It was supposed to be a night for Brazil’s superstars.
Bruno Guimarães, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior were all on the pitch. Teenage sensation Estêvão was given a chance to shine, Endrick led the attack, and Carlo Ancelotti stood on the touchline.
But by the end of the night in Townsville, it was Australia’s young star Nestory Irankunda who had stolen the show.
Irankunda produced a stunning 68th-minute free kick to put Australia ahead against Brazil, and although Rayan rescued a 1-1 draw with virtually the final kick of the match, the performance was another reminder of the enormous potential surrounding the 20-year-old winger.
For a sold-out crowd of 25,440 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, it was a memorable evening — and Irankunda made sure it was one the Australian supporters would not forget.
The moment seemed to be building before he even struck the ball.
After Paul Okon-Engstler won a free kick around 25 yards from goal, there was an immediate sense that Australia had been handed a golden opportunity. When Irankunda stepped forward, few doubted what he intended to do.
Confidence has never been an issue for the youngster.
He took his time, stepped up and curled a magnificent effort over the Brazilian wall. The ball dipped perfectly beyond the reach of goalkeeper Hugo Souza before nestling into the back of the net.
Irankunda immediately raced towards the corner flag before celebrating with his trademark backflips, while Australia manager Tony Popovic could only smile from the dugout.
It was a moment of individual brilliance that showed exactly why so much excitement surrounds Irankunda.
There is still plenty for him to learn and improve, but moments like this suggest Australia may have a very special talent on their hands.
Brazil responded by throwing more players forward as they searched desperately for an equaliser.
They eventually got their reward in stoppage time.
Raphinha delivered a dangerous corner from the left, and Rayan rose to meet it. His powerful header flew towards goal and, even though Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach got a touch, the ball struck the crossbar before bouncing over the line.
The late equaliser left Australia with mixed emotions.
Popovic admitted that the disappointment inside the dressing room was actually encouraging.
“I think it’s maybe a sign of progress if we are a bit disappointed,” the Australia boss said.
Australia had held the lead against one of football’s biggest nations until the final kick of the game, and Popovic felt that frustration showed how far his team had come.
Brazil had their chances throughout the match.
Estêvão appeared to have put Brazil ahead just before half-time with a composed finish, but VAR correctly ruled out the goal after Bruno Guimarães was judged to have fouled Harry Souttar during the build-up.
Vinícius Júnior also provided glimpses of his explosive pace, creating space for Estêvão to get a shot away early in the match. Raphinha, meanwhile, looked dangerous throughout and came close after cutting inside and firing just wide shortly after the hour mark.
Yet Brazil struggled to turn their superiority in possession and attacking quality into a winning goal.
Ancelotti was not overly concerned by the result.
“It doesn’t feel like a defeat because it’s a draw,” the Brazil manager said. “We could have won; we had our chances.”
He also praised Australia’s performance and stressed that these matches are valuable opportunities to test players and prepare for bigger challenges ahead.
For Australia, however, the biggest talking point was not simply the result. It was the way they competed.
The Socceroos showed the defensive resilience expected from a Popovic side, but there was more to their performance than simply surviving against Brazil.
They were willing to keep possession, defend higher up the pitch and attack their opponents with confidence. Several Australian players repeatedly looked to take on their Brazilian counterparts rather than simply sitting back and hoping to avoid pressure.
The only major blemish was the playing surface.
The pitch at Queensland Country Bank Stadium became increasingly difficult to play on as the match progressed, with players from both teams appearing cautious about their footing. Several slipped or went to ground, and the condition of the surface made an already demanding contest even more challenging.
Ancelotti was openly critical of it.
“The pitch was not good,” he said. “It was difficult to play on a pitch like this, and we hope to have a better pitch for the next game.”
Despite the conditions, both teams produced an entertaining contest.
Brazil arrived with the glamour, the world-class names and the weight of expectation. Australia responded with discipline, courage and, through Irankunda, a moment of genuine brilliance.
The result may have been a draw, but for the Socceroos, there was plenty to celebrate.
And for Irankunda, this was another important step in what could become a remarkable international career.
