The Matildas and Brazil have added another fascinating chapter to their rivalry with a 2-2 draw to round out the friendly series.
Clare Polkinghorne scored yet again to get things started before a well-worked team goal was finished off by Sam Kerr. Despite the two-goal lead, Brazil had looked and continued to look formidable.
Their first well-deserved goal came off the head of Erika, the Matildas defensive line leaving the tall defender unmarked. Debinha added a second minutes later in chaotic fashion.
It was match that could have just as easily been for a spot in the next stage of a World Cup, such was the intensity, desperation, and fervour in the stands.
The final whistle didn’t just signal the end of the game but was the cue for fans to let out the breath they had been holding. It was a typically entertaining, breathtaking game between these two sides.
This series revealed that this rivalry is still a way off peaking. These contests still mean something even when they mean nothing.
That was one of a handful of pleasant revelations for the games. Kyra Cooney-Cross’ performance in the first game was another, as was Clare Wheeler’s shift in this second one.
This series also showed Australia its first glimpse at what the World Cup in 2023 could be like. These games were the first on Aussie soil since March 2020 but also the first since FIFA awarded the co-hosting rights to Australia and New Zealand.
They were a tangible reminder that the world would be on Australia’s doorstep sooner rather than later.
Clare Polkinghorne scores the opener (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
While this time around the excitement was at the return of the Matildas and of live sport to Sydney, it served as as good teaser of what is to come as any.
The passion of fans both home and away is set to explode as Australians get behind not only the Aussies but the teams of their birth or their parents, partners or mates. Australia’s multiculturalism will come to the fore in the full kaleidoscope of kits in the stands.
There will be contests you can’t take your eyes off of. There will be excitement and interest from the masses. Eyeballs glued to screens in lounge rooms and pubs and live sites. There’s so much to look forward to.
Luckily for the Matildas however, the World Cup isn’t here just yet. There is still time to work on deficiencies and continue to build strengths.
The likes of Mary Fowler, Cooney-Cross and Wheeler will earn more game time and, hopefully, continue to realise their potential.
Ellie Carpenter, with another season or two at Lyon, will become a tour de force.
The plethora of debutants that have been exposed to the camp environment and those that have taken to the pitch now know what is required of them.
They will have seasons to work on their game and potentially be the answers to the national side’s questions – whether that be at centre back, at defensive midfield, or even as a game changer off the bench.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
So too will Tony Gustavsson get to learn more about this team and the players, and what works and what doesn’t. There is still time for him to instil his philosophies and fine tune their application.
He’ll also have the benefit of knowing what an Australian crowd can do for the team.
This series offered plenty on the pitch: an enthralling contest, further evidence of areas to work on, impressive auditions from new and less-established players.
But perhaps what was more exciting was the glimpse into the future it offered.
Simoc
Guest
That was great fun for everyone. I'm so glad they seem to finally have a positive coach. If they can't think of ways to score goals they shouldn't be out there. That is how USA used to play so I'm hoping that gets instilled in this team as well. There is plenty of room for improvement and I like to see creative attacking players like Brazil seemed to have. Always willing to take on the defence and risk losing it. That's where the excitement comes from.
