Summary
A great night for Australian football in Parramatta. That was a friendly played at a tournament tempo and intensity.
Australia needed a performance after a disappointing run on the pitch matched with controversy off it, and that’s exactly what they delivered. It was far from faultless, but it showed method and intent, and points the way to 2023.
Pace was at the heart of everything. The speed of ball movement, the energy of Carpenter on the right flank, the quickness of Kerr’s movement to drop between lines and pull off the shoulder of her marker in the box. Modern football demands everything happens in the blink of an eye and the Matildas have the skills and Gustavsson the patterns of play to pull it off.
The problem is that such a strategy carries risk when the ball is lost in transition or if the forward press is bypassed. That exposes the back four and midfield screener who were repeatedly under pressure tonight. Something to work on for the next couple of years.
Credit to Brazil for giving 100%. For Leticia for playing on after getting whacked in the mush 15-minutes in. For Tamires for a grandstanding nutmeg. And for Marta, for sprinting into the fray with 20-minutes to go like it was a cup final.
Join us again on Tuesday for - hopefully - more of the same.
Updated
Full-time: Australia 3-1 Brazil
Victory for the Matildas.
88 mins: Nothing doing from the set-piece and Grant does well following up to drive Brazil back into their own half.
87 mins: Chaos in Australia’s box after a Brazilian free-kick is dumped into the mixer. Two cries for handball, a Brazilian goes down under pressure, and the outcome is a corner.
85 mins: Yikes! Kennedy heads a harmless ball that should have been Williams’, then the keeper dwells in possession and is almost robbed in her six-yard box. The postmatch review will have some pretty clear talking points.
83 mins: Australia continue to press and there’s acres of space for Carpenter to run into. The ball across the edge of the penalty area is crying out for a strike but nobody takes ownership until it’s charged down by Brazil and the ricochet spins away from Fowler.
81 mins: It wasn’t Kerr’s best pass in the build-up to that goal, but it was creative, and followed some neat interplay with Fowler. The building blocks of something exciting in the front third is materialising. It now just needs grafting to the raggedy defensive third.
GOAL! Australia 3-1 Brazil (Van Egmond, 80)
Brilliant from Catley, driving in behind to make the most of Kerr’s throughball, pulling the ball back to the far post where Emily van Egmond is on the spot to sidefoot home. That should seal things for the Matildas.
77 mins: Catley’s corner is flicked on by Kerr but Australia can’t make anything of the second ball.
73 mins: Ooooh. Polkinghorne gets out of jail there. Again Australia are caught in possession playing the ball across the back four, but this time after Geyse nicks the ball away she’s penalised for following through with a foul. The Matildas central defenders do not inspire confidence.
72 mins: It’s end-to-end in Parramatta. Marta’s first touch is magical, opening up the final third for Brazil, but the pullback from the byline finds a congested box and Australia clear. Not only that but Kerr is in space on the right, too much as it happens and she’s isolated.
70 mins: Now here comes Marta and Debinha. Fun 20 minutes coming up.
GOAL! Australia 2-1 Brazil (Adriana, 68)
Brazil right back in it, and it’s another defensive calamity. Kennedy has not looked at the races for much of the night and she gets the ball tied in her feet as the Matildas tried to play across the back four to find an out ball. Instead, Adriana picked Kennedy’s pocket, left grasping at the wet turn, and calmly picked her spot. Nothing Williams could do.
GOAL! Australia 2-0 Brazil (Fowler, 66)
Another goal for the dynamite Mary Fowler, but it’s a stinker for Brazil. An unopposed throw-in on the left allows EvE all the time in the world to deliver a cross. She floats a right-footed ball over the penalty spot towards the far post and it goes over the static defence, Leticia doesn’t fancy it, and nobody tracks Fowler’s run, so she just stoops and nods home a simple finish.
65 mins: More nice ball movement from the Matildas, zipping the ball over the greasy turf at pace, sending it in and out of the middle third to create space for Foord. Australia’s progression between thirds has been good.
63 mins: Finally a decent cross from a wide area and it’s met by the forehead of the advancing Van Egmond, but it lacks force and is straight at Brazil’s keeper.
62 mins: That rain I mentioned might fall earlier, well, it’s here, and it might get wild.
