Key events
73 mins: Brazil might struggle to field a team with Yasmim the latest to go down and need a stretcher. If it isn’t cramp, it’s a hamstring injury. And the distress on her face suggests it’s the latter.
70 mins: Gio brings Carpenter down again, this time with a heavy bump, but avoids a second yellow despite the Australian protests. The Brazilians clear the free kick from the box and, like they have done throughout, look dangerous on the counter. The Matildas get back just in time to close down the danger, but it has been a recurring problem.
68 mins: Nice build up from the hosts as Freier has lifted the tempo since coming on. Catley over hits the cross. The Matildas have had enough time in their forward half without having the polish to create enough chances.
66 mins: Another substitution for the Matildas with Tameka Yallop replacing Van Egmond. Moments later, Winonah Heatley is in a spot of bother and needs some attention. Don’t think she’s going to see out the 90 mins.
65 mins: The tireless Carpenter powers across the halfway mark but is brought down with a classic professional foul. The goalscorer Gio picks up a booking.
62 mins: Clare Polkinghorne’s football career comes to a close as the Matildas veteran waves to all sides of Suncorp Stadium with Sharn Freier coming on.
61 mins: Raso gets on the end of a couple of chances but gives the first away with a heavy touch in the box. The attacker’s blushes are spared with an offside flag. But a second opportunity is almost gifted to her as Adriana gives the ball away with her first touch. Raso tries to take the shot quickly but is too far out and scuffs the shot wide for a goal kick.
59 mins: Natascha is unable to continue, I’m not sure why, and has been replaced. Amanda Gutierres also makes way after scoring her first two goals for Brazil in just her third match, with Adriana coming on.
Goal! Australia 1-3 (Gio ’56)
The zippy Gio pounces on Alanna Kennedy trying to make her way out of defence and creates a turnover out of nothing. There is little cover with the Matildas already making their way up the pitch, but even after Kennedy races back to closes down the likely shot, Gio has the composure to round the defender and fire into the back of the net. Not for the first time, the Matildas have been their own worst enemy.
55 mins: Caitlin Foord and Vitoria Calhau go into the book for their persistent tangles. It has been entertaining to watch, but the cards had been coming for a while.
53 mins: Carpenter is finding plenty of space down the right but rather than taking more ground this time quickly releases to Foord to carry the ball into the box. Raso almost gets on the end of the cut back but the ball goes behind her and Brazil clear.
51 mins: Polkinghorne clears a chip kick and the rebound off Gio goes out for a goalkick. But the referee has missed it and awards a corner. Brazil work the ball around rather than sending in a cross and a shot from Gutierres sails over the crossbar. That would’ve hurt if it went any lower.
49 mins: Carpenter steams down the right flank and cuts a cross back to Foord standing in front of goal. With fast feet the Matildas striker almost gets around the swarming Brazilian defenders, but unlike in the first half, this time they keep their feet and block the avenue to goal.
47 mins: Hayley Raso picks up where she left off, the combative competitor bringing down Duda Sampaio with a firm challenge.
Peeeeeeeeeep! Here we go again. More of the same please.
Jack Snape
Jack Snape is at Suncorp Stadium and has learned that Clare Polkinghorne isn’t alone in being recognised for a lofty contribution to Australian football, sending us the following:
Former Socceroo Craig Foster was one of four people inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in a ceremony before the match. The broadcaster and human rights advocate took the opportunity to call on the football community to support refugees and minority or persecuted groups.
“If there’s any game in this country that’s going to fight for them, surely it’s us,” Foster said. “If there’s any game that’s going to fight for First Nations rights, surely it’s us. If there’s any game that’s going to stand with the African communities when demonised, or anything that happens around the world, guys, it has to be us.”
Others inducted were women’s refereeing pioneer Jenny Bray, football administrator Ian Holmes, and the late Alex Pongrass, a key figure in the creation of the National Soccer League.