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
it's 2 from 14 if you discount extra time
whiskeymac
Guest
...because one was a Saturday night and the other was a Tuesday (school) night?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Son, let me spell in out for you. 1. Have a look at the recruitment that has gone down in the off-season. The team that Victory has compiled with Tony Popovic at helm, coupled with the side that City are packing, with a potential front 3 of Maclaren, Leckie and Tilio, if that doesn't pump up the Melbourne derby like steroids in a Russian athlete nothing will. Now broaden scope by one degree. The Smurfs have the delusional belief that the A-League revolves around them. They are the universal centre of Australian football in their special little world. They are of the belief that they were absolutely robbed of a GF win last season, when the honest reality is that City played their old boys off the park. So Sydney has delusional score to settle with City. Victory fans love Sydney like they do a poke in the eye, so now that they come packing some serious fire power and a Gaffer that will run rings around that gobby little bloke in charge of the Smurfs the Big Blue takes on new perspectives. Western United have recruited well, they want to prove their metal against anyone they can knock over and John Aloisi also is out to prove he can steer a successful side around the park. Adelaide dislike all of the above and they have always played a great brand of football, so they want to give it to the lot of them. Then their is Perth, with Messrs Sturridge and O'Neill recruited. What happens if Bruno Fornaroli and Sturridge start to combine and begin to slice and dice teams? Well, that means all the East Coast teams get uber competitive and know that it's game on. There there are my beloved Jets, Come on the lads!!! Nobody is talking about Newy. Have a look at who they have recruited and that includes Arthur Pappas, the shooting star of Australian football management. I reckon he has recruited some real unknown gems thanks to his network of football contacts, the Newy lads a going to possibly put the cat amongst the pidgeons. Then there is Brisbane, who have some extraordinary young talent, coupled with a very impressive Spanish fella. Without banging on forever, what this says is basically hang onto your hats, especially when you can get your football fix on the box for 8 bucks per month or 5 if your are an A-League club member. It's a no-brainer old mate.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
But why the big drop off in numbers? Is this what we can expect with the ALM?
stu
Guest
AA....I am thinking you should be exhausted by now. Sometimes the penny simply does not drop.
stu
Guest
Guppy, you comment bares more weight than you may think. What you highlight is an often made comment here that frankly I regret offering a response.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
you are right Ben. These fringe players, the ones not in a starting 11 OS need to have more game time at home. The expansion of the A League women, is a start. One of the biggest challenges for the APL is how to do that in a timely and cost effective manner.
Tezza
Guest
Peppa pig is probably beyond his mental capacity to understand
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
we can twist stats to reflect any narrative we want. but like i said 3/14 is not good enough for a team that everyone believes is capable of winning the world cup with (depending on who you ask, personally i rank her as #3) has the best womens player in the world
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
No Mates It was shown on Bold, and it actually came 2nd amongst the multis for the night, so it's a pretty good number. More importantly, TEN beat the ABC across the whole day, and by a decent margin too. I would suggest the Matildas contributed to that result.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
maybe he knows the Pepper Pig numbers because that's as much as his cerebral horsepower can handle
chris
Guest
His hobby is to have people react to his fake posts. I think its the only way people talk to him.
chris
Guest
Agree - Raso is a special player and would be first choice in the Matildas if fit.
AGO74
Guest
From a pure results and opponent perspective, we have a ~20% win ratio for the year where over 70% of the matches we played were against teams ranked in the top 10 (ie. +70% of opponents were ranked higher than us). Despite this, we achieved our best ever tournament finish of 4th in Olympics. What can be drawn from that? - Performing when it counts maybe?
Punter
Roar Rookie
LH, what a great post. We have a huge opportunity with the World cup here in 2023 to grow the women's game, unfortunately the media will only judge on results. This is a world game & for Australia to be in the top 10 in the world & have a player like Sam Kerr in the top 5 is tremendous for a sport that is really in the top 2-3 in this county.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I thought Raso was our best performer in Tokyo.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Quick question old mate, what’s the average number of views when all the felonies and misdemeanors of AFL and NRL are discussed weekly on the news. I agree with Jupiter’s last comment. I should have seen the light and encouraged my nephews play game that either A) as regular ties to underworld, drink drive and domestic violence incidents or B) has a 3 strikes and your out policy i.e. a player can legally try drug A, Drug B, but if they experiment with Drug C well then you are are in trouble. I mean Footscray and South Sydney are no brainers when compiling a list of the world’s sporting epi-centres. Get a hobby old mate.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
It has zero to do with clubs sides, we're talking international teams here lol i gave you a positive, he has introduced several new players lol reality? the reality is the matildas have a below than acceptable win percentage for a squad that has that much talent - including one of the best players in the world over a year in the job is plenty to have everything bedded in, especially for an international side that should be challenging for major honours. no other international team in the world (that is capable of winning a major trophy) is keeping a coach with a 3/14 record
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
different arguments though. the men have not got the quality to challenge at major international tournaments, the women do both sides have certain issues that get resolved with new coaches