Olympic Silver Medalists Brazil defeat CommBank Matildas 3-1 in Clare Polkinghorne's celebration game
The CommBank Matildas have been defeated 3-1 by Olympic silver medalists, Brazil, in front of a sold-out crowd at Suncorp Stadium in legendary defender Clare Polkinghorne's celebration match as she retires at the end of this window.
The match was highly competitive, with neither side taking a backwards step. The result was not how the team wanted to farewell Polkinghorne, but the game was a mighty tussle against a team that has featured heavily in some of the biggest moments of her career.
After a pre-game ceremony, Clare Polkinghorne started in the centre of defence for the national team and took the captain’s armband. She was substituted out in the 60th minute to rapturous applause.
There were four total changes to the side that defeated Germany last month. Polkinghorne, Winonah Heatley, Emily van Egmond and Hayley Raso came into the starting eleven.
It was Heatley’s first start and first appearance in Australia for the national team. She played in midfield in front of a back three, with Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni opting to utilise Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley as wing-backs.
The match also marked Emily van Egmond's 150th appearance for Australia. She is the fourth player to reach that milestone and is now equal-third on the all-time appearance list for the CommBank Matildas.
Brazil came out of the gates quickly, their youthful side setting up to win the ball in midfield and capitalise in transition.
In the sixth minute, a long ball over the top found Amanda Gutierres, whose first touch took her around Mackenzie Arnold and allowed her to tap in the ball into the back of the net.
She doubled the visitor's lead seven minutes later with a shot from outside the penalty area.
The CommBank Matildas built into the game as the first half went on, and they were rewarded with a goal before the break.
Ellie Carpenter found space down the right-hand side and drove forward down the line. Her cross would have found the feet of Emily van Egmond, but she cleverly left the ball for the oncoming Caitlin Foord. Foord was able to cleverly turn, shoot, and halve the deficit.
There were seven minutes of stoppage time in the first-half after what was at times a stop-start affair, with players of both sides requiring physio treatment.
However, after some promising signs for Australia in the second half, it was Brazil who would strike again. A tidy finish from Giovana Queiroz after some incisive build-up play restored Brazil’s two-goal advantage.
The 60th minute saw a standing ovation as Clare Polkinghorne was substituted out for the last time in her hometown. Queenslander Sharn Freier took her place.
Other substitutions throughout the second half included the introduction of Tameka Yallop and Daniela Galic, who replaced Emily van Egmond and Winonah Heatley.
A second yellow card to Vitória Calhau in the 86th minute gave Australia some hope as they looked to chase down the two goal deficit in 11 minutes of stoppage time.
The home side had their best chance through Sharn Freier after a pinpoint Steph Catley cross only just evaded her run.
However, it was not to be, with Brazil holding on for the victory. The two sides meet again on Sunday on the Gold Coast.
CommBank Matildas v Brazil
Date: Sunday, 1 December 2024
Kick-off: 6:35pm local / 7:35pm AEDT
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Tickets: matildas.com.au/tickets
CommBank Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Tickets: matildas.com.au/tickets
CommBank Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT
Venue: GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Tickets: matildas.com.au/tickets