Some games have had more at stake than others but every encounter has been one to remember. Starting with number seven, here are the best Matildas vs Brazil games. 

Number 7: The Tournament of Nations 2018

Brazil were on the back foot from the beginning on this game, they had been beaten by Australia in the previous three matchups and would have been eager to improve that record.

Whatever plans they had were undone by the ninth minute after a perfectly placed Elise Kellond-Knight corner was glanced into the net by Brazilian defender Poliana for an own goal.

By half time The Matildas had a second goal courtesy of an Emily van Egmond corner causing panic in the Brazil six-yard box. Goalkeeper Barbara was badly positioned and her defence failed to clear the ball or mark Tamkea Yallop who nodded the ball home unopposed.

The panic in Brazil’s defence might have been the result of a dominant Matilda’s side that passed the ball around with confidence and intent. Sam Kerr was at her best, her movement across both flanks and willingness to drop deep made her a menace for the defence and impossible to contain.

She was rewarded for her work rate in the 50th minute with Tameka Yallop providing a perfect through ball for Kerr who ran directly at the goal and shot the ball hard and high into the net, leaving the keeper with no chance, a perfect finish at full pace.

Marta would set up Debinha in the 78th minute for a consolation goal but Brazil were never in this game, Lydia Williams could be counted on to ensure that a late Brazil resurgence was not reflected on the score sheet and the side was comfortable enough in their position that they were able to debut 15-year-old Mary Fowler for her first cap.

This was an excellent Matildas performance, but not a classic football match.

Number 6 Rio Olympics Quarter Finals 2016

This game was an epic, an exhibition of end to end attacking football with both sides doing everything but scoring. Both goalkeepers were in impeccable form against sides stacked with attacking talent.

Steph Catley hit the woodwork early with a slightly misdirected cross, and Debinha tested Lydia Williams soon after from long range.

A beautiful Logarzo dummy set up Kyah Simon who dragged her shot wide and soon after Alanna Kennedy was unlucky not to score with a well-struck volley.

Andressa Alves split the Matildas defence with a pass for Debinha who danced clear but shot over the bar before fashioning a chance for herself that Williams comfortably dealt with at the near post.

The second half saw Brazil take momentum but resolute and calm Australian defending kept them from troubling the scoreboard and Chloe Logarzo was painfully unlucky to see a rocket of a strike bounce off the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.

 In a match full of fantastic saves, Lydia Williams made perhaps the best of her career in the closing minutes diving to stop from a few yards out despite being wrong-footed.

Brazil would win after a penalty shootout in front of their home crowd, after misses from Katrina Gorry and Alanna Kennedy for Australia and with only Marta missing the target for Brazil. This was an epic game of high quality and stakes that was only lacking a goal.

Number 5: International Friendly, Newcastle 2017

When Brazil came out to face Australia in a series of friendlies the Australian public packed the stadiums in Penrith and Newcastle to cheer on the Matildas.

They were rewarded with some of the highest quality football seen in this country and Marta in particular was keen to make a statement, she took the battle physically and technically to a then 17 year old Ellie Carpenter who typically showed no fear of reputations.

Brazil struck in the first minute, with a Marta run and cross finding Fabiana in the six yard box, Marta had the chance to double the lead in the 24th minute but blasted the ball straight at a well positioned Williams.

Before half time Sam Kerr sent the crowd into raptures with a bullet header from just inside the penalty area, Emily van Egmond whipped in a free kick that deceived the defence and left Kerr open to bury a header with the strength of a shot.

Another tussle between Marta and Carpenter was won by the youngster who played in Raso to cross where Katrina Gorry blasted a shot against the woodwork from close range.

The second half introduction of Caitlin Foord had an immediate impact, a classy through ball from Kerr resulted in Foord being played through to put Australia 2-1 up.

In the 65th minute, the fans got what they came to see, Sam Kerr tapping in a perfect Logarzo cross to make it 3-1 and celebrating with her trademark backflip.

Late in the game, Marta scored a penalty for Brazil to complete a crowd-pleasing event and a wonderful advertisement for the sport that not even the unfortunate refusal to hake hands by some Brazil players could undo.

 

 

 

Number 4: International Friendly Penrith 2017

This game ranks highly because of one factor above all others, THAT Lisa De Vanna goal.

It’s such a perfect goal it looks like a set play, Tamkea Butt received a throw in into the penalty area and plays it back to De Vanna, a flicked pass that to most player would see as easily controllable but Lisa De Vanna saw as an opportunity to score. She struck a left foot volley that flew past the keeper and into the bottom of the corner and delight the sell-out crowd in Penrith.

It was otherwise another entertaining, attacking game with both sides enjoying the enthusiastic crowd, Sam Kerr scored again after Alanna Kennedy beat her player and sent in a whipped cross that Kerr finished with a glanced header.

