Brazil draw with Australia in Townsville | OneFootball

Brazil’s new cycle toward 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 commitment in this 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, opening the scoring in the match.

Still searching for the best chemistry among the called-up players, Brazil studied the opponent and saw Australia enjoy more possession and control the game in the first half. The first scoring chance belonged to the Australian side in the 6th minute, with a shot from outside the box by midfielder Irankunda, but Hugo Souza made a good save and pushed it out for a corner.

But from the 15th minute onward, Brazil managed to impose itself and take control of the game. In the 22nd minute, Danilo Santos sent a ball from midfield to Raphinha, who saw the Australian goalkeeper off his line and tried to chip him with a header, but without enough power to surprise 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. Right after that, in another counterattack, the Real Madrid star found Raphinha inside the box, and he shot well, forcing a good save from goalkeeper Beach.

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 awarded a foul by Bruno Guimarães at the start of the move.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti came back for the second half without changes, focusing on better chemistry among the players in this new cycle. Australia also returned with the same lineup from the first half.

And Brazil began 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 unmarked in midfield. The Barcelona player carried the ball into the box and shot, sending it just wide of Australia’s goal. It was almost Brazil’s first. Three minutes later, Estevão received the ball free inside the area, but mishit his shot and missed the scoring opportunity.

But it was Australia that opened the scoring. Irankunda, in the 22nd minute, scored from a free kick.

From the middle of the second half onward, coach Carlo Ancelotti began rotating his squad. Pedro, Samuel Lino, Rayan, Mauro Júnior, and Jair Cunha came on, and Brazil regained control of the game despite trailing on the scoreboard.

And in stoppage time, Brazil found the equalizer through Rayan, with a header from a Raphinha corner.

SCHEDULE

After the match, Brazil returns to Brisbane, Australia, 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).

MATCH DETAILS: AUSTRALIA 1-1 BRAZIL

Competition: Friendly

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, in Townsville (AUS)

Goals: Irankunda (22' second half) and Rayan (45' second half)

Yellow card: Irvine (AUS)

Referee: Ryo Tanimoto (Japan). Assistants: Kota Watanabe (Japan) and Kohe Ando (Japan). Fourth official: Yusuke Araki (Japan).

Brazil: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Marquinhos, Vitor Reis (Jair Cunha), and Douglas Santos (Mauro Júnior); Danilo Santos, Bruno Guimaraes (Douglas Luiz), and Raphinha; Estevão (Rayan), Vini Jr (Samuel Lino), and Endrick (Pedro). Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

Australia: Beach; Circati, Soltar, and Herrington; Italiano (Geria), Irvine (Yazbek), Okon-Engstler (O’Neill), Metcalfe (Younis), Irankunda (McGree), and Behich; Yengi. Coach: Tony Popovic.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.