England’s homecoming friendly series began with a 2-1 defeat to Brazil at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.
Bia Zaneratto fired Brazil ahead from Dudinha’s ninth-minute lay-off pass, before she returned the favour with a 18th-minute pass which the latter smashed in off the left-post to double their lead.
Brazil’s Angelina was red carded in the 21st minute after she pulled Ella Toone to ground with a reckless tug.
Georgia Stanway netted an eventual 52nd-minute consolatory goal from the penalty spot after Zaneratto fouled Beth Mead, as reigning European champions – England lacked a composed final touch in open play
Having scrapped their way to a successful UEFA Women’s Euro title defence in July, England’s defence again displayed the same vulnerabilities of that tournament, which saw Zaneratto punish an ninth-minute error from Esme Morgan as she fired in from Dudinha’s lay-off pass.
Brazil continued to terrorise England’s defence as Angelina put a 13th-minute shot wide, before Toone sloppily gave the ball away five minutes later and Zaneratto teed up Dudinha to double the visitors’ lead off the left post.
Luany then saw a 20th-minute header saved by England debutant – Khiara Keating, but Brazil carelessly went a woman down just a minute later after Angelina recklessly pulled Toone back when the latter was played through on goal which saw her red carded for her actions.
England however couldn’t take advantage as Alex Greenwood’s free-kick hit the bar and bounced down, which Jess Carter on the rebound headed over as Brazil’s goalkeeper, Lorena went to ground with a hamstring issue which needed treatment.
Toone then rifled marginally wide of the left corner as England again pushed forward in the 25th minute, after she met Beth Mead’s low cross but lacked the accurate power on her shot.
Indecisive shot-making also proved problematic for England before half time as Mead took too long to deliver a 37th-minute shot and drew a foul from Tarciane, only for Video-Assistant Referee (VAR) to snub her penalty appeals.
England continued to up the intensity in the second half and Mead drew a 51st-minute foul from Zaneratto, from which Stanway dispatched the subsequent penalty a minute later to half England’s deficit.
Morgan, Alessia Russo and Stanway saw subsequent shots go wide as England continued to pile on the pressure, but Brazil dug in defensively to see out the win.
What’s Next?
England host Australia in their second homecoming friendly at Pride Park, Derby, on Tuesday 28 October at 7pm GMT.
Brazil head to Parma to face Italy that same evening in a 6:15pm CET kick-off.
Teams
England: Khiara Keating, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Jess Carter (Bronze 63′), Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway (Agyemang 83′), Chloe Kelly (Beever-Jones 63′), Ella Toone, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo
Substitutes: Michelle Agyemang, Sophie Baggaley, Aggie Beever-Jones, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Niamh Charles, Grace Fisk, Taylor Hinds, Missy Bo Kearns, Lucia Kendall, Anna Moorhouse, Jess Naz, Lucy Bronze
Brazil: Lorena, Tarciane, Mariza, Isa Haas (Ferreira 62′), Luany (Isabela 62′), Angelina, Duda Sampaio, Yasmim (Bruninha 63), Dudinha (Isa 85′), Ludmila (Maranhao 72′), Bia Zaneratto (Borges 63′)
Substitutes: Ary Borges, Isabela, Isa, Amanda Gutierres, Taina Maranhao, Lais Estevam, Thais Lima, Bruninha, Jheniffer, Thais Ferreira, Carlinha, Vitoria Calhau, Claudia
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