Brazil Defeats Australia 3-1 in Friendly

Brazil triumphed over Australia 3-1 in a friendly match held in Brisbane, marking their first victory against the Matildas since 2016. Amanda Gutierres shone for Brazil, scoring twice in the opening 13 minutes, while Caitlin Foord managed to pull one back for Australia just before halftime. Despite a spirited performance, the Matildas struggled defensively, with a costly mistake from Alanna Kennedy leading to Brazil's final goal by Gio Garbelini early in the second half. The match also served as a farewell for Clare Polkinghorne, who captained the Matildas in her 168th appearance, though her team's display was marred by a lack of cohesion. Fans expressed confusion over the choice of NRL legend Darren Lockyer to present Polkinghorne with a commemorative jersey, questioning the absence of former Matildas in the role. The two teams are set to meet again for a rematch on Sunday.