Matildas v Brazil LIVE updates: Can the Matildas bounce back?

So... what to make of the Matildas’ 2-1 defeat to Brazil, the second one in the space of four days?

There can be few complaints. The South Americans were clearly the better side, picking up on the Gold Coast where they left off in Brisbane. They were physical, aggressive, combative but also quick, direct and effective. The Matildas had more of the ball overall and just as many shots on target, but it seemed like the Brazilians were about to score every time they went forward, while their own attacks kept on falling down at critical moments.

Brazil were too good on the night.Credit: Getty Images

The night began in ominous fashion, with interim boss Tom Sermanni forced into a last-minute change with skipper Steph Catley taken out of the starting XI after an injury scare in the warm-up. With Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr absent and Caitlin Foord restricted to just 45 minutes, this clearly wasn’t a full-strength Matildas outfit, but it did provide a good, extended look under the hood.

Brazil is also regenerating after the retirement of a crop of seasoned players, led by the legendary Marta, and the youngsters who have come into their national team look fit to carry on their legacy. The Matildas can only dream of drawing upon such strength and depth in talent. While there are some good prospects emerging in Australia - some of whom, like Sharn Freier, Natasha Prior and Daniela Galic, showed flashes of excellence in the second half - there are big question marks about this team’s outlook once the ‘golden generation’ retires, and whether it is realistic for them to continue to compete for major honours given the pace of investment elsewhere in women’s football.

Until then, they can rely on players like Hayley Raso to get them out of jail on occasion. Raso, a Gold Coast junior, scored just before half-time in a perfect response after Brazil had just made it 2-0. But that was it. Now the European-based players in Sermanni’s squad will go home and the locals will steer the ship in next week’s pair of friendlies against Chinese Taipei - the last matches for the Matildas in 2024, and surely also for Sermanni as coach, with Football Australia’s search for a permanent manager still rolling on in the background.

That’s it. Brazil wins! Their two first-half goals were enough to put the Matildas to the sword for the second time in this friendly series, despite Hayley Raso’s goal in response and a lot of huffing and puffing in front of goal by the Matildas with no end product.

Teagan Micah is forced into another save to tip wide that effort by Lais Estevam, the Brazilian substitute. That goes out for a corner, and there’s not much time left... corner also goes out, so it’s Australia’s ball, but what can they do with it? The pressure’s on… Galic plays an inventive pass through to Gielnik but it doesn’t connect. Gielnik reacts at some alleged holding from Bruninha. Tempers are flaring!

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 90+7 minutes

Clever work by Daniela Galic as she receives the ball on the edge of Australia’s attacking box, uses her body smartly and draws the foul. And so here’s a really good opportunity… Alanna Kennedy again stands over it. She shoots… it curls, and it would have gone in if it weren’t for Lorena there, tipping it over the crossbar!

Another Aussie corner, then. Final minute of regulation time… cleared.

Seven minutes of added time to come!

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 90 minutes

This spell of Australian pressure is interrupted by another smell of Brazilian impudence.

Lorena, after that corner kick, collapses to the ground as if she’s been shot, clutching her shoulder. The crowd groans and boos. The smirk on Tom Sermanni’s face says more than 1000 words.

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 86 minutes

A fantastic recovery run and tackle by Sharn Freier and some shrewd defending from Natasha Prior just now - a couple of really good flashes by some of the Matildas’ substitutes, which is great to see.

Nearing five minutes of regulation time to go, though, so we’re going to need to see some of those flashes become something more than that. Preferably a goal.

Emily Gielnik had a chance, there, but instead of playing through Freier on the counter-attack, she hogged the ball, went herself, and had her shot blocked. Lost opportunity for the Tillies... but Gielnik made up for it there with a powerful turn-and-shoot! It’s saved, and so it’ll be an Aussie corner...

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 85 minutes

Capacity is 27,500. And given it has been raining cats and dogs for the past 24 hours across south-east Queensland, that’s a fair old effort by the good people of the Gold Coast. Well done, you.

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 76 minutes

Matildas fans are out and about on the Gold Coast.Credit: Getty Images

There’s one on target for the Matildas via the young gun who just came on the field - decent effort, decent save, too.

Now there are boos throughout Cbus Super Stadium as a Brazilian player receives treatment. Another one. They’re not making friends on this trip, I’ll tell you that much. Who knew those who treasure the ‘beautiful game’ were this good at the dark arts?

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 72 minutes

As friendly matches tend to do when both teams make a series of substitutions, this clash has lost a little bit of rhythm. Hopefully it comes back soon and the new players find their bearings out there.

Australia 1-2 Brazil, 67 minutes