61 mins: Another diagonal switch to Foord, and again she shifts inside to her right, but this time she’s crowded out.
59 mins: Yallop does superbly to deny Geyse in the box . Brazil threatened with a quick break down the right but then ran out of ideas on the edge of the box. Geyse then responds by tearing after Yallop as the Matildas break and landing a dirty reducer as the Australian cleared. Ooof. That was naughty. An easy yellow card decision for the ref.
58 mins: The Matildas are now much happier to control possession and the tempo, picking their moment to play that pass between the lines. The patience is almost rewarded when Fowler feeds Kerr, but the flick to get in behind is intercepted.
55 mins: A lovely switch of play from right to left opens space for Foord. She cuts in from the touchline and shoots right-footed but straight at the keeper. Lovely ball from Cooney-Cross in the buildup.
53 mins: Another promising move that peters out with a poor final ball. This time a one-two with Foord sends Catley steaming down the inside-left channel but she couldn’t pick the killer pass.
51 mins: Fowler lets fly from range but it sails over the bar.
50 mins: Australia’s press is a serious weapon and the commitment of Fowler, Yallop, Kerr and co pins Brazil deep in their own half. That trio combine following the turnover but the cross is poor, as has been the case all night so far.
48 mins: Superb football from Brazil, playing out through Australia’s forward press and getting the ball in behind for Adriana, who cuts onto her right and shoots straight at Williams! That was a golden opportunity at the end of a beautiful move. Australia tried to play offside but Adriana sprung the trap perfectly. Good save, but again worrying signs for Australia in transition.
46 mins: The second half is underway and it begins with Emily van Egmond in midfield in place of Kiyah Simon.
@JPHowcroft Kerr gets the majority of the plaudits but Polks really is the beating heart of this team. 100% commitment, endeavour and desire to do her best and settles for nothing else from her team mates. Legendary player.
— phil withall (@phil_withall) October 23, 2021
Lots of promising signs for Australia in that half. Plenty of pace, playing between the lines crisply, getting the ball wide to Catley and Carpenter in dangerous areas. Some more composure in the final third would be welcome, but Brazil have defended central areas smartly.
There does appear to be a tradeoff with this group of players that for all that positivity going forward there is a counterweight defensively. The Matildas were caught out repeatedly in transition and Brazil almost profited on a number of occasions with balls over and behind a flat-footed back four.
However, I would accept that as a trade-off given the potential potency of the forward set-up if it clicks. As Saffigna emails: “Don’t slow it down. It is the speed of transition that keeps Brazil under pressure. Cooney-Cross just needs to back herself more often.”
And Michael Witherfod adds: “I’m not sure that Brazil would have come into many matches against teams who press right up and put the pressure on their defence. It puts them off their gentle probing thing.”
And speaking purely as a neutral - international friendlies played purely in the middle third; no thanks.
Updated
Half-time: Australia 1-0 Brazil
That Clare Polkinghorne strike separates the two sides at half-time of a very willing, pleasingly up-tempo friendly.
Updated
45+2 mins: This time it’s Carpenter who gets on the wrong side of a Brazilian raid and she concedes the professional foul 10m outside the box. A blue shirt wins the ball sent into the mixer, but it doesn’t require much saving from Williams.
44 mins: Australia continue to look vulnerable in defensive transition when Brazil counter at speed. Kennedy has been flat-footed on a few occasions and she has to scramble again to concede a corner.
40 mins: That was a really well executed routine. Brazil have defended well in those areas but Kerr found space and cushioned her header across goal superbly.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Brazil (Polkinghorne, 38)
Free-kick to Australia in a dangerous area just outside the box. Catley dinks it towards the penalty spot, Kerr peels off her marker and nods it across the six-yard box where Polkinghorne is free to tap home. Easy as ABC.
Updated
36 mins: Foord ragdolls Bruninha to one side after the Brazilian overstepped the mark with her shepherding. Of course the forward gets punished in the circumstances despite being the only player targeting the ball.
34 mins: On TV Georgia Yeoman-Dale is calling for a steadying presence at the base of midfield to control the tempo. I disagree greatly. Australia have looked at their most dangerous when the pace is high and play staccato. It suits the movement of Kerr and Yallop and the improvisation of Fowler. The slower the game the more Brazil can retreat into their structures, which are clearly well drilled.
