Brazil pips Socceroos in eventful friendly

Carlo Ancelotti made seven changes to the Selecao lineup that drew 1-1 with the same opponent in Townsville four days prior, but three of those who kept their places – Raphinha, Vinicius and Bruno Guimaraes – got on the scoresheet in an entertaining win.

Brazil had to wait until the 95th minute for Rayan's equaliser on Friday, but it made the breakthrough far quicker this time around as Vanderson's touch sat up perfectly for the full-back to thump a volley across Patrick Beach and in with three minutes gone, after Gabriel Bontempo laid the ball back into his path.

Beach then repelled two efforts from Raphinha as Brazil's furious start threatened to overwhelm Australia, but the hosts grew into the encounter and equalised in the 28th minute.

Connor Metcalfe's in-swinging corner somehow travelled all the way through to Alessandro Circati, who hooked his right foot behind him and sent an instinctive flick looping into the far corner. Referee Yusuke Araki initially awarded a foul on Brazil goalkeeper Otavio, but a VAR review led to that decision being overturned. 

The Socceroos were ahead only five minutes later, as a flowing move resulted in Metcalfe exchanging passes with Circati and sending a glorious, 20-yard strike dipping into the top-right corner.

However, Brazil got back on level terms just before half-time, with Raphinha planting his spot-kick into the bottom-right corner after Danilo Santos was tripped by Harry Soutter.

After Gabriel Magalhaes' header was kept out by Beach, Guimaraes put Brazil back in front in the 69th minute, sweeping into a gaping net after Vinicius linked up with his Real Madrid team-mate Endrick in the left-hand channel.

Another driving run from Vinicius led to him being felled by Nestory Irankunda, and with Raphinha having been substituted at half-time, the Madrid superstar became the second Brazilian to convert from the spot 10 minutes from time, finally putting the game out of Australia's reach.