Time for me to sign off then, leaving you with a quick match report on a very promising performance from Australia as they begin their defence of the Tournament of Nations with a win.
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I’d love to bring you more reaction from Kansas City but my TV feed has disappeared. The host broadcaster already getting excited about the US taking on Japan, presumably.
Good result all round for @TheMatildas
— Anna Harrington (@AnnaHarrington) July 26, 2018
Generally dominated ✔️
Scored from open play ✔️
Got Foord back out there ✔️
Fowler made her debut ✔️
Got the win ✔️
Can cop the late goal given changes in personnel, quality of opposition etc. Strong first-up effort. #ToN2018
In the end the scoreline perhaps flattered Australia a touch but once that early own goal went in they were always in control.
It was a strong performance from front to back with Kerr once again dominating in attack, ably supported by a well-organised midfield and defence. The frequency of Brazilian incursions towards the end of both halves will concern Alen Stajcic but despite the ability of Marta in particular to break lines Australia’s defence held firm more often than not.
It’s a tribute to how far this team has come that later on I’m going to be complaining about things they should have done better in a game where they beat Brazil 3-1.
— Nice Orange (@AardigOranje) July 26, 2018
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Aus controlled that game well. Ball movement and passing in general was exceptional today. Particularly liked how we played out from the back with confidence. So good to see @CaitlinFoord back on park too. Well done @TheMatildas, next up... @ussoccer_wnt #ToN2017
— Sarah Walsh (@swalshy9) July 26, 2018
Brazil 1-3 Australia
Full time in Kansas City and it’s a hard fought 3-1 victory to the Matildas.
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94 min: Is that Brazil’s last hope gone? Dangerous free-kick opportunity to the left of the penalty area but the cross ends safely in Williams’ gloves.
93 min: This is a moment to remember. On comes 15-year old Mary Fowler for her Matildas debut, in place of the magnificent Sam Kerr.
90+2 min: That’ll do for Australia, time ebbing away and Borini steams into Kerr, conceding a free-kick and receiving a yellow card for her troubles.
90 min: Five minutes of added time to be played.
89 min: Foord has to put the game to bed but she can’t finish with the goal at her mercy. Of course the chance originates from the effervescent Kerr who squares the ball for Chidiac or Foord to bury but the latter takes a touch too many and Brazil get the numbers around the ball to clear.
87 min: It’s getting a little tense and nervy out there with Brazil showing their frustration at every call going against them and Australia struggling to retain possession. The final whistle can’t come soon enough now for the Matildas.
86 min: Thaisa booked for dissent after a late challenge by Camila. Foord on for Logarzo who played superbly.
85 min: How did Brazil not score!? Mesmerising dribble from Marta in the inside-right channel leads to a square ball for Beatriz to tap home but Williams is in the right place at the right time and the finish is straight at the Australian keeper. Let-off for the Matildas who are starting to buckle.
83 min: Brazil aren’t giving up without a fight. A couple of corners from their left require defending but it’s the second balls, not the initial crosses, that cause the most issues for Australia. Eventually Beatriz spins and fires wide to provide some respite.
@JPHowcroft Sam Kerr is thr complete CF, always running at, jumping into defenders, pulling wide or dropping deep. She is impossible to contain with that workrate
— Kaptin Yap (@K_Yeezey) July 26, 2018
Agreed. Showed her class again today.
81 min: Another change for Brazil with Kathellen coming on for Daiane.
GOAL! Brazil 1-3 Australia (Debinha, 79)
Lovely stuff. The move of the match so far leads to a Brazilian goal. Superb skill in midfield by Thaisa to create space and then feed Marta down the left with a piercing long ball. Marta nips down the outside and drives in a near post cross that Debinha runs on to perfectly to steer home. Game on?
79' | Brazil pulls one back! Marta dances past a defender and gets a low cross in, and Debinha is there to slot it home.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 26, 2018
🇧🇷 1-3 🇦🇺 | #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/VDiC2N1Nfv
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74 min: More subs, this time Chidiac for Butt for Australia and Joyce for Tamires for Brazil.
