The Matildas lost captain Steph Catley in the warm-up before falling to a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in a pulsating international friendly on the Gold Coast.

After losing to the Brazilians 3-1 in Brisbane three days earlier, Australia were left with plenty to work on as they target playing their best football at the 2026 Asian Cup on home soil.

Skipper Catley went up the race minutes before kick off with lower leg tightness in pre-game drama the Matildas didn’t need. Coach Tom Sermanni took the cautious approach and replaced her with Courtney Nevin in defence.

Brazil led 2-1 at halftime after a wonder strike by midfielder Gabi Portilho and a tap in at the far post by defender Lauren. Hayley Raso responded late in the half to give the hosts a sniff after a world class cross by Caitlin Foord.

The margin could have been far worse for the Matildas if not for three desperate saves by goalkeeper Teagan Micah, who replaced Mackenzie Arnold to start in her first international since playing Canada last December.

Brazil were slicker in attack in the first half but Micah dived left and right to restrict the damage.

“With a little bit better decision making and more finesse in the final third I think we would have got something out of the game,” Sermanni said.

“I felt quite positive in the end. The second half of the second half I thought we dominated in the end. I thought the changes we made added energy and quality to the team.”

Foord was replaced on the left wing at halftime by Sharn Freier as Sermanni rang the changes. He gave Natasha Prior a debut with Emily Gielnik, Daniela Galic and Charlotte Grant entering the fray soon afterwards.

The match opened up after the break with both sides making plenty of ground but unable to find the finish. Alanna Kennedy went closest with a swinging free kick just tipped over the bar.

There was plenty of feeling in the match, as there was in Brisbane, with Brazil fullbacks Kaka and Lauren receiving yellow cards in the first half for cynical grabs on Foord and Raso respectively.

Brazil pushed the boundaries in the first friendly and continued those tactics after Sermanni had made further changes to his starting 11, bringing midfielder Tameka Yallop and striker Michelle Heyman into the line-up.

Emily van Egmond, in her 151st game for the Matildas, wore the captain’s armband on a night when she joined Cheryl Salisbury in equal second on the all-time caps list for an Australian footballer.

Playing in her home city on the Gold Coast, Raso was outstanding. Apart from her goal she was up to her teeth in everything in front of 25,297 fans. Defender Ellie Carpenter also made several scything runs from the back to try to ignite the attack.

The Matildas will play two more friendlies in this international window against Chinese Taipei, with the first in Melbourne on Wednesday followed by a clash in Geelong on Saturday.