Australia v Brazil

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Australia v Brazil

Controversial "Matildas" Win After Brazil Bottles Lead

by Jeremy Ruane

Australia came from two goals down to overcome Brazil 3-2 in highly controversial fashion in an otherwise cracking FIFA Women's World Cup Finals clash at the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, where 17,032 fans were treated to a genuine rollercoaster ride of a match on June 13.

Both teams began brightly, but it was the "Matildas" who fired the first shot in anger, Elise Kellond-Knight's effort clearing the crossbar, to which the charging figure of Cristiane responded, forcing Lydia Williams to thwart her progress in the twelfth minute.

Formiga was booked for a foul on Tameka Yallop soon afterwards, a card which means the veteran will miss Brazil's final group clash with Italy. But her team-mates weren't thinking about that at this stage of proceedings, as Andressa proved in the eighteenth minute with an inviting cross which Debinha just failed to turn home.

Four minutes later, Australia had strong penalty claims turned down by the Video Assistant Referee after Yallop went down in the area under Thaisa's challenge. But the footage picked up a handling offence by the Australian, prompting Swiss referee Esther Staubli to award a defensive free-kick instead.

The "Matildas" weren't happy with this, and were even less so three minutes later when the official didn't hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot after Letitia Santos went down in the area under the challenge of Kellond-Knight.

The available footage backed the official's decision, and from twelve yards Marta made no mistake, sending Williams the wrong way to become the first player to score in five FIFA Women's World Cup Finals tournament - she's struck in every one played so far this century!

Kellond-Knight looked to make amends soon after with a cross which gave Brazil's defence cause for concern, while in the 33rd minute Caitlin Foord's cross found Sam Kerr, who drew a fine save from Barbara.

Five minutes later, Brazil doubled their advantage. Released by Tamires after she had nutmegged an opponent on half-way, Debinha dashed down the left before delivering a delicious cross into the danger zone.

Cristiane anticipated its arrival, and darted across Steph Catley to send a header bulleting beyond the diving figure of Williams into the bottom far corner of the net - 2-0, and a fine goal indeed.

Australia had to score next and they set about doing so before half-time. Kerr was denied by a timely Monica clearance, while Ellie Carpenter's dash down the right culminated in her picking out Emily Gielnik with a cross which the striker fired straight at Barbara.

But at the third time of asking, the "Matildas" were celebrating, right on the stroke of half-time. Yallop broke down the left and delivered a cross which Chloe Logarzo flicked on towards the far post. Sliding in was Foord, who steered the ball home from close range to the delight of her team-mates.

That set up the second spell, and Brazil began it looking to restore their two-goal advantage. Debinha got the better of Alanna Kennedy before cutting inside and curling a shot the wrong side of the far post.

Australia responded through Kellond-Knight's free-kick. Kerr just failed to reach it, but Barbara was forced to tip the ball to safety. Yallop, following in, would prefer to have the chance to take this shot again!

After Monica had a shot blocked - claims for

handball proved unfounded, Logarzo lashed the ball forwards from distance in the 58th minute, looking for Kerr. Or was she?

Because Kerr's cross-goal run towards the ball drew the defenders with her, and captured Barbara's attention to such an extent that by the time the goalkeeper realised Kerr wasn't going to reach it, it was too late for the goalkeeper to prevent Australia's equaliser from flying past her - 2-2.

Brazil looked to respond immediately, with half-time substitute Ludmila - on for the injured Marta - drilling a shot wide of the far post on the hour mark, to which the "Matildas" responded with the most controversial goal of the tournament so far.

Kennedy pinged a ball forward in the 66th minute, looking for Kerr, who was in an offside position when the ball was played, a situation subsequently flagged by the referee's assistant.

Kerr, of course, was oblivious to her starting position, and homed in on the ball, leaping with both central defenders. Monica was the one who got her head to it, but succeeded only in directing the sphere into her own net.

The raised offside flag instantly suggested that the goal would be ruled out, something which the Video Assistant Referee would surely confirm. So we waited … and waited … and waited while referee Staubli and her VAR colleagues considered all the options.

Three minutes elapsed before the decision was made, and they got it wrong, awarding the goal to the delight of the "Matildas", the undisguised fury of the Brazilians, and the distant sound of an age-old Kiwi anthem - "Same old Aussies, always cheating!!"

One must feel for referee's assistant Susanne Kueng. She got the offside decision absolutely correct without any need for technological assistance, but she was badly let down by her whistle-blowing countrywoman and the technology being employed to ensure all such decisions are correct ones.

Brazil were so upset by the decision that it put them off their game completely. Indeed, they mustered just one more opportunity of note in the remainder of the half - a penalty call after Andressa went down under Kellond-Knight's challenge in stoppage time. According to VAR, there was no penalty - the correct call on this occasion.

Australia, meanwhile, controlled the game, threatening again fourteen minutes from time when Kerr shot tamely at Barbara after substitute Hayley Raso swooped on a poor Tamires clearance.

But the "Matildas"' had already done enough, their come-from-behind 3-2 win, controversy regardless, leaving three teams locked on three points in this tight group, with Australia and Italy favoured to progress to six points apiece given both have yet to play the inexperienced Jamaica.

One hopes Brazil can join them, particularly after the injustice they were dealt in this match. Their final group match in five days' time against Italy now takes on must-win proportions for the South American champions, if they hope to qualify automatically for the knockout rounds.

Australia: Williams; Carpenter, Kennedy, Catley, Kellond-Knight; Yallop, Van Egmond, Logarzo; Gielnik (Raso, 72), Kerr, Foord (Roestbakken, 90)

Brazil: Barbara; Leticia Santos, Kathellen, Monica, Tamires; Debinha, Formiga (booked, 14) (Luana, 46 (booked, 87)), Thaisa, Andressa (booked, 85); Cristiane (Beatriz, 75), Marta (Ludmila, 46)

Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)

Group Matches