73 min: Couple of chances at either end. First Brazil struggle to deal with an Australian corner (not for the first time) and then Marta sets Adriana through the middle of the Matildas’ defence before Williams comes out to smother bravely after smart bodywork from Carpenter.
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71 min: One of the challenges of operating the minute-by-minute is you don’t really get the chance to savour every replay available. An example of this is how little credit I gave Butt for her inch-perfect through-ball for Kerr’s goal. It was a superb pass, perfectly timed and weighted, inviting Kerr to drive towards goal.
68 min: Marta has been on the receiving end of a few challenges in quick succession. As per Clare’s email at half-time, she does make sure she gives the referee every opportunity to award the free-kick.
Second sub for the Matildas. Lisa De Vanna replacing the excellent Hayley Raso.
67 min: The crowd perks up when they spy the American side striding out for a little warm up. The US take on Japan following the conclusion of this match.
65 min: Brazil are definitely growing into the contest again, the substitutions shaking things up in their favour. Australia don’t look like buckling though, Carpenter the latest to show her poise in the face of danger, adroitly extricating her side from danger on the right side of defence.
63 min: Half-chance for Brazil resulting from a free-kick near the corner flag but the wayward finish from Daiane wouldn’t have counted anyway had it gone in because the defender was offside.
61 min: That’s obviously a cue for Brazil to up their game, first through Adriana down the right, then via Tamires down the left.
Second change for Brazil with the talented Camila replacing Andressinha.
59 min: After that chance early in the half Brazil have offered nothing going forward. Again credit has to go to Australia’s hard-working midfield and well-organised defence.
57 min: Katrina Gorry replaces Kiyah Simon for Australia. Simon one of three Matildas booked so far today.
53 min: The Matildas really laying down a marker to the rest of the Tournament of Nations with this performance. It will be interesting to watch how the US in particular figure out how to contain Kerr in this form.
Meanwhile, Kellond-Knight is the third Australian into the book for the second clear-cut professional foul on an advancing Brazilian, and the first substitution of the game sees Adriana enter in place of Thaisinha.
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GOAL! Brazil 0-3 Australia (Kerr, 50)
Bosh! Sam Kerr, just too good. Brazil leave too much space behind their defence in that right-hand channel and Kerr takes full advantage. A quick counter attack ends with Butt feeding the ball through to Kerr and instead of dragging wide for a cross she arrows on goal and buries a rasping finish into the roof of the net. Blistering stuff from the best player on the park.
50' | Tameka Butt threads a beautiful ball through Brazil's defense to find @samkerr1, who drills the top of the net to make it three.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 26, 2018
🇧🇷 0-3 🇦🇺 | #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/Lni8twNeV8
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49 min: First chance of the half goes to Brazil. Sloppy giveaway from Kennedy allows Brazil to counter but after good work from Beatriz, Debinha can’t fire a shot off.
48 min: Australia begin the half on the front foot, down the left for a change, perhaps searching for the couple of metres of shade down that flank with the rest of the pitch bathed in midsummer sunshine.
46 min: Second half underway in Kansas. No changes from either side.
“Solid half from the Matildas and showing the composed style of play that was missing at points during the Asian Cup,” emails Clare Lawrence. “Marta might be one of the best players but I can’t move past her overdramatised falling and berating of referees, both today and in years gone. Another goal (or three!) for Australia would be great.” Marta does ensure officials recognise when contact has been made, but compared to other Brazilian no.10s it’s positively Corinthian behaviour.
That was a very impressive half for Alen Stajcic and the Matildas who have their tactics spot on. All the attacking focus in down the right hand side where Raso and Kerr are working the channel between centre-half and fullback to great effect. The final delivery has often been found wanting but it’s clear there are scoring opportunities on the horizon, especially as Brazil’s defence tires.
Elsewhere, the midfield has been compact and combative but a couple of cheap bookings could invite problems later on, and we saw Brazil starting to exploit space in transition as half time neared. The defence was solid, marshalled by Kennedy and Polkinghorne, both of whom have been outstanding.
