Matildas v Brazil: Aussies draw 2-2 against powerhouse South Americans ending winning streak
The Matildas have found two linchpins for years to come after games against Brazil which showed Australian football has good reason to be optimistic about its future.
They’re the teen sensations of the Matildas set-up and coach Tony Gustavsson says he’ll continue to deploy both Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross in positions of high responsibility on the pitch early in their international careers.
The exciting duo lit up the first half of Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Brazil with a glorious pass each that had the 12,000 plus crowd gasping in awe.
Cooney-Cross from deep in midfield to release Sam Kerr on the right flank.
Fowler with a penetrating through ball to play in Caitlin Foord down the left.
They were the moments that gave you a glimpse into the next generation star power of the Matildas but also provided a firm reminder of the impact the duo can have in the now.
And that’s both in January’s Asian Cup and the home World Cup in 2023.
With 17 caps and five goals to her name including a quarter-final strike against Great Britain at the Olympics, 18-year-old Fowler, who plays for Montpellier in France, has already solidified her status in the Matildas line-up.
But it was the emergence of 19-year-old Cooney-Cross from the Melbourne Victory, in the high pressure position of defensive midfield that caught the eye over the course of the Brazil series.
It’s a move that the Swede Gustavsson concedes he wouldn’t have made in the early days of his journey as a manager.
“In my early coaching career, it was classic with young players to say ‘hey we’ll give them a couple of minutes on the wing, in a smaller role and then they can grow into it,” he said.
“That’s not what I’m about anymore as a coach I’m about quality of players and growing them into the position where they can be the best.”
“Kyra Cooney-Cross is really good in the centre of the park. We’re looking for depth in that defensive role, I think she was brilliant in the first game. This game showed she has some work to do at international level when it comes to tempo, which is natural.”
Gustavsson was looking likely to secure his first back-to-back wins as Matildas boss when Australia went up 2-0 in the second half courtesy of a sublime Sam Kerr hit to finish off a brilliant team move.
But while the team’s defensive issues emerged again, conceding two goals quickly to level up proceedings, the coach wasn’t downcast with the work at the back.
“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.”
The other thing we did well was the amount of shots that we blocked in and around the box and that’s something we’ve worked on in terms of our mindset.”
“Of course, I’m disappointed that we conceded from that corner. They scored too easily and that’s something we need to work on.”
There is no shame in a draw with the world’s seventh ranked side however, especially with six-time World Player of the Year, Marta back in the starting line-up.
The 35-year-old immortal played for Gustavsson in Europe and the pair enjoyed a catch-up on Australian soil at full-time.
“I had the privilege working with her for a lot of years at our Swedish club and won the title with her in Sweden and went to the Champions League Final,” Gustavsson said.
“She’s a world class footballer and person and it’s the first time we’ve connected in a long time and I said to her you were a different team tonight and we were a bit lucky to get away with it there.”
DEFENSIVE HEADACHES HAUNT MATILDAS, WIN STREAK ENDS
The Matildas defensive deficiencies have again proven to be the key issue for manager Tony Gustavsson to solve after two second half goals were conceded to spurn the chance for a series clean sweep against Brazil and end a six-game winning streak over the fellow powerhouse nation, following a 2-2 draw in Sydney.
Another healthy crowd, this time 12,087 double vaccinated fans, were in attendance at Commbank Stadium to witness a thrilling and gripping encounter that Australia seemed set to triumph in for the second time in three days.
A second goal in as many games from veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne sent the Matildas on their way before captain Sam Kerr etched ever closer to history, netting her 49th national team goal, one shy of Tim Cahill’s all-time Australian record, to put the game firmly in Australia’s control.
But with the Asian Cup in India only three months away and a microscope firmly placed on the team ahead of the 2023 home World Cup, the Swede Gustavsson needs to rapidly address the defensive frailties that continue to appear, as the Matildas gave up their winning position by conceding two defendable goals.
Just like she did on Saturday evening, it was Polkinghorne who again got the party started in Parramatta inside the opening 10 minutes, taking advantage of a stray Brazilian header to finish at the back post and run off in unbridled joy to celebrate in front of a raucous Matildas faithful.
The Matildas two biggest names combined to put Australia 2-0 up with Ellie Carpenter, who was devastating down the right yet again, playing in Kerr who proceeded to lash the ball home from a 45-degree angle for yet another magical individual moment from the star striker in green and gold.
Despite the dominant position Australia were in though, Brazil had looked dangerous all evening, opening up the Matildas at the back on numerous occasions and then striking in the second half.
Defender Erika was the first to take advantage, exposing some statuesque Australian defending in the 64th minute by heading home a corner unmarked from six yards out that gave the South American giants hope.
Seven minutes later and the world’s seventh ranked nation were level after goalkeeper Lydia Williams failed to deal with a long-range cross allowing Debinha to smash home the equaliser from close range.
“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” said coach Tony Gustavsson on the Matildas’ defence.
‘The other thing we did well was the amount of shots that we blocked in and around the box and that’s something we’ve worked on in terms of our mindset.”
“Of course I’m disappointed that we conceded from that corner. They scored too easily and that’s something we need to work on.”
IMMORTAL MARTA STARTS
The healthy crowds for the two friendlies were well populated by Sydney’s Brazilian community and many were there to watch the legendary Marta in the flesh. After the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year started from the bench in game one there was delight when the 35 year old, who is still national team skipper, led the team out for her 166th national team appearance.
YOUNG TALENT TIME
There was a stark reminder of the two young stars one needs to keep an eye on ahead of the home World Cup in 2023 through two glorious moments in the opening 45 minutes. Firstly, 19-year-old Kyra Cooney-Cross had the crowd gasping with a raking cross-field ball to release Sam Kerr from the defensive midfield position that she looks so comfortable in, before fellow teenager Mary Fowler outdid her only slightly with a gorgeous through ball that Caitlin Foord should have made the most of.
ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER LIKELY
They’ve been a hot ticket item for a while now in Australian sport and Football Australia is confident the Matildas will be on show again next month with two more home friendlies, quite possibly against another superpower in coach Tony Gustavsson’s former team, the four-time World Cup winners, USA.
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