Australia fought hard against a talented Brazil in the opening match of Group C in Christchurch. Two silly goals and some interesting refereeing decisions allowed the Brazillians to walk away with the 2-1 win.
Both sides struggled in the appauling conditions. With rain pelting down until midway through the second half neither side was able to produce quality football.
The Australians took a good 15 minutes to settle, both sides being limited to weak off-target shots from long distance.
The first clear-cut shot near target occured following a Brazillian corner kick. Aaron Goulding rose above the opposing attackers and fortunately his header away from goal went the outside of the post.
Yet it was another corner to Brazil that generated the opening goal. Carlos Henrique's near post delivery was misplayed by two defenders at the near post and then slipped through the goalkeepers hands providing Marquinhos an easy tap in from less than 1m out.
Australia nearly equalised within a minute of the restart. A long free-kick was headed on to Scott McDonald, but his attempted chip went over the bar.
With the Australian's settling in, they pushed for the equaliser prior to the half-time break. A free kick from Louis Brain was headed out for Cansdell-Sherriff to volley just wide.
Then with two minutes left in the half another freekick, this time from Cansdell-Sherriff found Goulding whos header was saved by Rubinho.
At the other end a header from Leandro should have seen the Brazillian lead extended. The ball wasn't cleared and fell to Souza who sent a poor shot wide from 10m out.
With the weather improving after the break, both teams settled into some free-flowing football.
Brazillian Leo was close only three minutes in following some good leadup work. A few minutes on Bradley Groves had an excellent chance, but his effort was easily handled by Rubinho.
Then at the 18th minute mark what appeared to be a clear-cut intentional pass to the keeper was not picked up by the officials, and a possible indirect free-kick from 8m out missed.
Worse still as the ball quickly travelled up the other end and went out for a Brazillian corner. Carlos Henrique's kick went over everyone including the keeper Jess Kedwell-Vanstrattan. At the far post was a rather surprised Goulding, more so when the ball bounced off his chest and into the goal.
The introduction of Joshua Kennedy and Dylan Macallister brough some height to the forward line. Through this the Australians gained ascendency and dominated until the final whistle.
In the 67th minute a long throw into the box towards Kennedy saw him fouled by two differnt defenders, yet to the surprise of all, the referee waved play on.
Four minutes later the breakthrough came. Jo Di Iorio headed the ball wide to Lousi Brain. His low cross found its way to the unmarked McAllister at the far post to put the volley in from 8m out.
The pressure for the equaliser continued with Australia coming close on a number of occasions and Brazil on the backfoot throughout.
Livewire midfielder Di Iorio was playing some superb football taking on and beating his opponents with the ease and skill one would have expected from the Brazillians.
Jade North was put in on the right but shot at the keeper and Rubinho deflected it for a corner. Then in the final minute North had a chance to atone after good lead-up work by Kennedy and Brain but his shot went agonisngly wide.
Les Scheinflug stated "It was difficult conditions, wet and slippery. I knew from the start about the Brazillians because I'd seen them from the video."
"They don't like anybody harrasing them. We layed off them too much in the first half. We didn't hold the ball well. They created hardly a chance really and they got two silly goals from corners.
"That's gone, that's past. We had enough chances to make a draw. That's football and we have to do it the hard way.
"Brazil is Brazil no matter when you play them. But I told them from the start we are as good as them. We realised that in the second half and we got that stupid own goal that destroyed us and ended the game.
"They are not as good as people think. We have to learn to play a bit more. We rush things in midfield. That was the problem.