Half time - Brazil 0-2 Australia
Excellent half for Australia, grinding out a 2-0 lead at the break courtesy of a brace of goals from Kellond-Knight corners. Brazil grew into the game and fashioned two decent chances late in the half and will not feel out of it by any stretch.
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43 min: There’s some penetration! Marta at full flight running through Australia’s defence from halfway, capitalising on Williams’ weak clearance, but Kennedy does enough to narrow the angle of the shot and the Brazilian superstar drags her left-footed shot wide. The clearest and best of three opportunities for Brazil this half.
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41 min: That goal arrived somewhat against the run of play but for all Brazil’s possession in innocuous positions there has been little penetration. By contrast Kerr is causing problems whenever she’s near the ball and Raso is proving an excellent foil.
GOAL! Brazil 0-2 Australia (Butt, 39)
Another corner, another goal, Tameka Butt this time profiting from chaos in the Brazilian box and more dodgy keeping from Barbara. The set-piece was swung over from the left, Barbara flapped and missed, Daiane failed to clear and Butt stooped to conquer, nodding the ball into an empty net.
38' | Another one for @TheMatildas! Corner kick taken by Emily Van Egmond and Tameka Butt was there to finish.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 26, 2018
🇧🇷 0-2 🇦🇺 | #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/5yiChLHLmX
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35 min: Second booking of the day for Australia and this one is much more straightforward with Van Egmond tugging back the advancing Marta in the middle of the park.
34 min: Kerr wants a penalty for a bodycheck in the box but the referee’s not interested and Barbara clears. The Matildas regroup though and once again plough that furrow down the right but Raso’s cross is headed clear.
33 min: Australia have wilted a little in the past 5-10 minutes, inviting Brazil into the contest. It’s a passage of play that allows Marta to display her sumptuous playmaking skills down the left but Debinha can’t take full advantage and the Matildas clear.
30 min: Save by Williams! First clear chance of the half for Brazil, Beatriz, Marta and then finally Andressinha smuggling the ball forward after Australia fail to clear a long-ball. With plenty of hustle Andressinha engineered space on the edge of the box but her shot was too close to Williams who held on well diving to her right.
27 min: Kiyah Simon is the first booking of the day, victim of some over zealous refereeing after Marta’s exaggerated fall.
24 min: Australia almost nab a second but Butt can’t get enough on her header from point-blank range after Kerr’s good work following Kellond-Knight’s free-kick. Brazil need to figure out how to deal with Kerr’s pace in the final third, she always seems to find time and space.
23 min: Australia’s organisation and midfield energy is denying Brazil any opportunity to build an attack. A couple of transitional opportunities end with an advancing Brazilian retreating to retain possession and whenever a risk is taken an Australian boot is on hand to disrupt play.
20 min: Again Australia’s right wing is the source of joy. Raso combining with Carpenter once more, allowing the latter to whip in a cross. It doesn’t lead to a chance but Australia’s set-up ensures the ball doesn’t go far before it’s met by a green shirt and recycled. It’s been an excellent opening quarter for Alen Stajcic’s tactics.
16 min: Australia are hogging the right touchline, taking every opportunity to exploit Kerr’s pace in behind Daiane. The interplay between Kerr, Raso and Carpenter has been impressive so far.
13 min: Australia’s physicality in the middle of the park has been an early feature. Led by Logarzo and Van Egmond, Brazil are being given no time settle on the ball.
10 min: Australia are getting joy down the right hand side and another promising move almost ends in a goal to Kerr at the far post. Brazil struggling to hang on right now.
GOAL! Brazil 0-1 Australia (Poliana OG, 9)
Australia take the lead! Left-footed inswinging corner from the right from Kellond-Knight reaches the top of the six-yard box and Poliana glances a header beyond the stranded Barbara.
9' | A great cross from Elise Kellond-Knight forces an own goal to put @TheMatildas in front early in the match.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 26, 2018
🇧🇷 0-1 🇦🇺 | #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/oXk0IUPmZL
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6 min: The Matildas have had a couple of decent free-kick crossing opportunities down the right but Brazil have dealt with them well. They’re less convincing from open play though with Kerr bursting towards the corner and whipping in a dangerous cross but Simon can’t get a shot away in time.
