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How do you say goodbye to someone like Clare Polkinghorne? Such is the journey she has gone on with the Matildas across an 18-year international career, doing so was always going to prove difficult. The stalwart has, at least, ensured she is going out on her own terms, honoured for her legacy with a send-off game in her hometown of Brisbane on Thursday, and celebrated with an emotional ovation when she was substituted off in the 63rd minute. Of course, this send-off happened to come against fierce rivals Brazil, who did their bit to dampen things by striking twice early on, on the way to a physical, 3-1 win.
The most-capped player – man or woman – ever in an Australian shirt, Polkinghorne was commemorated with an individual entrance ahead of her 168th game, as well as a presentation by fellow Queensland great Darren Lockyer and a video tribute she watched on with her family. It was enough to bring many of her teammates to tears but, characteristically, the defender was loath to soak in the adulation, ending a brief speech with “Thank you very much and let’s get on with it.”
Alas for the romantics, it was the visitors who seemed to heed her words the quickest. After only six minutes, a long ball launched from the backline by Vitória Calhau was nodded into the space behind the Australian defensive line by Marília Furiel, with Amanda Gutierres gathering possession, rounding Mackenzie Arnold and putting As Canarinhas ahead.
Reprising the back five from games against Switzerland and Germany in October, a narrow press deployed by the Matildas and the advanced position it demanded by fullbacks Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter left plenty of room to exploit in behind. This haunted the Australians again in the 13th minute when sprinting back from an advanced position, Carpenter was left chasing the heels of Aline Gomes as she collected a pass and advanced into the penalty area. The 19-year-old cut the ball back for Gutierres, who fired home for a brace.
While Australia are coming off the highs of their own home Women’s World Cup, Brazil are preparing to host their own in 2027, with their national side experiencing a period of rejuvenation and renewal ahead of it. Duda Sampaio was the “veteran” of Arthur Elias’s XI with 29 caps. Gutierres, 23, was getting just her third cap. But this young side was rising to the challenge; 21-year-old Giovana Queiroz, introduced as an early sub for an injured Furiel, caught Alanna Kennedy badly out in possession in the 54th minute before being played in on goal, where she rounded an on-rushing Polkinghorne and netted her side’s third.
In what was supposed to be a triumphant emotional send-off, this wasn’t part of the plan. Then again, the game otherwise played out exactly how one would expect of a battle between Australia and Brazil; the familiar and bitter foes, whose rivalry has almost defined Polkinghorne’s career, no quarter given nor asked for. A backline of Calhau and Isa Haas put their bodies on, and sometimes through, Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso early and often and the 47,501-strong crowd was none too impressed with the frequent stoppages – Calhau receiving a second yellow in the 86th for delaying a re-start.
Foord was yet again immense for Australia despite the loss and the Arsenal attacker did extract some semblance of reward in the 43rd minute when she left Haas for dead with a magnificent turn after a Carpenter cross – one cleverly feinted at by Emily van Egmond in game 150, moving her fourth all-time on the appearances list – and placed the ball past Natascha Honegger. This, however, was a rare moment of incisive resistance, the only shot on target the Matildas would muster until the 10th minute of added time.
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With another game against Brazil on Sunday and then two games against Taiwan next week, improvements will be sought by the Matildas. Thursday, though, was also about saying goodbye.
