PNG-born star helps Aust sink Brazil

**Matildas’ Mary Fowler, from Papua New Guinea and Ireland, plays for Montpellier in the highest division of women’s football in France.**

PAPUA New Guinean Mary Fowler headed home her third goal in two games to help Australia beat Brazil 3-1 in an international friendly at Western Sydney Stadium on Saturday night.
The 18-year-old, who plays for Montpellier in the highest division of women’s football in France, was born in Cairns to an Irish father, Kevin, and PNG mother, Nido.
The victory was coach Tony Gustavsson’s first on home soil and just his third since taking charge of the 11th-ranked Matildas at the start of this year.
It largely relied upon the impact of impact sub Emily van Egmond to get Australia over the line late in the second half after some probing questions from Brazil, the seventh-ranked side in the world.
Van Egmond scored the last goal of the night, also setting up striker Fowler for the Matildas’ second after Clare Polkinghorne gave the home side the lead just before halftime.

**Australia’s Mary Fowler putting pressure on Brazil’s Adriana. – APpic**

“Every time I step out on the park, it’s a fun and exciting time,” said Fowler, who made her debut for Australia in 2018, aged just 15.
“Obviously, I’m happy to be able to keep on getting goals, and help the team progress and get more wins.
“It’s amazing to have (our home) fans come out to watch us play.
“It has been a long time away from home.
“For me, it’s my first game on home soil, so it has been amazing night for everyone.
“We came out here really confident.
“We stayed together throughout the whole match and played according to our game plan.
“Everyone worked really well together, so to get the win is amazing.”
Australia had the upper hand for much of the first half with the pressure eventually tolling for Brazil just before the break.
A free kick just outside the penalty box was the platform Australia needed with an inch-perfect delivery from Steph Catley finding Sam Kerr.
A perfect Kerr header cushioned the ball into the path of Polkinghorne, who drove home from close range.

**Matildas striker Mary Fowler looking for support as Brazil’s Ariadina Borges applies pressure. – AAPpics**

After some nervous moments to start the second half, the Matildas found their groove with van Egmond floating in a well-weighted cross for Fowler to head home in the 66th minute.
A blunder by Australia’s Alanna Kennedy then let Brazil’s Adriana in as the visitors deployed Marta and Debinha for the last 20 minutes in search of a result.
But in the 80th minute, Catley cut the ball back from the byline with van Egmond able to side foot home from 11m out to put the result beyond doubt.
The two sides will meet again at the same stadium tomorrow night. – Agencies