4 min: First sight of goal for the night goes to Debinha who was played in with a beautiful through-ball from Beatriz but her shot from a narrow angle was off balance and she slices wide. Half-hearted claims for a penalty but nothing doing.
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2 min: Brazil try to catch Australia unaware from the kick-off by dribbling straight for goal but Clare Polkinghorne is having none of it and strides out imperiously to block before sending Sam Kerr away down the left. Nothing comes of a promising move and both teams settle into their patterns.
Kick off!
We’re underway in Kansas...
The Westfield Matildas today are wearing black armbands in memory of Steph Catley’s father, who sadly lost his life to a battle with cancer recently. May he rest in peace.
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 26, 2018
Catley withdrew from the Matildas squad earlier this week.
The anthems have been belted out, which means kick-off is a matter of seconds away.
The players are in the tunnel, Brazil in their iconic yellow shirts, blue shorts and white socks, Australia top to toe in dark green with that *futuristic* yellow highlighter pen sash, like something borrowed from one of the recent failed contenders for a new New Zealand flag.
For Brazil the headline act will once again be five-time World Player of the Year Marta, scorer of an incredible 110 international goals. Other names to look out for include the prolific Debinha, and the influential Camila, who is named as a substitute as she continues her comeback from a torn ACL.
Other names to look out for if they receive minutes off the bench are 15-year old Mary Fowler and 16-year old Amy Sayer, stars of the future who reinforce Stajcic’s reputation as a coach prepared to put his faith in young players.
Sam Kerr will inevitably be the centre of attention in Kansas. She dominated last year’s Tournament of Nations and her good form has shown no sign of going anywhere. Kerr is leading the race for the NWSL Golden Boot, was recently nominated for FIFA’s best women’s player award, and a few days ago collected an ESPY.
Australian fans will be hoping for more trademark somersaults during the next 90 minutes.
Brazil XI
Se liga na escalação da #SeleçãoFeminina para o jogão de daqui a pouco! Bola rola 17h15 para Brasil x Austrália e você vê AO VIVO em https://t.co/8JGEihDKZX #GigantesPorNatureza pic.twitter.com/817Z0Z4E4o
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) July 26, 2018
Australia XI
Australia, your starting XI is in!
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 26, 2018
⚽ Brazil v @TheMatildas
⌚ 6:15am Friday 27 July (AEST)
📺 @FOXFOOTBALL 507#GoMatildas #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/3Afl3tkgRs
Warning: This video may result in extreme hype. #ToN2018 is here. pic.twitter.com/jb0kWCVIwK
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 26, 2018
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the opening match of the 2018 Tournament of Nations.
Today’s contest pits defending champions Australia against South American powerhouses Brazil. Kick off at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City is 3.15pm local time (Thursday), AKA 6.15am Friday morning in Australia. All of which means I’m up at the crack of dawn and there will be little waffling from me before the action gets underway.
As mentioned, the Matildas are the defending Tournament of Nations champions after taking out the inaugural competition in 2017 with victories over Japan, Brazil and the US. For the second year running the same quartet of teams have ventured stateside which should guarantee a competitive round-robin series featuring four of the top-eight ranked nations in the world.
After a tumultuous end to 2017, Brazil are unbeaten so far in 2018, a run that includes blitzing the Copa América Femenina. They scored at least three goals in every game on their way to securing a place at next year’s World Cup finals in France, conceding only twice in seven matches for good measure. Brazil’s last defeat came at the hands of their opponents today, back in September last year.
Australia’s form in 2018 has fallen below the standards set last year. A draw and a defeat to Portugal saw the Matildas finish fourth at the Algarve Cup, and although they progressed to the final of the Asian Cup - before losing to eventual champions Japan - performances were patchy. This is the first opportunity since that final defeat for Alen Stajcic to show his side is worthy of the considerable hype.
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