Half-time: Australia 1-2 Brazil
A rollicking first half comes to an end with the visitors leading by the narrowest of margins in Clare Polkinghorne’s farewell match. Brazilian striker Amanda Gutierres proved the difference early with a pair of lethal strikes as Australia were unable to deal with her pace and well-timed runs on the counter.
The Matildas pushed hard to stay in the game, even while leaving themselves too often exposed at the back, and were well worth their goal as the break approached. Ellie Carpenter created the opportunity out of very little after competing hard, twice, against a pair of Brazilian defenders, as Caitlin Foord was sublime in making room for herself to finish from the edge of the six-yard box.
There was plenty of heat in the match from the early exchanges but as battles simmered away all over the pitch, especially where Hayley Raso and Vitoria Calhau were nearby, this looms as a fiery a second half. The Matildas will want to tight up at the back, but otherwise this is still very much game on!
52 mins: Carpenter is the first to pounce on a loose ball after Raso is caught up in a battle near the corner flag with two Brazilian defenders. The Matildas wing-back streams into the penalty box but the referee closes down the advantage with a foul back near the sideline. Tom Sermanni is raging, a rare sight, but a sure sign that this clash won’t be cooling down after the break.
50 mins: Chance for Brazil but this time Gutierres fires wide. The striker has impressed with her touch and involvement in the better Brazilian build up play, as well as being the difference across the first half with two lethal strikes.
48 mins: Vitoria Calhau is one of several Brazilians happy to play a physical game and she has somehow avoided a caution there even after wrapping her arms around Hayley Raso as Australia are looking to break. The pair get to their feet and stare each other down with little being said, but there is plenty of heat in this contest.
45 mins: There will be seven minutes added time after Marilia had to be helped from the field and to account for several long periods as players have taken a breather on the grass. The Matildas look displeased as Raso is knocked to ground away from the play, but the referee isn’t interested in investigating their case further.
Goal! Australia 1-2 Brazil (Foord ’43)
The Matildas have worked hard for that and none moreso than Ellie Carpenter. The wing-back beats two Brazilians near the corner flag, not once but twice, and sends a low dart across the box. Van Egmond might have take the shot from a narrow angle but leaves the ball, perhaps in hope, perhaps after hearing a call, and Foord collects near the spot. With a shimmy and swivel, she sends two defenders the wrong way and scores in the bottom right corner. A classy, composed goal from the Australian.
40 mins: Brazil are able to use the full length of the pitch, as well as the width, with Natascha presenting as an option at the back. The scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of what has been a frenetic first half, and it’s understandable that the visitors might want to slow things down, even as the crowd collectively call for them to get a hurry on.
38 mins: The Matildas haven’t had much trouble getting into the Brazilian penalty box but can’t quite put the finishing touches on their best moves. Foord shows her frustration at the close checking from Isa Hass but the referee waves away her appeals and points to the corner flag. Brazil clear the cross.
35 mins: Cooney-Cross cuts out a pass in the middle of the pitch and quickly releases to find Raso in space in front of her. The forward draws two defenders and looks to send Van Egmond into space next but the midfielder isn’t on the same wave length and the opportunity goes begging.
33 mins: Brazil are happy to play out from the back even under intense pressure from the Matildas. Goalkeeper Natascha looks as comfortable with the ball at her feet as anyone, and is spending as much time outside the penalty box to be part of the build as near her goalline.
31 mins: Hayley Raso cuts through the Brazilian defence but their goalkeeper Natascha comes screaming off her line. The pair meet 20m from the edge of the penalty box as the glovewoman is fortunate to go to ground and get a clearing kick away. Natascha has come off second best and for the second time in as many minutes is calling for treatment.
28 mins: Foord looks the main danger drifting into the left channel almost has a sight on goal before being called offside. Catley is working well with her club teammate and finds space in the penalty box with a speedy underlap but the Brazilian defence are quick to close down the threat. It hardly feels like a 0-2 scoreline, but the visitors have simply been more clinical.