32 mins: Australia’s pattern of play from the back looks in decent order. There are outlets left and right, Kerr long, and Fowler has shown flashes of promise in midfield. They just need to remain focussed and structured out of possession.
29 mins: Brazil have defended the central area of their penalty box well so far, and it’s seen plenty of action. The latest effort is a headed clearance from a deep Catley free-kick, but the Matildas respond with another dangerous move down the right where Yallop forces another corner.
27 mins: Leticia does well to get a fist to the delivery, but Australia keep the ball alive and the second ball into the box is hooked by Polkinghore and deflected behind for another corner.
25 mins: Not for the first time in the past 5-10 minutes Australia get away with a sloppy moment. Kennedy assumed Williams would accept an overhit through-ball, but it remained her responsibility and her pocket was picked on the byline, but it came to nought. The collective response is positive and another raid down the right results in a cross that’s sent behind for a corner.
23 mins: After that frantic start the match has settled down somewhat, and with that, Australia are making one or two individual errors.
21 mins: A second break in play this half for a nasty looking collision, this time Catley and Giovanna coming together near the touchline.
19 mins: Brazil have a robustness about them which has to be matched, especially in central areas, and on a couple of occasions they have muscled Australia out of 50-50s. They also have oodles of skill, like Tamires showboating a nutmeg on the left that wrong-foots her hapless victim and a second prone gold jersey. Lovely stuff.
17 mins: Yellow card to Kennedy - and it was at least a yellow. Clear professional foul against Giovanna Crivelari, bringing her direct opponent down as she burst past halfway with little between her and Lydia Williams. The incident came about following some high-octane end-to-end football after Brazil had a corner on their right that turned into a dangerous Australian counter. A better ball into the box would have led to a clear chance for the Matildas, but after that was cut out, Fowler was robbed in possession and all shape was lost in transition.
Updated
15 mins: Excellent play between the lines from the Matildas. Kerr is key, dropping deep to accept the vertical pass, but shifting it on first time to keep the move flowing. Ahead of her there are runners like Yallop stretching the Brazil defence and making sure there’s plenty of room for ball carriers like Catley to move in. Promising signs.
13 mins: From the corner Brazil fail to clear their lines and after a series of ricochets the ball lands nicely for Mary Fowler but she drags her effort wide from the penalty spot. Two good chances early on for the Matildas.
11 mins: Leticia is shaken, but she’s carrying on. Simon shows no remorse, attempting to lob the goalkeeper from 35m out, but it deflected off a Brazilian head and floated wide.
9 mins: Yallop has to score, but after being played in behind she strikes straight at Leticia 1-on-1. Moreover, as she followed through attempting to hurdle the Brazilian No 1 Yallop accidentally planted a knee in the keeper’s face. Superb goalkeeping, technical and brave. That was a massive opportunity missed.
9 mins: Australia continue to press. There’s good control in midfield to prevent Brazil from clearing their lines. From repeat incursions Catley benefits from a ricochet to whip in a dangerous cross from the left that is bravely headed clear.
7 mins: The floaty corner is claimed comfortably by Letícia. Bright start from Australia, plenty of energy and dynamic running.
6 mins: Lovely touch from Kerr allows Yallop to run in behind but the Matildas are then happy to travel 95m backwards to retain possession. From the recycle Carpenter is again the outlet down the right and her cross is pushed behind for a corner.
4 mins: The first decent ball into the box is from Brazil. Carpenter was caught out of position and the ball in behind the fullback was well weighted for Tamires to run onto and dart to the byline. Her pullback was smuggled clear.
2 mins: Australia - lining up with a flat back-four - are on the front-foot early. A couple of early raids, one of particular note down the right from Carpenter, demonstrate Gustavsson’s desire to play to a high tempo from the off. Plenty of nervous energy out in the middle.
Kick-off!
We’re underway in Parramatta...
No shortage of experience for the Matildas tonight.
Most @TheMatildas A appearances when #AUSvBRA kicks off:
— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) October 23, 2021
151 Cheryl Salisbury
150 Lisa DeVanna
137 CLARE POLKINGHORNE
130 Heather Garriock
113 Elise KellondKnight
110 Jo Peters
108 Emily vanEgmond
102 KYAH SIMON, Anissa Tann
101 SAM KERR
100 ALANNA KENNEDYhttps://t.co/UZyoNmIA6z
Australia, ranked 11th, are in their traditional gold shirts, green shorts and gold socks tonight. Brazil in blue-white-blue.
