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Australia 3-2 Brazil: Sensational Sam Kerr stars again

Sensational Sam Kerr was at it again with Australian soccer’s — no, make that Australian sport’s — player of the moment almost single-handedly destroying Brazil

RAY GATT
Sam Kerr of Australia, right, celebrates her first goal of the match. Picture: Getty
Sam Kerr of Australia, right, celebrates her first goal of the match. Picture: Getty
8 min read
9:58PMSeptember 19, 2017.
Updated 6:47AMSeptember 20, 2017

Sensational Sam Kerr was at it again on Tuesday night, with Australian soccer’s — no, make that Australian sport’s — player of the moment almost single-handedly destroying Brazil in Newcastle in the second match of their international friendly series.

Giving further credence to claims she is currently the best women’s player in the world, Kerr grabbed a brace of goals and had a hand in another as the Matildas beat the South Americans 3-2 in a mesmerising display of football precision, skill and class in front of a record crowd of 16,829 — the biggest turnout to watch the Matildas play at home and an indication of just how far the women’s game has come in this country.

Those fans can be thankful for having witnessed Kerr and her teammates in action.

The South Americans simply could not handle the speed, skill and grace of the 24-year-old attacking whiz, who added a further two goals to the stunner she scored in the 2-1 win against Brazil last Saturday. Kerr has scored a phenomenal seven goals in her past four games for the Matildas.

There can be no doubt she is the complete package, scoring with a superb header to equalise just before halftime, then being on the spot to volley home from close range as the Australians took a 3-1 lead on 66 minutes.

She also provided the defence- splitting pass that led to Caitlin Foord’s goal to give Australia a 2-1 lead just after the break.

Understandably Matildas coach Alen Stajcic heaped praise on his star striker.

“She’s just flying, isn’t she? Her first goal was phenomenal,” Stajcic said. “She is just so dangerous in attack and is so hard to control. She does so much work in her movement on and off the ball.

“She is the best reader of a game in women’s football, and to have someone like her on the team really gives (it) a boost.”

Australia's Sam Kerr does a backflip to celebrate scoring. Picture: AP
Australia's Sam Kerr does a backflip to celebrate scoring. Picture: AP
Picture: Getty
Picture: Getty

Kerr aside, it was truly an extraordinary performance from the Matildas, who had to overcome the shock of going a goal down after just 55 seconds.

Brazil star Marta made an incisive run down the left flank, worked her way into the box then delivered a wonderful ball across the face of goal that found the unmarked Cristiane at the far post and she merely had to tap the ball into the empty net. It knocked the Australians off their stride for a few minutes but they showed their class to go on and dominate the half and most of the game.

The Australians, unbeaten their previous seven games (six wins and a draw) — all against teams ranked in the top 15 in the world, went into the game looking to sweep the Brazilians following Saturday’s win.

The Matildas finally equalised in the 38th minute when Emily van Egmond whipped in a super free kick from the right that found Kerr positioned just on the penalty spot.

She met the ball with a wonderfully powerful header that sailed out of the reach of the Brazilian keeper to put the locals back on level terms.

And they didn’t have to wait long for their second goal, which came just two minutes into the second half. Again it saw Kerr heavily involved, this time with a superb assist. She split the defence with a cracking pass that found Katrina Gorry one-on-one with the keeper.

Gorry almost made a meal of it, miscuing the ball as she attempted to shoot. Luckily it fell into the path of substitute Foord, who scored with her first touch.

HOW THE GAME PLAYED OUT

9.32pm: Full-time: Matildas 3-2

And there it is. Australia has beaten Brazil for the second time in four days, recording a superb come from behind 3-2 win in Newcastle in front of a record crowd of 16,829. Sam Kerr was again the star, scoring a brace of goals and having a hand in the third.

9.24pm: GOAL! Brazil score. Matildas 3-2

Brazil pull a goal back via a controversial penalty. Marta is brought down in the box by Elle Carpenter but there looked to be nothing in it as Marta goes down under the lightest of touches. The Brazil then scores from the spot to make it 3-2 with five minutes to go. That came against the run of play.

9.20pm: Record home crowd

Take a bow Newcastle. A wonderful crowd of 16,829 to see the Matildas play. It is a record home crowd for the Matildas, eclipsing the 15,089 that saw them beat Brazil in Penrith on Saturday.

9.05pm: GOAL! 3-1 Matildas

And there it is ... Australia’s third goal and, you guessed it, it is wonder girl Sam Kerr. She takes advantaged of some superb build up that saw van Egmond and Logarzo play a one-two. Logarzo then whips in a lovely ball and Kerr is there to put it away. You have to say it as poor defending from the Brazilians. Australia 3 — Brazil 1.

9.02pm: Kerr goal denied

The crowd is roaring as Kerr appears to get her second goal and Australia’s third but she is ruled off-side. It’s a very close call but probably the correct one.

8.59pm: Matildas chase third goal

The Matildas are searching for a third goal as Logarzo has a shot well saved by the Brazilian goalkeeper. We are an hour into the game and you sense they will need that buffer as the visitors are capable of producing something out of nothing.

8.48pm: GOAL! Matildas 2-1

Incredibly, the Matildas have done a Brazil and found the back of the net just two minutes into the second half to make it 2-1.

That girl Kerr was in the thick of it, providing a wonderful through ball into the path of Gorry who was 1-1 on with the keeper. She appeared to miss-kick the ball but it fell into the path of Foord, who pokes home into the empty net with her first touch of the game

8.47pm: Second half

They have kicked off for the second half. Australia has made one change with Caitlin Foord replacing Hayley Raso while the Brazilians have the same starting line-up they started the game with.

