It’s been a while.
596 days had passed since the last Matildas game on Australian soil. A lot has changed since that Olympic Games qualifier between Australia and Vietnam in Newcastle: mandatory check-ins, digital proof of vaccination and biosecurity bubbles for the players are all things we couldn’t have imagined back in March 2020.
However, some things don’t change. The buzz you get when you wake up on game day, the palpable excitement created when fans gather at the stadium prior to kickoff, the thrill of seeing your favourite players – fingers crossed that all of this will once again become a regular part of our lives.
This night at Western Sydney Stadium was even more significant because Alanna Kennedy captained the side in her 100th game for the Matildas. Perhaps wanting to revert to a more familiar setup in the wake of last month’s defeat to the Republic of Ireland, Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson placed Kennedy in the centre of a back four alongside Clare Polkinghorne, with Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter primed to make their familiar overlapping runs from the fullback positions. Kyra Cooney-Cross was the deepest-lying midfielder, with the front five of Tameka Yallop, Mary Fowler, Kyah Simon, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord all roaming and swapping positions.
Australia began brightly, and the breakthrough almost came on nine minutes when Yallop raced clear. Letícia literally put her body on the line by making the save and copping a nasty blow to the face in the process – the Brazilian custodian needed treatment but was ok to continue.
Despite Australia’s promising start, Brazil had their fair share of moments and it wouldn’t be our beloved Tillies without at least one nerve-jangling moment, would it? In the 17th minute, Kennedy blocked Giovana as the Brazilian forward threatened to race clear and all Matildas fans had flashbacks to that infamous red card against Norway in the 2019 World Cup quarter finals. Another sending off wouldn’t have been part of the script, but thankfully referee Esther Staubli only flashed a yellow card – sighs of relief from the green and gold faithful.
At this point we should make one thing clear: this was a “friendly” in name only. The intensity and physical challenges resembled a do-or-die World Cup qualification playoff, as demonstrated by Foord’s frustrated shove on Bruninha after the Brazilian fullback stopped one of her typical marauding runs.
The Matildas’ corner tally began to rise as they pressed for the first goal. Word of Catley’s prodigious crossing ability had clearly reached the Brazilian camp: they built a blue wall in their six yard box when defending corners, making it almost impossible for the Arsenal star to pick out a teammate with the dead ball.
However, you can’t keep giving Australia’s no. 7 chances to deliver crosses into the danger zone. On 38 minutes, Catley placed a free kick onto Kerr’s head, and Kerr showed great vision to find a pass where most players would have tried to score, leaving Polkinghorne with a simple finish. It was fitting that on a night which saw the Matildas 100 game club welcome its newest member, two Matildas centurions (Kerr and Polkinghorne) were involved in the goal that gave their side a 1-0 halftime lead.
The second half started in more measured terms than the opening stanza, understandably given how frenetic those opening exchanges were. The drop in pace of play was not, however, accompanied by a drop in the ferocity of the tackling, and Brazilian halftime substitute Geyse was lucky to stay on the park after a challenge on Yallop that we shall diplomatically describe as “late”.
It was another halftime substitute (and another Matildas centurion) who would set up the goal that doubled Australia’s advantage, midway through the second half. Emily Van Egmond drifted out to the left flank and floated an inch perfect cross to the far post, where Fowler was waiting to head the Matildas into a two goal lead.
On the back of Fowler’s brace against the Republic of Ireland, it had been another stellar evening for the Montpellier forward. Fowler’s quick feet won the free kick which led to the first goal, and she had also shown exquisite touches and vision when the Matildas were building attacks. Her rise to prominence has been phenomenal – less than three years ago Fowler was playing for Bankstown City in the NPL New South Wales competition, and she is still only 18 years old.
We should also pay tribute to the fantastic Brazilian fans, who sustained their chanting and drumming even as rain started to fall and even after their team fell behind. They were rewarded for their dedication two minutes after Fowler’s goal when Adriana pounced on sloppy play and kept her head to tuck the ball past Lydia Williams.
Now with the score at 2-1, what would be the best way to make Matildas fans anxious? Brazil head coach Pia Sundhage knew the answer to this question: bring on Marta and Debinha. The two Seleçao legends entered the field to a Brazilian roar as loud as the one which followed Adriana’s goal, and their presence made the stakes of this friendly-in-name-only even higher.
Predictably, the contest became stretched as players began to tire and there were a few examples of seat-of-the-pants defending in Australia’s penalty area. However, events stuck to the script and the Matildas would earn the victorious homecoming that fans in green and gold had craved for so long.
With ten minutes remaining, Catley found space where none seemed to exist and played the perfect cutback to Van Egmond, who confidently sidefooted home to make it 3-1. The goal was a neat link to the last Matildas game played at Western Sydney Stadium and Van Egmond’s spectacular 92nd minute equaliser against China in the Olympic qualifiers.
A game where long-serving Matildas made their mark concluded with the promise of new beginnings. Sydney sharpshooter Remy Siemsen and Wanderers forward Bryleeh Henry debuted for the Matildas in their home city, providing unforgettable memories for not just those two players, but also the large number of family and friends in attendance. The two debuts, second caps for Clare Wheeler and Charlotte Grant, plus the growth of Fowler and Cooney-Cross (both are still teenagers!) into genuine starting options: there is plenty to look forward to over the next cycle.
In the post-game presser, Tony Gustavsson praised the players and fans, but also stressed the need to maintain perspective and “stay humble” as Brazil are in rebuilding mode. He then reiterated the need to stick to their principles, saying that “we’re always going to be a high energy, high octane team.” So if you’re a Matildas fan with a nervous disposition, you’ll need to get used to this – the next three years are set to be something special.
