Kennedy’s Australia beaten by Brazil | OneFootball

Alanna Kennedy’s Australia were beaten 3-1 by Brazil in an international friendly in Brisbane.

It was an emotional evening for the Matildas with the fixture billed as a farewell match for record appearance holder Claire Polkinghorne.

An Australian icon, the 35-year-old started alongside Kennedy in central defence before being replaced on the hour to a rapturous reception from the home fans.

The result, however, didn’t go according to the script, with an early brace from Amanda Gutierres seeing Brazil take a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes.

First, the forward latched onto an aerial ball and rounded goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold for a simple finish, before finding the net from distance to double the advantage.

The Matildas responded before the break though, with Caitlin Foord turning expertly away from her marker before coolly slotting home in the box after a clever feint from Emily van Egmond in the build-up.

But the sucker punch would follow inside ten minutes of the restart, with Brazil regaining their two-goal advantage through Gio Garbelini.

The South Americans were reduced to ten late on when Vitoria Calhau was given a second yellow, but Kennedy and co. couldn’t make that advantage count.

The two sides lock horns once again on Sunday 1 December in Queensland, with kick-off set for 08:35 (UK).