26 mins: Portilho is back on the pitch as soon as she went off and racing along the right win gives Clare Hunt a good test for pace. The resulting corner turns into chaos in the six-yard box as the Matildas take time to clear.
24 mins: Gabi Portilho is the next Brazilian to hit the turf after a coming together with Caitlin Foord. This one looks like a knock to the quad and the Matildas return the ball to the Brazilian defence after another delay.
21 mins: Australia are on the attack again and Winonah Heatley’s eyes light up as she carries the ball into the penalty box. Marilia makes a last-ditch tackle to block the shot and stays on the deck as a stretcher is called. Another Brazilian youngster in Gio is called into the action as her replacement. Brazil cleaner the corner kick.
18 mins: Mackenzie Arnold is called on again after the Matildas give the ball away too easily in their own half but the goalkeeper tidies up. She takes a seat and will need some treatment while both sides take an opportunity to rehydrate in the hot and humid conditions.
15 mins: The Matildas have had little difficulty getting the ball into the Brazilian penalty box but so far have lacked anything like the cutting edge of the visitors. Catley is the main outlet on the left but has been unable to find Foord in front of goal with a pair of crosses. Australia can’t make anything of the corner.
Goal! Australia 0-2 Brazil (Gutierres ’13)
Once again Brazil turn defence into attack as Foord as time inside the box to pick out Catley but the right-back’s shot is blocked. In next to no time, Gutierres picks up the ball inside the box and, despite Arnold getting a hand to the ball, rockets a second into the far corner.
9 mins: Another counterattack for Brazil and Gutierres is through the defensive line again. This time Arnold beats the forward to the ball and there is added respite when a flag is waved for offside. But there are enough early warnings of what’s to come for the Matildas.
Goal! Australia 0-1 Brazil (Gutierres ‘6)
Foul against Caitlin Foord at the other end might have gone Australia’s way but Brazil are awake to the quick restart to slice open the Matildas defence. Amanda Gutierres times her run perfectly to burst through the line and leaving Arnold trying to beat the Brazilian to the ball. Gutierres gets their first, rounds the keeper and slots home with her left boot from the same side.
4 mins: Amanda Gutierres gets the first shot of the night away from the edge of the penalty box. There isn’t enough power though and Mackenzie Arnold barely has to move before collecting with ease.
2 mins: The Matildas lock the ball forward without creating anything resembling a threat. Once Brazil get the ball at their feet they’re happy to pass it around and give everyone a touch. Works at all levels.
Peeeeeeeeep! We’re underway at Suncorp Stadium. The Matildas start in a 3-4-3 formation with wing-backs Carpenter and Catley pushing straight into the midfield. Brazil line up with a familiar 4-3-3.
The national anthems are done, the Polkinghorne has won the toss, the captains are delivering their last-minute instructions.
The no-frills defender Clare Polkinghorne keeps it short n sweet as she says her thank yous and demands that it’s time to get down to business.
Just a few quick words from me because we’ve got a game to get on with. It’s so special for me to be here and to celebrate in front of my home fans, in a city I grew up and in and stadium that I absolutely love.
This team has been everything to me. It’s been a hell of a journey and I’m very thankful for everything that everyone has done along the way. So thank you very much and let’s get on with it.
The Matildas have swapped out of their Clare Polkinghorne tribute tshirts and into their more familiar gold-with-a-dash-of-green jerseys. Brazil are dressed in their blue kit with white shorts as both sides line up to acknowledge the Australian defender ahead of her 168th and final football match.
From one great to another, former Brisbane Broncos rugby league star Darren Lockyer and swimmer Susie O’Neill hand Polkinghorne memorabilia to mark the occasion of her farewell match, and set a high benchmark for surprises we might see this evening (it turns out they were Polkinghorne’s childhood heroes).
