After nearly two years away, the Matildas are finally home – destroying Brazil in a brilliant return to form.<\/p>\n
Some 19 months after their last match on home soil, Australia beat Brazil 3-1 on Saturday night in front of a healthy crowd at the newly-renamed Commbank Stadium.<\/p>\n
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The team last played in Australia in March 2020 when they defeated Vietnam in Olympic qualification.<\/p>\n
Their dominant first half was rewarded just before the break as defender Clare Polkinghorne poked home from close range via a clever free kick routine.<\/p>\n
Watch Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo and football's biggest superstars in the\u00a0UEFA Champions League\u00a0with every match streaming ad free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> Start your seven day free trial\u00a0here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Mary Fowler extended the advantage after half time when she headed home a beautiful Emily van Egmond cross.<\/p>\n There were some brief nerves from the green and gold faithful when a mistake from Allana Kennedy, in her 100th game, gave Brazil a passage back into the match.<\/p>\n A slip from the veteran defender allowed Adriana into the penalty area, who slotted past an isolated Lydia Williams.<\/p>\n It was somewhat cruel given how dominant Australia had been, but they didn't allow that setback to fester, and instead set about attacking once again.<\/p>\n The Matildas ended matters when van Egmond added a goal to go with her assist, sliding home calmly after a low cross from Steph Catley.<\/p>\n They will play Brazil again at the same venue on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/10\/388207\/pickerimage.jpg\")
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