Sam Kerr’s brilliance can’t hide ugly Matildas issue

Sam Kerr was her usual superb self but the Matildas’ biggest problem came back to haunt them in a worrying sign ahead of the Asian Cup.

Sam Kerr did her best but the Matildas couldn’t hold on for a win. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The defensive frailties that have plagued the Matildas in recent times reared their ugly head again as Australia coughed up a lead to draw 2-2 with Brazil in Tuesday night’s friendly.

It looked like the Aussies were on track for a second straight win over their South American opponents after a 3-1 victory on Saturday but the Brazilians hit back in the second half to spoil the party.

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Clare Polkinghorne scored her second goal in as many games, the veteran defender cooly slotting a side-footed volley into the roof of the net after 10 minutes when Brazil failed to clear the area.

Then captain Sam Kerr doubled the advantage seven minutes into the second half, brilliantly finishing off a stunning team goal that involved some slick passing starting all the way at the back.

A clever turn by 18-year-old sensation Mary Fowler saw her release to Ellie Carpenter, who found Kyah Simon on the right flank. Simon went back to Carpenter, who had pressed forward, and she delivered a ball inside the box to Kerr, who showed quick feet to turn and strike, burying the ball at the far post for her 49th international goal — just one away from Tim Cahill’s all-time Australian record.

It was all smiles for the home side at this stage but the backline has been a worry as the Matildas look ahead to the Asian Cup in just a few months, and coach Tony Gustavsson will have more questions to ponder about how to stiffen his side’s defence after more lapses in the final half-hour.

Sam Kerr is one international goal away from the half century. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Ten minutes after Kerr’s goal, Brazil got on the board courtesy of Erika’s free header from a corner and soon after, the visitors equalised when Debinha scrambled the ball over the line from close range after it rebounded from goalkeeper Lydia Williams’ tip onto the crossbar.

“I do think there was some improvement defensively in this game. They didn’t get in behind us as many times as they did in the first game, we were better at reading when to drop off,” Gustavsson said about the Matildas’ work without the ball.

“Of course I’m disappointed that we conceded from that corner. They scored too easily and that’s something we need to work on.

“The beginning of the game we played really well but then Brazil dominated the last 30 minutes of the first half and took us a tactical talk and to gather ourselves in the locker room at halftime.

“Honestly, we can talk about tactics but at the end of the day, it’s tempo.

“Some of these players need to learn to play quicker … as you saw, we kept playing out.

“Even though we lost the ball, we kept playing out because we need to train and be better at it and deal with that high press. But we played too slow in parts today.”

Gustavsson has now led the Matildas 14 times but is yet to secure consecutive wins. The games against Brazil come after a 3-2 loss to the Republic of Ireland in September and a 4-3 defeat to the USA at the Olympics.

Originally published as Sam Kerr’s brilliance can’t hide ugly Matildas issue