Brazil avoided what would have been described as an “embarrassment” against Australia, recovering from a first-half collapse to win 4-2 thanks to goals and interventions from Raphinha, Endrick and Vinicius. The victory arrived just days after Australia had made life so difficult for them that Rayan needed a stoppage-time goal to rescue a draw.
The wider concern around the Seleção is not new. Brazil are coming off a round-of-16 exit from the World Cup, the first time they have fallen at that stage since 1990, and the fact that Australia have now troubled them twice in a matter of days has only raised the level of anxiety around the team. Carlo Ancelotti was clear beforehand about the standard he expects regardless of the opposition. “For us, a World Cup match and a friendly against Australia are the same. We represent the greatest national team in history,” he said.
Ancelotti made as many as seven changes from the previous meeting. Bruno and Danilo came into midfield, Vinicius started on the left, and Raphinha kept his place but played as a “9” while wearing the captain’s armband — a role he has also been filling at Barcelona. Brazil looked a very different side from the one seen in Townsville and took the lead inside the first five minutes, Vanderson arriving on the right edge of the box to fire a shot straight into the top corner despite an awkward first touch. Australia’s goalkeeper Patrick Beach then had to make a double save from Raphinha, and Brazil looked inspired when drawing pressure and playing vertically once the first line had been beaten. Only Vinicius, whose touch ran too far when he was already bearing down on goal, seemed a notch below the rest.
Within four minutes, however, Brazil collapsed. In the 28th minute, Circati punished a mistaken move out by Otávio to level the match, and in the 32nd minute Metcalfe turned the score around, receiving the ball at the top of the box, noticing that nobody stepped out to block him and firing powerfully inside the near post with Vinicius also late to help. The match had completely changed direction. Brazil lost their intensity and Australia, at times controlling the ball, began winning every duel.
Brazil’s response came shortly before the interval. After Souttar made a great block on a shot from Vinicius, the defender committed a penalty on Danilo, and Raphinha took it upon himself to convert it. It was the Barcelona forward’s first goal since Ancelotti’s arrival, but he was replaced at halftime because of muscle discomfort.
His place went to Endrick, who came on to shake up the match. After being involved in a small scuffle with Souttar, it was Endrick who set up the goal that completed the comeback: he laid the ball off near the centre circle, burst into the box, received it back from Vinicius and pulled it back for Bruno to tap in in the 69th minute. Endrick went on to have up to two more chances to put the result beyond doubt.
It was Vinicius, though, who produced a move reminiscent of the old days to seal the win. He nutmegged Jason Geria, who ended up conceding a penalty, and with Raphinha off the pitch it was Vinicius who took on the responsibility of converting the spot kick. At times the picture was worrying again, but Brazil at least avoided an “embarrassment”.