Matildas record-breaker Lisa De Vanna revealed fallen Australian football legend Les Murray was an inspiration behind their 6-1 rout of Brazil. The Australian women’s team claimed their first trophy in seven years by winning the Tournament of Nations in Carson, USA, and they did so with black armbands on their sleeve for Murray.

The universally-popular broadcaster died on Monday after a long illness. He will be honoured by the New South Wales government with a state funeral, but on Friday (AEST), the Matildas paid a stunning tribute of their own. Lisa De Vanna – who scored two first-half goals in the win – said the Matildas ran out with Murray in their hearts after a pre-match rallying call from coach Alen Stajcic.

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“Today was emotional,” De Vanna told AAP. “Staj usually puts different things in team meetings and today it was all about Les. You could tell in Staj’s voice how much he and [fellow SBS commentator] Johnny Warren meant to him and the game. For obviously Polks [Clare Polkinghorne] and Lydia [Williams] who are senior players, we obviously knew all about his legacy and what this man fought for. Just like we are fighting to be the best team, to be recognised and to lift the game and the women’s game in Australia.

“Les was a pioneer. Staj laid out how he was like us women, fighting to show what we can do. And for Australia. A lot of the girls took that advice onto the field and it showed. To go out and score six goals, it was a bit of a dedication to Les.”

De Vanna – who overtook Kate Gill to become the Matildas all-time leading goalscorer with her brace against Brazil – helped lead celebrations. “Everyone’s so happy,” she said. On a personal note, she was overflowing with pride to have become the country’s leading goalscorer. “Everyone knows how much playing for my country means to me,” she said. “Scoring those two goals was everything because I’ve given so much to the game. To have something like this to look back on is fantastic.”

Like De Vanna, Caitlin Foord also scored a double up to help Australia overturn an early deficit against Brazil. Sam Kerr was irrepressible, winning a first-half penalty to earn an equaliser before providing two assists and icing the match with Australia’s sixth goal, while Katrina Gorry also added her name to the scoresheet.



The comprehensive win was the Matildas’ third in a week and delivered their first piece of silverware since the 2010 Asian Cup.

While this tournament is only a friendly series, a first win over world champions USA and victories over highly-ranked Japan and Brazil make it arguably the Matildas’ greatest success. The win over Brazil also gave Australia an element of revenge for their exit at last year’s Olympics.

Stajcic said his side were worthy champions. “It’s a good feeling to put together three performances like that and get better in each one,” he told the AAP. “It has done so much for the confidence and belief of the group and laid a good platform for the future.” Australia are now likely to move up from their world ranking of seven ahead of next year’s Asian Cup, with the 2019 World Cup within their sights.

The triumph over Brazil came despite an early setback. Skipper Elise Kellond-Knight conceded a free-kick in the opening minute, which Tamires rolled across the box for Camila to score from. Five minutes later, Kerr helped Australia get back on terms. The in-form striker was hauled down in the box by Bia Zaneratto, allowing De Vanna to equalise from close range after her initial spot kick was saved.

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Arnold’s fine save and quick release allowed Australia to take the lead, with Foord finishing an end-to-end move just after the half hour. Having provided Foord’s assist from the right, minutes later Kerr played in De Vanna from the left and the veteran made no mistake to make the score 3-1. De Vanna’s brace moved her ahead of Gill with 42 goals for the Matildas.

Australia maintained the rage before half-time, with star midfielder Gorry beating two defenders and striking a sweet individual goal. After the break, Foord made it five by latching onto substitute Tameka Butt’s fine through ball and rounding the goalkeeper. Kerr then bustled her way through a bruised Brazilian defence, poking home past Dani Neuhaus with 10 minutes left.

The only negative for Australia was an ankle injury to Chloe Logarzo. Stajcic said the 22-year-old appeared to have torn a ligament, suggesting a lengthy layoff. The Matildas and Brazil will meet again in a two-game friendly series in New South Wales next month.