Key events
40 mins: Brazil are able to use the full length of the pitch, as well as the width, with Natascha presenting as an option at the back. The scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of what has been a frenetic first half, and it’s understandable that the visitors might want to slow things down as the crowd collectively call for them to get a hurry on.
38 mins: The Matildas haven’t had much trouble getting into the Brazilian penalty box but can’t quite put the finishing touches on their best moves. Foord shows her frustration at the close checking from Isa Hass but the referee waves away her appeals and points to the corner flag. Brazil clear the cross.
35 mins: Cooney-Cross cuts out a pass in the middle of the pitch and quickly releases to find Raso in space in front of her. The forward draws two defenders and looks to send Van Egmond into space next but the midfielder isn’t on the same wave length and the opportunity goes begging.
33 mins: Brazil are happy to play out from the back even under intense pressure from the Matildas. Goalkeeper Natascha looks as comfortable with the ball at her feet as anyone, and is spending as much time outside the penalty box to be part of the build as near her goalline.
31 mins: Hayley Raso cuts through the Brazilian defence but their goalkeeper Natascha comes screaming off her line. The pair meet 20m from the edge of the penalty box as the glovewoman is fortunate to go to ground and get a clearing kick away. Natascha has come off second best and for the second time in as many minutes is calling for treatment.
28 mins: Foord looks the main danger drifting into the left channel almost has a sight on goal before being called offside. Catley is working well with her club teammate and finds space in the penalty box with a speedy underlap but the Brazilian defence are quick to close down the threat. It hardly feels like a 0-2 scoreline, but the visitors have simply been more clinical.
26 mins: Portilho is back on the pitch as soon as she went off and racing along the right win gives Clare Hunt a good test for pace. The resulting corner turns into chaos in the six-yard box as the Matildas take time to clear.
24 mins: Gabi Portilho is the next Brazilian to hit the turf after a coming together with Caitlin Foord. This one looks like a knock to the quad and the Matildas return the ball to the Brazilian defence after another delay.
21 mins: Australia are on the attack again and Winonah Heatley’s eyes light up as she carries the ball into the penalty box. Marilia makes a last-ditch tackle to block the shot and stays on the deck as a stretcher is called. Another Brazilian youngster in Gio is called into the action as her replacement. Brazil cleaner the corner kick.
18 mins: Mackenzie Arnold is called on again after the Matildas give the ball away too easily in their own half but the goalkeeper tidies up. She takes a seat and will need some treatment while both sides take an opportunity to rehydrate in the hot and humid conditions.
15 mins: The Matildas have had little difficulty getting the ball into the Brazilian penalty box but so far have lacked anything like the cutting edge of the visitors. Catley is the main outlet on the left but has been unable to find Foord in front of goal with a pair of crosses. Australia can’t make anything of the corner.
Goal! Australia 0-2 Brazil (Gutierres ’13)
Once again Brazil turn defence into attack as Foord as time inside the box to pick out Catley but the right-back’s shot is blocked. In next to no time, Gutierres picks up the ball inside the box and, despite Arnold getting a hand to the ball, rockets a second into the far corner.
9 mins: Another counterattack for Brazil and Gutierres is through the defensive line again. This time Arnold beats the forward to the ball and there is added respite when a flag is waved for offside. But there are enough early warnings of what’s to come for the Matildas.
Goal! Australia 0-1 Brazil (Gutierres ‘6)
Foul against Caitlin Foord at the other end might have gone Australia’s way but Brazil are awake to the quick restart to slice open the Matildas defence. Amanda Gutierres times her run perfectly to burst through the line and leaving Arnold trying to beat the Brazilian to the ball. Gutierres gets their first, rounds the keeper and slots home with her left boot from the same side.
4 mins: Amanda Gutierres gets the first shot of the night away from the edge of the penalty box. There isn’t enough power though and Mackenzie Arnold barely has to move before collecting with ease.
2 mins: The Matildas lock the ball forward without creating anything resembling a threat. Once Brazil get the ball at their feet they’re happy to pass it around and give everyone a touch. Works at all levels.
Peeeeeeeeep! We’re underway at Suncorp Stadium. The Matildas start in a 3-4-3 formation with wing-backs Carpenter and Catley pushing straight into the midfield. Brazil line up with a familiar 4-3-3.
The national anthems are done, the Polkinghorne has won the toss, the captains are delivering their last-minute instructions.
The no-frills defender Clare Polkinghorne keeps it short n sweet as she says her thank yous and demands that it’s time to get down to business.
Just a few quick words from me because we’ve got a game to get on with. It’s so special for me to be here and to celebrate in front of my home fans, in a city I grew up and in and stadium that I absolutely love.
