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The Matildas' 2-1 Win Against Brazil Was Everything A Homecoming Should Be

Lisa De Vanna and Sam Kerr -- take a bow.

Well, that was very, very impressive.

The Australian Matildas beat Brazil 2-1 in an International friendly match at Pepper Stadium in Sydney's west on Saturday afternoon and what a homecoming game it was.

In their first match on home soil since an impressive Tournament of Nations win in the United States in August, Australia's national women's team definitely did not disappoint -- and the defining moment? An absolute screamer of a goal scored by veteran striker Lisa De Vanna.

Most of the opening 45 minutes of play saw both Australia and Brazil start hard and fast, trying to work each other's game plan out. But it wasn't until the 42nd minute that the record-breaking sell-out crowd in Penrith really erupted in cheers for Australia's national women's team.

Off the back of a quick throw-in from the sidelines and a quick pass from midfielder Tameka Butt, De Vanna was lined up perfectly to slot the ball in the back of the Brazilian net in an effort that looked far easier than it probably was.

Check it out for yourself below.

But it wasn't just the performances on the pitch that made this match so special.

From the grandstands of Pepper Stadium to the merchandise stalls and even to the hill at the northern end of the pitch -- Matildas fans were everywhere as a sign of support for the Australian national team that everyone loves right now.

There was barely a seat or patch of grass anywhere around the stadium that was left empty and, even though Brazil were out to prove themselves following their shock 6-1 loss to Australia at the Tournament of Nations, it was the Matildas that drew all the cheers from the 15,000-strong crowd who wanted to welcome them home.

And it only got better from there.

At the 67th minute mark, an attempt-on-goal from Aussie central defensive midfielder Alanna Kennedy found the thinnest of hairs on Australian favourite Sam Kerr's head and was sent straight into Brazil's goal to stretch the Matildas' lead to two goals.

The scoring double could not have come to two more deserving Australian players, with both De Vanna and Kerr featuring heavily in the Matildas' recent spate of successes. The strong performance from the team also comes after a month of outstanding football in which Australia won the Tournament of Nations, beat the U.S. (for the first time ever) and also Japan (with bonus acrobatics thrown in for free).

And despite a late goal to Brazil in the 79th minute, the impressive showing from the Matildas signals the fact that Australia has really got a national team who is consistently on fire right now.

Team spirit is high, the football is incredibly impressive and the fans are flooding to games in droves -- what's not to love about them?

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