The Matildas are building up to another international tournament on home soil with the Asian Cup just 15 months away, while Brazil are taking steps towards hosting the next Women’s World Cup in 2027.
But the early signs are that this will be a celebration of the career of a hometown hero at Suncorp Stadium. There is, after all, only one Clare Polkinghorne!
Samantha Lewis has been following the Matildas since well before they were cool and has dug deep into her notebooks to pull out a close look at their history of clashes with Brazil. The blue touch paper was lit on the rivalry during the Women’s World Cup 2007 when Australia reached the quarter-finals for the first time (spoiler alert: Brazil were runners-up).
Their first opponents in the knockout stage were Brazil: a team who have since become one of the Matildas’ longest-standing rivals, and who were led, back then, by the great Marta, who would go on to win the tournament’s Golden Boot and MVP awards.
Australia lost that game 3-2 – not a boilover, by any stretch – with the core of that team going on to become the country’s first Asian Champions just three years later.
Brazil XI
Brazil: Natascha (gk); Fe Palermo, Isa Hass, Vitoria Calhau, Yasmim (capt); Laís Estevam, Duda Sampaio, Marilia; Gabi Portilho, Aline Gomes, Amanda Gutierres
Matildas XI
Clare Polkinghorne starts and wears the captain’s armband in her 168th and last appearance for Australia. The defender scored in the Matildas’ back-to-back friendlies against Brazil three years ago and no doubt would love another tonight to sign off in style.
Emily Van Egmond becomes the fourth player to make 150 appearances for the Matildas, drawing equal with Lisa De Vanna and now one cap behind Cheryl Salisbury. Winonah Heatley is very much at the other end of her career and will start after a debut against Germany last month amid a very defensive looking line up.
Matildas: Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter, Clare Polkinghorne (capt), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley; Emily Van Egmond, Winonah Heatley; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord.
While we can hope to see some fresh faces for the Matildas this evening, one of the true stalwarts of the side will be closing the curtain on an illustrious career in her home town Brisbane. Clare Polkinghorne will line up for the national side for the 168th time – a record number of caps for an Australian footballer – since making her debut in 2006.
Our own Jack Snape looks at Polkinghorne’s career in green and gold and what comes next for the former Australia captain (with some kind words from interim coach Tom Sermanni thrown in).
She is the defensive stalwart for the sporting team that has become Australia’s darling, yet after 18 years with the Matildas, Clare Polkinghorne has a clear-cut view of retirement: “I’ll definitely need a job.”
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the women’s international friendly between the Matildas and Brazil at Suncorp Stadium. This is the beginning of a two-match series between the highly-ranked teams, with the second clash to come on Sunday, as Australia return to Brisbane for the first time since the Women’s World Cup last year.
The Matildas and Brazil took different paths through the global showcase as the hosts reached the semi-finals and the visitors were knocked out at the group stage, though they have been heading in opposite directions since then. Brazil have risen to No 8 in the Fifa rankings after their silver medal at the Paris Games, while Australia have slumped to No 15 – their lowest ranking since 2007 – in part due to a disappointing Olympic campaign.
Australia are taking tentative steps towards regeneration since the departure of coach Tony Gustavsson and are likely to field a dash of the old mixed with the new tonight, especially with several stars sitting out. Mary Fowler has joined Cortnee Vine in taking a break from the Matilda’s four-match home series, while captain Sam Kerr is of course still recovering from an ACL injury.
Football Australia revealed about two hours ago that only 1,000 tickets remain for the friendly at Suncorp Stadium, so if you’re still intending to try your luck at the gate I suggest you run, don’t walk. The likely sell-out will make it the 15th home match in a row where the doors are shut behind the Matildas. A competitive showing, perhaps even a victory, feels increasingly critical to ensuring the sheen remains on the women’s team.
Kick-off time in Brisbane is 8pm local / 9pm AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news.
In the meantime, get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social and X @martinpegan. Let’s get into it!