Plenty of noise around the stadium for Brazil’s national anthem. The Seleção Feminina are ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, but they are lining up tonight with one eye on the future ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Out stride the Matildas, led by Alanna Kennedy on the occasion of her 100th cap. Brazil follow closely behind. International football - in Australia!
Parramatta Stadium is ace and conditions there are warm and dry after a hot clear day. That said, there are some showers knocking around the forecast later on.
We've rolled out the green carpet for #AUSvBRA tonight 🌱#WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/m7PWbmH2B2
— CommBank Stadium (@commbankstadium) October 23, 2021
Speaking of Emma, she’s in situ at Parramatta Stadium. You can read her thoughts on tonight’s action at full-time.
Back in a stadium tra la la la la #AUSvBRA pic.twitter.com/vWOwSpUMku
— Emma Kemp (@emmavkemp) October 23, 2021
The Guardian’s Emma Kemp has called for transparency from Football Australia as investigations proceed.
Until now, too many investigations have failed to restore our trust in sporting institutions. Rather, they have tried to politically manage our mistrust, which has only made us all the more mistrustful. With the right approach, FA can help change this.
Back to those allegations of abuse that shroud tonight’s contest.
.@AlannaKennedy reaches cap number💯 tonight, making her debut back in 2012! #AUSvBRA #WeAreMatildas #GoMatildas pic.twitter.com/Gh523CdbW0
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 23, 2021
Here’s a more fulsome match preview from Emma Kemp:
Brazil are foes from way back – 1988, to be exact – and familiar both in style and personnel. Formiga – who, at 43, made a record seventh Olympics appearance – has retired but Marta is still going, and the energy still contains traces of Australia’s controversial quarter-final penalty-shootout loss at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
There are other subplots, too, as Kerr – a regular scorer with Women’s Super League side Chelsea – chases Tim Cahill’s Australian international all-time goal-scoring record 0f 50. Sitting on 48 international goals, a hat-trick would do the trick.
Defender Alanna Kennedy will mark a milestone of her own when she makes her 100th appearance, becoming the 11th Australian woman to do so and joining current teammates Clare Polkinghorne (136), Elise Kellond-Knight(113), Emily van Egmond (108), Kyah Simon (101) and Kerr (100).
Line-ups
STARTING XI 🗒
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 23, 2021
Here's how we line up for #AUSvBRA@AlannaKennedy captains the side in her 100th cap! #WeAreMatildas #GoMatildas
⏰ Acorda, Brasil...
— Seleção Feminina de Futebol (@SelecaoFeminina) October 23, 2021
As #GuerreirasDoBrasil 🇧🇷 estão escaladas para o primeiro jogo preparatório contra a Austrália!
A bola rola às 5h45 e você assiste ao vivo na tela da @tvglobo e do @SporTV. Preparadas? pic.twitter.com/LBXj7h4Crn
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia’s friendly against Brazil from Parramatta. Kick-off is 7.50pm.
On paper this is a routine friendly on the road to World Cup 2023 for one of Australia’s most popular national teams, but that belies plenty of significance on and off the pitch for the Matildas.
Coach Tony Gustavsson has won just two of his 12 matches in charge, and last time out his side slumped to a 3-2 defeat to an Ireland side ranked many places below Australia on the FIFA rankings. He carries with him a level of goodwill and an absence of scrutiny that managers around the world can only dream of, but that will change eventually if results do not improve.
Even more concerning is what has happened off the field in recent weeks following allegations by Lisa De Vanna that she was subjected to sexual harassment, indecent assault, grooming and bullying from senior players throughout her career. The spotlight is on Football Australia, and they must handle the response appropriately or risk eroding faith in the game’s most significant property.
I’ll be back with more shortly, but if you would like to join in, you can reach me by email or Twitter (@JPHowcroft), just like David has.
Empty now. Soon to be full/ish. @JPHowcroft #matildas pic.twitter.com/FNvS0tIQez
— david munk (@davidmunk) October 23, 2021
