Australia vs Brazil friendly: No fairytale as young star’s brace breaks Matildas’ hearts in Brisbane

A celebration of retiring defender Clare Polkinghorne’s decorated career didn’t go to plan for the Matildas, who fell 3-1 to Brazil at Suncorp Stadium.

A celebration of retiring defender Clare Polkinghorne’s decorated career didn’t go to plan on Thursday night for the Matildas, who were beaten 3-1 by Brazil at Suncorp Stadium.

The Matildas paid the price for a slow start, with a Brazilian outfit happy to play the role of party poopers jumping to a 2-0 lead after just 13 minutes.

The hosts never properly recovered, suffering their first defeat under the interim coaching stint of Tom Sermanni.

Polkinghorne, who is retiring after an 18-year Matildas stint and a record 168 appearances for the national team, started the match and wore the captain’s armband.

She was given a standing ovation by the crowd of more than 47,000 when she was replaced 18 minutes into the second half by Brisbane Roar attacker Sharn Freier.

However, with the Matildas already trailing 3-1 at the stage, 35-year-old Polkinghorne didn’t soak up the moment for too long, with the Australians chasing the game and desperate to get on with a contest that was marred by several stoppages in play, with the Brazilians seemingly happy to go to ground as often as possible.

Brazil’s Marília da Cruz Furiel goes down, one of several stoppages throughout a long clash at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

The visitors finished the game – that included a combined total of almost 22 minutes of stoppage time across two halves – with a numerical disadvantage after defender Vitoria Calhau was sent off in the 87th minute for a second bookable offence.

However, the South Americans held on to win the first match of a two-game series that concludes on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.

Both of Brazil’s first half- goals were scored by striker Amanda Gutierres, with the first coming in the sixth minute when she comfortably rounded goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

Amanda Gutierres celebrates with teammate Aline Gomes after scoring the Brazil’s first goal. Picture: Getty Images

Gutierres completed her brace seven minutes later, taking advantage of the space afforded to her by a retreating Australian defence with an impressive first-time finish after being fed by teammate Aline Gomes.

The Matildas belatedly sprung to life and were rewarded with a goal in the 43rd minute from Arsenal striker Caitlin Foord.

Caitlin Foord celebrates scoring what was the Matildas’ only goal. Picture: Getty Images

Right-back Ellie Carpenter provided the cross, which van Egmond cleverly allowed to roll across the penalty area into the path of Foord, who stood up defender Isa Haas before firing the ball into the corner of the net.

Foord and Haas had a running battle in what was an extremely physical first-half, with the visitors – particularly goalkeeper Natascha Honegger – earning the ire of the fans for constantly requiring medical attention.

Honeggar eventually succumbed in the 60th minute to what seemed to be a hamstring injury but not before her team had restored its two-goal advantage through substitute Giovana Queiroz, who made the most of an error from Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy to score nine minutes into the second-half.

Giovana Queiroz Costa Garbelini celebrates scoring Brazil’s third goal. Picture: Getty Images

Clare’s celebration

Before the match, the departing Polkinghorne was afforded a guard of honour by her teammates and was presented with a framed Matildas jersey by one of her childhood sporting heroes, Queensland and Australian rugby league legend Darren Lockyer.

Polkinghorne’s inclusion was one of four changes to the team that started in the Matildas’ last-start 2-1 win over Germany last month.

Also coming into the starting 11 were experienced midfielder Emily van Egmond, Tottenham winger Hayley Raso and Denmark-based Winonah Heatley.

Out of the 11 went Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry and Kaitlyn Torpey, none of whom were named in the squad for the two-game series against the Brazilians.

Van Egmond became the fourth player to make 150 Matildas appearances, joining Polkinghorne (168), Cheryl Salisbury (151) and Lisa De Vanna (150).

Originally published as Australia vs Brazil friendly: No fairytale as young star’s brace breaks Matildas’ hearts in Brisbane