Brazil held by Australia in Townsville
· Yahoo Sports
Brazil’s new cycle leading up to the 2030 World Cup has begun. This Friday (25), at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Brazil drew 1-1 with Australia. The national team’s next match during the FIFA international window will be on Tuesday (29), at 7 a.m. (Brasília time), once again against the Australians.
Brazil’s first goal in this new cycle was scored by Rayan, who came on in the second half in place of Estevão. Australia’s goal came in the 22nd minute of the second half from an Irankunda free kick, which opened the scoring.
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Still looking for better chemistry among the called-up players, Brazil studied its opponent and saw Australia enjoy more possession and control the game in the first half. The first scoring chance fell to the Australian team in the 6th minute, when midfielder Irankunda fired from outside the box, but Hugo Souza made a good save and pushed it out for a corner.
But from the 15th minute on, Brazil managed to impose itself and take control of the game. In the 22nd minute, Danilo Santos sent a ball forward from midfield to Raphinha, who spotted the Australian goalkeeper off his line and tried to lob him with a header, but without enough power to trouble the opposing keeper. Three minutes later, after an individual play, Estevão tried his luck from outside the box, but without danger.
Brazil came close to opening the scoring in the 34th minute. After an excellent distribution from Hugo Souza, Estevão led a quick counterattack to Vini Jr, who was unable to finish the move on goal. Shortly after, on another counterattack, the Real Madrid star found Raphinha inside the box, and he shot only for goalkeeper Beach to make a good save.
In the 45th minute, Endrick won the ball back in Australia’s defensive half. Estevão collected it, made an individual play, and put Brazil ahead, but VAR stepped in, reviewed the play, and called a foul by Bruno Guimarães at the start of the move.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti returned for the second half without making any changes, focusing on improving the understanding among the players in this new cycle. Australia also came back with the same lineup from the first half.
And Brazil started the second half the way it ended the first: controlling the game and, before the five-minute mark, creating two chances to open the scoring through Estevão.
In the 16th minute, Vini Jr found Raphinha free in midfield. The Barcelona player carried the ball into the box and shot, sending it just wide of Australia’s goal. It was nearly Brazil’s first. Three minutes later, Estevão received the ball unmarked in the area, but miskicked and missed the scoring opportunity.
But it was Australia who opened the scoring. Irankunda scored in the 22nd minute from a free kick.
From the midway point of the second half, coach Carlo Ancelotti began rotating his squad. Pedro, Samuel Lino, Rayan, Mauro Júnior, and Jair Cunha came on, and Brazil once again controlled the game despite trailing on the scoreboard.
And in stoppage time, Brazil equalized through Rayan, with a header following a corner kick taken by Raphinha.
SCHEDULE
Brazil returns to Brisbane, Australia, after the match and begins preparations for the second friendly. Next Tuesday (29), the national team will face the Australians again in a match to be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane at 7 a.m. (Brasília time).
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