Brazil beat Australia 4-2 in fiery Brisbane friendly as Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior convert penalties
Brazil end Australia tour with 4-2 thriller in Brisbane
Brazil capped their tour Down Under with a 4-2 win over Australia in a fiery and entertaining friendly at Lang Park, four days after the sides drew 1-1 in Townsville. Carlo Ancelotti made seven changes but kept Raphinha, Vinícius Júnior and Bruno Guimarães in the side, and the trio all scored in an absorbing contest that featured two penalties, a mass brawl and a late VAR reversal.
Early Seleção statement
With just 132 seconds on the clock, Monaco full-back Vanderson felt the pressure from Australian defenders closing in, took his first touch goalward and lashed a volley into the top corner of Patrick Beach’s net. The early goal echoed past Brazil visits to Australia and set the tone after the Seleção had needed a 95th-minute Rayan equaliser to salvage a draw on Friday.
Raphinha threatened immediately after, thundering two efforts into the body of Beach within a minute, and Brazil looked set to overwhelm the hosts. Australia, however, grew into the contest, with Jackson Irvine finding Tete Yengi in the box and combining with Paul Okon-Engstler to spring Nestory Irankunda behind the Brazilian line.
Socceroos hit back
The hosts equalised in the 28th minute. Connor Metcalfe’s inswinging corner travelled through a mass of bodies, taking a touch off Gabriel and allowing VAR to overturn an offside flag, before Alessandro Circati hooked a right-footed flick into the far corner at the back post.
Five minutes later Australia led. A flowing move saw Metcalfe exchange passes with Circati and curl a 20-yard strike beyond debutant goalkeeper Otávio into the top-right corner.
Penalties and brawl
Brazil restored parity just before the break when Harry Souttar brought down Danilo and referee Yusuke Araki awarded a VAR-adjudged penalty, which Raphinha converted into the bottom-right corner. Irankunda blasted over moments later as Australia spurned a chance to go 3-2 up.
The second half erupted after a 64th-minute clash between Souttar and half-time substitute Endrick sparked an all-in by the touchline, with the young Brazilian briefly going to ground near Socceroo assistant Paul Okon Sr. Coming on for Raphinha after mild discomfort in his right thigh, Endrick proved the spark that turned the game when he provided the cutback that allowed Bruno Guimarães to sweep home in the 69th minute after Vinícius Júnior linked up with his Real Madrid team-mate in the left channel.
Gabriel Magalhães headed against the woodwork before Vinícius drove forward again and was felled by Nestory Irankunda in the 79th minute. With Raphinha substituted at half-time, Vinícius stepped up and converted the penalty to make it 4-2 and seal Brazil’s win.
The result was immaterial in the wider context of Australia’s build-up to the Asian Cup in January, but Tony Popovic’s side showed attacking intent and bravery in possession, becoming only the second AFC side in 21 years to score twice against Brazil in a game after Japan in October 2024.