Watch how Brazil employed foul play to bully the Matildas

Flying knees to the ribs, blatant shoves and shirt pulling. The Matildas lost to Brazil, but it was the foul play off the ball that was most shocking. Take a look at the most controversial incidents.

From flying knees to the rib cage, blatant shoves and shirt pulling – there wasn’t anything friendly about the opening game between the Matildas and Brazil – but the players didn’t expect anything less.

Matildas skipper Steph Catley said the match became “a little reckless” while interim coach Tom Sermanni praised the fact his team “didn’t do anything reckless” in retaliation to the ongoing niggling tactics of their rivals.

Brazil had 13 fouls officially recorded against them in their 3-1 win at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, the Matildas just six, but the foul count should have been much higher had the referee not been so lenient.

Code Sports reviewed the footage and found an astonishing 17 fouls committed by the Brazilians – some incidents which occurred well off the ball.

Sermanni had several stern words with the fourth official during the match – advocating for better protection for his players – particularly his star forwards Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso who were heavily targeted.

It took just 29 seconds into the match for Brazil defender Isa Haas to make her intentions clear with a rough tussle with Foord.

Not even five minutes later, Haas floored Foord by running into her back.

Hayley Raso was flattened by Victoria Calhau in the 45th minute, the incident so far in back play it was only just visible in the corner of the TV screen.

“I want to be cautious in what I say here, in that sense that I don’t think the referee necessarily determined the outcome of the game but she certainly determined how the game was played,” Sermanni said post match.

“Her lack of control allowed Brazil to change the dynamic of the game and it made it more difficult for us.”

Brazilian striker Gio, who earned a yellow card after flattening Ellie Carpenter in the second half, didn’t have any regrets about how the game was played.

Caitlin Foord battling for possession with Isa Haas. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“The game was intense, it was physical but Brazil was ready for it,” Gio said.

“It’s the way Brazil likes playing, being offensive and trying to attack.”

There were moments when the Matildas could be seen to be visibly frustrated at the lack of punishment for the Brazilians blatant fouls. Sermanni said he was happy with how the Matildas kept their cool.

“Often what happens in that situation is the perpetrators get away with stuff and as soon as you do something you end up getting the yellow or the red card, I think our players did as well as they could,” he said.

“I think they showed their frustration to the referee but maintained the discipline within the game and didn’t do anything reckless.”

Catley said the Matildas expected a physical match but the early tussles set a dangerous precedent for what was to come.

“It was definitely another level tonight, I think maybe it wasn’t controlled early enough and it then got a little reckless as the game opened up and people got a bit more tired,” Catley said.

“Games like that you just have to ride the waves.”

Kyra Cooney-Cross was fouled by Brazil striker Gio, who also earned a yellow card for flattening Ellie Carpenter. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Clare Hunt said sometimes things just happened on the pitch that were out of your control.

“They’re a physical team and we were prepared for that but it also needs to be managed in a way that is fair, for us it was a little bit frustrating,” Hunt said.

Matildas will have a chance to seek revenge against Brazil on Sunday, at the Gold Coast.

Sermanni said he would be making some changes for the match, but remained tight lipped on what those might be. Some decisions could be taken out of his hands due to load management and injuries.

Matildas play Brazil at Cbus Stadium on the Gold Coast on Sunday – kick off is 7.35pm (AEDT).

Originally published as Watch how Brazil employed foul play to bully the Matildas