8.28pm: Half time 1-1

And now that’s half time. The end of a fairly good first 45 minutes. The scores are locked at 1-1. The Matildas did superbly to wrestle back the initiative after going behind to a shock goal to Marta in the first minute of the game.

The Matildas dominated after that and were rewarded for their efforts with Kerr, who has been a handful for the Brazilians, notching the equaliser late in the half.

8.27pm: Aussies hit the post

Australia almost go 2-1 up on stroke of half time but Katrina Gorry hits the right post from point blank.

8.17pm: GOAL! Matildas equalise 1-1

Your wish is my command! The Matildas strike with a wonderful goal from who else, but Sam Kerr. Emily Van Egmond whips in a lovely free kick and the unmarked Kerr sends a looping header over the goalkeeper into the back of the net. Just what the doctor ordered for the home side. It’s now 1-1 with six minutes to go before half time.

Sam Kerr of the Matildas, left, celebrates after scoring. Picture: AAP
Sam Kerr of the Matildas, left, celebrates after scoring. Picture: AAP

8.15pm: Chances at both ends

There’s a chance at either end. First Brazil put in a corner from the right and Cristiane heads over the bar. The Australians go up the other end and have their best chance in the match with Hayley Raso taking a first time shot from about 10 metres that sails past the right post.

With just nine minutes to half time now would be a good time for the Matildas to pull that goal back and get the game on level terms again. They have certainly had the better of the game but can’t make it count at this stage.

8.10pm: Brazil holding firm

The game has hit a bit of a flat spot at the moment. Neither side is creating too many chances while there have been a couple of crunching tackles from both sides. The home side is still trying to find some joy by going down both flanks but the Brazilians are holding firm. We are a little over half an hour into the first half.

8.03pm: Terrific save

The Matildas were almost punished there as they are caught on the counter. Cristiane threads a lovely ball into the path of the ever dangerous Marta, who is left one on one with goalkeeper Lydia Williams, but the Australian captains makes a terrific save with her legs.

Ellie Carpenter of the Matildas is tackled by Marta Vieira da Silva of Brazil. Picture: Getty
Ellie Carpenter of the Matildas is tackled by Marta Vieira da Silva of Brazil. Picture: Getty

7.57pm: Aussies need patience

The Matildas are using a high press and forcing the Brazilians to give away possession deep in their own half but they can’t quite take advantage at the moment. The pace of the game is quite good. The Australians just need to be patient. It’s almost 20 minutes into the match at it is still 1-0 to Brazil.

Australia's Hayley Raso is tackled by Brazil's Rosanna Augusto. Picture: AP
Australia's Hayley Raso is tackled by Brazil's Rosanna Augusto. Picture: AP

7.53pm: Goalie pushes limits

The Brazilian goalkeeper Daniele is doing her best FIFA 99 impersonation. Every time she collects the ball she falls to the ground and lies there for 10 seconds. Finally the referee has a word to her. The Matildas are dominating possession but having tested the ‘keeper yet. We are 13 minutes into the game.

7.47pm: Matildas fighting back

The response to that setback from the Australians has been good. They have pushed forward in numbers in search of a quick reply, putting the Brazilian fullbacks under pressure as they attempt to get in behind the defence.

7.40pm: GOAL! Brazil 1-0

That’s a shocking start for the Matildas as Brazil take the lead after just one minute. Their star player Marta broke down the left flank got into the box then laid off a perfect pass for Fabiana who was totally unmarked at the far post and only had to tap the ball into the empty net.

It will be interesting to see how Australia reacts to that stunning setback.

Brazil's Fabiana da Silva Simoes jumps into the arms of teammates after scoring. Picture: AP
Brazil's Fabiana da Silva Simoes jumps into the arms of teammates after scoring. Picture: AP

7.35pm: Here we go

The warm ups are over, the anthems are done and the game is about to kick-off in front of an excellent crowd. The fans are still streaming in so it looks like the attendance could go close to the 15,000 mark, which is a fantastic effort from the Newcastle community given it is a work and school day tomorrow.

7.00pm: Matildas look to cement reputation

Australia will be looking to sweep Brazil when they meet in a friendly in front of what is expected to be a good sized crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

The fans are starting to roll in on what is a cold, windy night with expectations the attendance could exceed the record 15,000 that turned up at Pepper Stadium in Penrith on Saturday afternoon to watch the Matildas beat the South Americans 2-1 in the opening game of the two-match series.

Australian sporting fans have really taken the national women’s team to their hearts, and rightly so given they are regarded as one of the country’s most successful sporting teams — male or female.

A win tonight will further enhance their reputation as well as put them in a good space to move up the world rankings and closer to breaking into the top three. At the moment they are sixth in the world.

The Australians are unbeaten their past seven games (six wins and a draw), all against teams ranked in the top 15 in the world.

While aware of the importance of the game in terms of rankings, coach Alen Stajcic is still striving to find more depth in the squad and to give more players an opportunity on the international stage.

Sam Kerr of The Matildas in their friendly against Brazil in Penrith on 16 September. Picture: AAP
Sam Kerr of The Matildas in their friendly against Brazil in Penrith on 16 September. Picture: AAP

As a result, he made three changes to the side that beat the South Americans on Saturday with Chloe Logarzo, Clare Polkinghorne and Hayley Raso coming into the starting XI ahead of Tameka Butt, Caitlin Foord and Lisa De Vanna. Stajcic also revealed he will make seven positional changes.

The Brazilians made just the two changes with Djenifer replaced by Moreno and Andressa replaced by Beatriz.

A young Matildas fan watches the warm up. Picture: AAP
A young Matildas fan watches the warm up. Picture: AAP
Read related topics:FIFA Women's World Cup 2023

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/live-matildas-v-brazil/news-story/7021a8fee6a2f9d170ea830b91cdab9f