Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Rayan says Brazil know they must improve after his late goal snatched a draw with Australia in a friendly in Queensland.
Australia looked set to claim a famous victory over the Selecao, but instead Brazil earned a 1-1 draw.
Nestory Irankunda gave Australia the lead midway through the second half with a stunning free-kick, but Rayan’s powerful header from Raphinha’s corner ultimately pulled Brazil back into the match.
Brazil also had a goal ruled out by VAR on the stroke of half-time, as Bruno Guimaraes was deemed to have fouled Harry Souttar in the build-up to Estevao slotting home.
It was a new-look side for Carlo Ancelotti, who opted against picking his old guard following their World Cup exit.
Rayan believes it was a fair result in the end, though, and is determined to make sure Brazil end up on the winning side when they face off for the second time on Tuesday.
“We don’t step onto the field to lose; we step onto the field to win,” Rayan told Sportv.
“But it wasn’t possible. Although we have another chance against them and we’ll go for the win.
“We know that we have to improve our defensive side. We also knew how to play, but we know that we have to improve.”
A Seleção Brasileira encerra o primeiro compromisso deste novo ciclo com empate e volta a campo na próxima terça-feira, às 7h, novamente contra a Austrália. #BateNoPeito pic.twitter.com/ZVOmgcXUnb
— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) September 25, 2026
Brazil will feel they deserved not to walk away as the losing side, given they finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.2 from their 16 shots to their opponents’ tally of 0.5 from their seven attempts.
While Brazil’s superstars failed to hit the heights they have often shown in the past, Irankunda caught the eye of both coaches, with Ancelotti heaping high praise on him.
“We knew this, fantastic player,” Ancelotti said.
“We watch a player with a lot of talent who is doing very well in Europe. We knew this kind of situation on set pieces, but his shot… fantastic.”
And Australia head coach Tony Popovic was equally as complimentary of the 20-year-old, who he believes has benefited hugely from his move to Sporting CP from Watford.
“Nestory knows what we think of him. He’s 20 years old. He started three games at a World Cup, played half a game in the other, and he’s moved to a bigger club,” Popovic said.
“There’s a clear difference in Nestory already. He’s matured so quickly in a short space of time in terms of what’s expected at Sporting.
“What he’s learning is that the transfer is one part. Now you go to a new club. They don’t give you minutes, they don’t guarantee you minutes, they give you nothing. You have to earn everything.
“So, he delivered, played very well, and he’ll only get better. He’s a young kid. I expect by the next World Cup, hopefully, he gets a lot of minutes at a bigger club; there’ll be a big improvement.
“But yeah, just a wonderful person. Nothing’s changed for us in how we feel about him and how we are together.”
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