This team has been everything to me. It’s been a hell of a journey and I’m very thankful for everything that everyone has done along the way. So thank you very much and let’s get on with it.
The Matildas have swapped out of their Clare Polkinghorne tribute tshirts and into their more familiar gold-with-a-dash-of-green jerseys. Brazil are dressed in their blue kit with white shorts as both sides line up to acknowledge the Australian defender ahead of her 168th and final football match.
From one great to another, former Brisbane Broncos rugby league star Darren Lockyer and swimmer Susie O’Neill hand Polkinghorne memorabilia to mark the occasion of her farewell match, and set a high benchmark for surprises we might see this evening (it turns out they were Polkinghorne’s childhood heroes).
The Matildas are building up to another international tournament on home soil with the Asian Cup just 15 months away, while Brazil are taking steps towards hosting the next Women’s World Cup in 2027.
But the early signs are that this will be a celebration of the career of a hometown hero at Suncorp Stadium. There is, after all, only one Clare Polkinghorne!
Samantha Lewis has been following the Matildas since well before they were cool and has dug deep into her notebooks to pull out a close look at their history of clashes with Brazil. The blue touch paper was lit on the rivalry during the Women’s World Cup 2007 when Australia reached the quarter-finals for the first time (spoiler alert: Brazil were runners-up).
Their first opponents in the knockout stage were Brazil: a team who have since become one of the Matildas’ longest-standing rivals, and who were led, back then, by the great Marta, who would go on to win the tournament’s Golden Boot and MVP awards.
Australia lost that game 3-2 – not a boilover, by any stretch – with the core of that team going on to become the country’s first Asian Champions just three years later.
Brazil XI
Brazil: Natascha (gk); Fe Palermo, Isa Hass, Vitoria Calhau, Yasmim (capt); Laís Estevam, Duda Sampaio, Marilia; Gabi Portilho, Aline Gomes, Amanda Gutierres
Matildas XI
Clare Polkinghorne starts and wears the captain’s armband in her 168th and last appearance for Australia. The defender scored in the Matildas’ back-to-back friendlies against Brazil three years ago and no doubt would love another tonight to sign off in style.
Emily Van Egmond becomes the fourth player to make 150 appearances for the Matildas, drawing equal with Lisa De Vanna and now one cap behind Cheryl Salisbury. Winonah Heatley is very much at the other end of her career and will start after a debut against Germany last month amid a very defensive looking line up.
Matildas: Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter, Clare Polkinghorne (capt), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley; Emily Van Egmond, Winonah Heatley; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord.
While we can hope to see some fresh faces for the Matildas this evening, one of the true stalwarts of the side will be closing the curtain on an illustrious career in her home town Brisbane. Clare Polkinghorne will line up for the national side for the 168th time – a record number of caps for an Australian footballer – since making her debut in 2006.
Our own Jack Snape looks at Polkinghorne’s career in green and gold and what comes next for the former Australia captain (with some kind words from interim coach Tom Sermanni thrown in).
She is the defensive stalwart for the sporting team that has become Australia’s darling, yet after 18 years with the Matildas, Clare Polkinghorne has a clear-cut view of retirement: “I’ll definitely need a job.”
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the women’s international friendly between the Matildas and Brazil at Suncorp Stadium. This is the beginning of a two-match series between the highly-ranked teams, with the second clash to come on Sunday, as Australia return to Brisbane for the first time since the Women’s World Cup last year.
The Matildas and Brazil took different paths through the global showcase as the hosts reached the semi-finals and the visitors were knocked out at the group stage, though they have been heading in opposite directions since then. Brazil have risen to No 8 in the Fifa rankings after their silver medal at the Paris Games, while Australia have slumped to No 15 – their lowest ranking since 2007 – in part due to a disappointing Olympic campaign.
Australia are taking tentative steps towards regeneration since the departure of coach Tony Gustavsson and are likely to field a dash of the old mixed with the new tonight, especially with several stars sitting out. Mary Fowler has joined Cortnee Vine in taking a break from the Matilda’s four-match home series, while captain Sam Kerr is of course still recovering from an ACL injury.
Football Australia revealed about two hours ago that only 1,000 tickets remain for the friendly at Suncorp Stadium, so if you’re still intending to try your luck at the gate I suggest you run, don’t walk. The likely sell-out will make it the 15th home match in a row where the doors are shut behind the Matildas. A competitive showing, perhaps even a victory, feels increasingly critical to ensuring the sheen remains on the women’s team.
Kick-off time in Brisbane is 8pm local / 9pm AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news.
In the meantime, get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social and X @martinpegan. Let’s get into it!