Live: Spirited Matildas fall short of physical Brazil in 2-1 friendly defeat

This time around, that is.

“The difference, first and foremost, they gave a couple of early yellow cards, so that settled the game down a little bit,” Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni told 10.

“It was a very similar kind of contest … And I thought the good thing tonight was we finished strongly and I thought the subs that they brought I made a big impact”

Sermanni said there were a couple of times Australia got in some really great positions, but the final pass execution wasn’t there.

“The downfall of the way Brazil plays, if you get out of the pressure, there are real opportunities. And we got into positions to do that and we either, as I say, just took the wrong option sometimes, or just the passage wasn’t quite up to where it needed to be.”

While disappointed in the result, Tameka Yallop was a lot happier with her side’s performance tonight against Brazil than three nights ago facing the same opposition.

“We looked at the performance. There were some changes we made,” Yallop told 10.

“You saw that in the formation we came up with. I think was frustrating for us because we did create a lot of opportunities. There was possibly a few almost one-on-one situations there [where] if the play would have run on, we might have got a few chances.

“So, I think we did much better today creating those 100% chances than we did last game.”

Yallop added it’s always “really physical against Brazil” and they expect a high tempo game.

“They are top 10 team … It will always be a battle coming against them. We want to play top 10 teams, so that is what we wanted to do here on home soil as well.

“Disappointed we can get the result but I think we put out a better performance today.”

Post match, Emily van Egmond reflected briefly on how “lucky and fortunate” she’s been in her career, which saw her reach 150 appearances for the Matildas tonight.

“To be able to share it with these amazing girls, and some of the staff that have been able to play for many years, it is special,” van Egmond told 10.

“I’m just grateful to have been able to have the opportunity to do so.

She also added the Matildas were “probably unlucky” not the find the equaliser in the second half, impressed with how they played.

And that’s it. Brazil have secured their second win in a row against the Matildas in this friendlies series with a 2-1 victory.

Australia’s only goal coming from Hayley Raso.

Plenty to work on, plenty of promising signs.

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Ellie Carpenter, with the captain’s armband, is doing everything she can out there to save her side from a defeat.

She’s frantically trying to find an opportunity through for her side.

Teagan Micah, helping things, had another great save to keep the Matildas within a sniff of a draw.

It’s a fair chunk of extra time. Can the Matildas find the equaliser (and perhaps a winner) with it?

We’ll see.

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A free kick was awarded after a foul on Daniela Galic, right on the edge of the square.

Her opponent was a bit clumsy in her challenge.

Alanna Kennedy took the shot and looked good for a second there, but it was seen over the crossbar by the Brazilian keeper.

And in another repeat of Thursday’s match, there’s likely to be a decent amount of extra time added to this second half as play has stopped again.

It’s Brazil’s goalkeeper Lorena who is being looked at by trainers. She looks to be in a bit of discomfort.

Meanwhile, Ellie Carpenter is exchanging words with the referee, likely arguing for an appropriate amount of time added.

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Kyra Cooney-Cross had the ball picked off her by Brazil, who then took it straight towards Teagan Micah and looked dangerous. But it was blocked again (phew).

Daniela Galic had a shot down the other end, but it didn’t get far.

Then it was Emily Gielnik who looked to break the goal drought but Brazil’s goalkeeper Lorena held strong.

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There’s been some great defending out there as fatigue starts to set in to both sides.

Neither side can break through as we wait for a goal to come this second half (hopefully a Matildas one, or two).

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This is the 16th consecutive sellout crowd on home soil for the Matildas.

It feels like only yesterday they were playing in front of a few thousand.

Tonight, 25,297 fans came out on the Gold Coast. This side really have captured the hearts of the nation.

That would have been a great goal. 

17-year-old Daniela Galic – who has found herself coming off the bench as a sub in the last few games, ever since her debut this year – had a shot on target.

But it was successfully saved by Brazil’s goalkeeper.

Galic is one of the many new bodies on the pitch this second half, as half the side has been subbed. She’s going to be crucial in the new gen of Matildas.

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A Raso chance went begging as she found herself with the ball near the box but just couldn’t find the cut back.

Australia just need to find a way through and get the equaliser.

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The Matildas are struggling to break through and find the finishing touches.

Former player and commentator Grace Gill said they are just missing that crucial third touch.

“It’s not there at the moment,” said Gill on 10.

“It’s hurting them”.

Yet another defender is on the pitch after Charlie Grant enters play. With her, is Emily Gielnik and Daniela Galic.

Courtney Nevin, Michelle Heyman and Emily van Egmond have all come off.

The captain’s armband, off van Egmond, was passed around like a hot potatoe, which you’d think would end on the arm of Ellie Carpenter.

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The Matildas earned a free kick in a dangerous position when a foul was called on Tameka Yallop.

Alanna Kennedy took the kick but the ball went straight into the Brazilian wall. It came back in and ended up being kicked out of bounds.

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There’s been some high-pressured, high-energy play out there.

The Matildas defence managed a few dangerous minutes where the ball was just in front of Teagan Micah – particularly one piece of play where Brazil’s Adriana weaved around Sharn Freier and looked ready to shoot.

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That’s Brazil’s eight corner, which was successfully managed by the Matildas, while Australia are yet to have one.

Brazil attacking hard early this second half.

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