New Zealand held a 1-0 lead at the break for the second time in four days via an excellent Sarah Gregorius strike in the 31st minute but the host nation roared back in the second half with three unanswered goals to claim victory.
Poliana equalised in the first minute of the second half, heading in a whipped Marta cross before Erika put Brazil ahead in the 57th minute, heading in from close range on the end of a free kick.
Brazil continued to pressure the Football Ferns defensive unit and Formiga made it 3-1 on the hour mark with a wonderful strike into the top corner from long range which left New Zealand ‘keeper Erin Nayler with no chance.
The hosts capped the second half display with two late goals; Brazil captain Marta dinking a finish over Nayler in the 88th minute before Debora completed the scoring with a stoppage time counter attack.
Football Ferns coach Tony Readings said Brazil showed the kind of quality they are capable of on Wednesday.
“Definitely today Brazil found more than one gear, probably an extra couple of gears, and that was basically from the outset,” Readings said.
“They had a much bigger crowd today and they were pretty vocal and I think it inspired them to play that little bit quicker and they were pressing us very intensely for the whole of that opening period and we found it hard to adjust to the pace of the game.”
Readings said after the drinks break midway through the first half his team were able to get a foothold and they used that to take the lead.
“We were able to be a little more composed on the ball, midfielders were able to drop in deeper and get on it to dictate play a little bit more and we looked more assured.
“We were able to start living in their half and we’ve got to learn a lesson that we’ve got to be starting like that because teams like Brazil at home are just going to come out firing, especially after a loss.”
In the face of constant Brazil pressure in the second 45 minutes, Readings was pleased with how his side kept fighting despite the score line blowing out but the game provided clear lessons for the Olympic qualifying series against Papua New Guinea next month.
“One thing you’re always going to get from a Football Ferns team is work rate, work ethic and people putting their bodies on the line. And that happened today. There were some great blocks in the box and tireless working.
“They were just too good in the second half. It’s something we’ve got to learn from. We’ve got to be better. We’ve got to keep the ball better, we’ve got to be able to be a little more composed when we win the ball because that’s always been our strength when we’ve had good results – like the one three days ago – that’s been on the back of really assured in-possession work.
“We’ll go away now and lick our wounds and get together again for the qualifiers and put right some of these wrongs because we know we can play better.”
The Football Ferns weathered a storm from the hosts in the open 25 minutes, Brazil moving the ball quickly and regularly finding a way in behind in the New Zealand back four.
But the visitors stuck to their task and some composed and compact defending dealt well with the majority of Brazil attacks. Formiga came closest to opening the scoring in the 15th minute with a superb curling effort from distance rattling Nayler’s left hand up-right.
Five minutes later Formiga again threatened, volleying wide from the angle with her left foot after a corner.
Then after a drinks break in the 26th minute, when Rosie White was also introduced into the match from the bench for Jasmine Pereira, momentum began to shift.
Seconds after coming on, White delivered a cross from the byline which Gregorius came close to meeting with a header at the back post.
But any disappointment was soon forgotten shortly after as Gregorius brought the ball down on her chest on the edge of the area before expertly lifting it over the Brazil goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
That lead lasted until the break but just seconds after restart Brazil lifted again and hosts were at their dynamic best for the rest of the match, scoring four and going close on a number of other occasions as the New Zealand side continued to scramble well defensively to prevent further goals from the hosts.
Midfielder Kate Loye made her debut for the Football Ferns as a late substitute for Katie Duncan.
Brazil 5-1 New Zealand (half: 0-1)
BRA: Poliana 46’, Erika 57’, Formiga 60’, Marta 88’, Debora 90+3’
NZL: Sarah Gregorius 31’
New Zealand (from):1. Erin Nayler (GK), 2. Ria Percival, 4. Katie Duncan (24. Kate Loye 90’), 5. Abby Erceg (capt), 6. Rebekah Stott, 7. Ali Riley, 8. Jasmine Pereira (13. Rosie White 26’), 9. Amber Hearn, 10. Sarah Gregorius (18. CJ Bott 68’), 12. Betsy Hassett (11. Kirsty Yallop 55’), 16. Annalie Longo
Substitutes not used: 3. Anna Green, 22. Stephanie Skilton, 23. Cushla Lichtwark (GK), 25. Aimee Phillips, 26. Grace Jale
Coach: Tony Readings
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football

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