half-time break.

Ok, everybody breath.

A frantic first-half comes to a close and as was the case in Brisbane last Thursday, it’s Brazil that will hold a 2-1 lead heading into the sheds.

Though the Matildas often thrive in chaotic games like this, Arthur Elias’ side has probably had the best of the action so far, being clinical with a couple of chances and looking the more threatening of the two sides and forcing Micah into some of important saves. Moved into the starting XI, Adriana in particular will be wondering how she hasn’t scored, given the chances she has had.

Though second-best, Australia has at least been better than their last opening half; able to move the ball into threatening areas a bit more than they did in the first half of the first meeting between these two sides, even if they’re still not testing Lorena in the Brazilian goal as often as they would like. The transitional nature of the game is helping in that regard.

Probably helping the Matildas, this game hasn’t been as physical as the Battle in Brisbane was; a few early yellow cards from the referee helping to reign in some of the biff.

45+5: Some silly bugger in the crowd with a whistle has given it their own half-time whistle, fooling the ground announcer into announcing the break while the action is still happening.

That has to be one of my least favourite gags that has popped up in modern football.

45+4 Mins: Foord goes on a windy run but can’t find an angle towards goal and instead opts to play it to Raso, who has her cross charged down.

The Matildas keep the ball in their attacking third, however, and Raso springs Carpenter into space on the right side of the penalty area. Her cross, though, is closed down too.

45+2 Mins: As she does so well, Carpenter gets forward, twists and turns and wins a free kick on the right flank. Cooney-Cross fires the free kick towards deep past the back post and Raso can’t keep her attempt to send the ball back into the danger zone in.

Good lord it’s all happening on the Gold Coast. I can’t hardly keep up with it all. But against the run of play, the Matildas have grabbed one back!

Foord seizes upon a ball played down the right by Yallop, skips past Isa Haas and places a perfectly weighted pass to Raso at the back post, with the Tottenham attacker placing the ball home to halve the deficit. Foord is going to be coming off at halftime but she’s left us with a reminder, she really is an absolutely incredible player.

Brazil will feel they should have had a free kick for a foul by Yallop on Adriana during the buildup but there’s no VAR in this game to bring it back. Amid protests from the Brazil dugout, one of their members of staff is booked.

The Matildas are being overrun by a rampant Brazil and just like at the Olympics, a set piece has driven a dagger through the side in Green and Gold.

A short-corner routine gets the ball to Gutierres at the top of the box, where she rounds Raso and floats in a perfectly weighted ball to the back post. Having shaken off the attention of her marker Heyman, it’s met there by Lauren, who bundles the ball over the line for her first international goal and to double her side’s advantage.

38 Mins: Micah is the only reason this isn’t 2-0. Gutierres is played into space all on her own behind the Matildas’ backline and lashes a shot towards the near-post but the Liverpool keeper is just able to keep it out.

34 Mins: Brazil again come very close to a second. And again it’s Adriana. She and Portilho play a delightful one-two atop the box, the latter backheeling it back into her path, before Adriana places a shot just across the face of goal – Gutierres desperate attempt to slide in at the far post and turn it in just coming up short.

32 Mins: A threat of two goals in quick succession as a corner falls to Adriana at the back of a large pack of players, with the attacker taking a touch before lashing an effort over the bar.

Space behind the Matildas costs them again. A rapid move from Brazil as Duda swings a pass across the pitch to find a wide-open Adriana and switch the play from left to right.

With no support around her and two attackers to think about, Nevin is caught badly out of position as a first-time ball is played in behind for Portilho, who advances into the area and smashes the ball into the top corner of the net.

28 Mins: A free kick is swung into the box by Brazil and met with a glancing header from Duda, one that bounces just wide of Micah’s near post.

27 Mins: This game is absolutely frantic at the moment, the ball pinging from one end to another like it’s a game of basketball – only both teams are the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Phoenix Suns.

25 Mins: The ball falls to Adriana just inside the Matildas’ penalty area on the right but she can’t get a shot away before she’s closed down and the ball is cleared away by Nevin.

24 Mins: Brazil’s nominal third-choice goalkeeper Cláudia is doing some warm-ups and surveying the scene after Lorena went down. Seems whatever forced Honegger off in Brisbane won’t allow her to be called upon on the Gold Coast.