Christiane beat Williams but not the woodwork with a shot that somehow bounced off the post and then onto Williams’ back before almost trickling over the line, the Brazilian attacker later played a perfect flick to Debinah who ran through the Australian defense to finish calmly and make the score line reflect the performance.

This game had three excellent goals in it, but Lisa De Vanna provided a once in a lifetime highlight.

Number 3: World Cup Quarter Final 2015

This was the match that changed everything.

The Matildas had won big games before, they had beaten Brazil at the World Cup before and five years earlier they had won The Asian Cup, but these victories had gone criminally under-reported.

When they beat Brazil 1-0 in the World Cup Quarter Finals, they headlined the sports pages and begun their march toward becoming household names.

The match itself was a tightly contested affair with Australia containing a subdued Marta and absorbing any attacks that Brazil could muster, eventually forcing a breakthrough after Lisa De Vanna was played through and her well-struck shot could only be parried by the Brazilian goal keeper.

Reacting quickest Kyah Simon beat the defenders to the ball and side footed into the net in a display of composure and skill.

This wasn’t the most stylish, skillful display by The Matildas but Brazil had not conceded in the tournament up until that moment, no Australian team had won a knockout game at the world cup and women’s football result in Australia had ever been this recognized.

Number 2: Tournament of Nations 2017

 The Tournament of Nations might be the best series of games by this current Matildas generation.

Along the way to claiming the trophy, they defeated Japan convincingly and the U.S.A in a hard-fought win.

The game against Brazil was on another level, it was a dominant, ruthlessly efficient display of skill as the Matildas avenged the Olympics defeat a year before.

The game did not go to plan early with Brazil taking advantage of some poor set piece defending to go 1-0 up in the opening minutes, Camilla side-footing home unmarked in the 18 yard box after a free kick was played in along the ground.

Australia answered a few minutes later from the penalty spot, Lisa De Vanna burying the rebound after her initial shot was saved.

 In the 32nd minute Australia went end to end in a lightning quick attack, Mackenzie Arnold saved and a long ball to Sam Kerr saw the forward outpace the Brazil defense and lay it on a platter for Caitlin Foord to tap home and give Australia the lead, Minutes later a similar play saw Kerr supply Lisa De Vanna for her second to make it 3-1.

The fourth goal came courtesy of a sublime individual effort from Katrina Gorry, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter combined to get the ball to Gorry at the edge of 18 yard box, she shaped to cross or shoot but instead dribbled past the two Brazil defenders and finished with a clipped shot into the far bottom corner.

Australia continued to pepper the goal with strikes from Kerr and Carpenter forcing good saves before another long ball caught the Brazil defense napping and Caitlin Foord cruised past the goalkeeper to make 4-1.

Sam Kerr provided another goal of wonderful quality when Tameka Yallop chipped the ball to her, she controlled the ball on her chest over the Brazil defense and ran onto it to finish and cap off the best Matilda’s performance of this generation.

Number 1: 2019 World Cup, group game

 

By the time the 2019 World Cup arrived, Australia had not lost to Brazil in 3 years and had not lost in regular time in eight, but the first game loss to Italy had defied Australia’s reputation as one of the favorites and Brazil knew that another defeat could see their rival removed from serious contention.

 

Things started well for Brazil, Australia had a penalty denied and as Elise Kellond-Knight tumbled in the penalty area, she took Leticia Santos with her, the referee pointed to the spot and Matildas nemesis Marta stepped up to score in her fifth World Cup.

 

Brazil went 2-0 after Tamires nutmegged Emily Gielnik and with a defense splitting pass, freed up Debinha who crossed for Christiane to score from a header, Australian fans in the stadium and those who awoke in the early hours to watch from home were in shock.

 

As the clock ticked closer to half time, Australia found a lifeline, a dangerous cross was flicked on by Chloe Logarzo for Caitlin Foord to force home, her first World Cup goal was accompanied by a rallying cry of a celebration, lifting her arms to urge the team and fans on, 2-1

 

Strangely Brazil removed Marta at half time and Australia started to take control of the game, Logarzo again was involved, swinging a ball into the dangerous area, where it bounced twice, once past two defenders distracted by Sam Kerr and another past the goal keeper, it was a ball whipped in with venom, any touch would have sufficed, but none were needed, 2-2.

 

What would an epic game be without controversy? Australia have not always had the best luck for either the men or the women in World Cup history but on this occasion, luck and VAR would help win the day.

 

Emily van Egmond, playing deeper in midfield directed a long pass to Kerr, the captain was sandwiched between two defenders and in and off-side position and when the ball flew into the net, the flag was immediately raised to disallow the goal. After what seemed like an eternity, the VAR determined that Monica of Brazil had been the only player to touch the goal and it was awarded as an own goal, there were no fingernails left in the stadium but the score was now 3-2 to Australia.

 

Both sides had chances, but the Matilda’s held on to record an important victory, an incredible comeback and win a match considered a World Cup classic and the best of all the Brazil versus Australia matches since 2015.

https://youtu.be/TzpAtOGcUuA