sport news Matildas 'ROBBED' after 'clearly off-side' goal nets Portugal a last-gasp draw ... trends now

Australia may have put the horror of last week's 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain behind them, but a controversial 87th minute goal to Portugal ensured the Matildas could only draw the contest 1-1.

In their first meeting since 2018, and fourth overall, the hosts enjoyed the majority of possession and chances in the opening half at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota in Estoril, Portugal.

It had many fans wondering whether Australia would begin to crumble like the seven goal rout to Spain on Sunday - but they lifted in the second half.

It was Princess Ibini-Isei who broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute, with the 22-year-old scoring her first goal for the Matildas off a lovely cross from Emily Gielnick. 

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson sung the praises of his exciting winger, the sister of Socceroo Bernie Ibini-Isei, after the game.

'Princess is a game-changer, coming in at halftime and not only scoring but showing that she wanted to be a part of this and that's something we talked a lot about,' he said of Ibini. 

Admittedly Australia could have found themselves reduced to 10 on the field, after the referee appeared to give the wrong player a yellow card for a foul on Portugal midfielder Tatiana Pinto on the edge of the box.

Courtney Nevin, who was already on a yellow card, appeared to make contact with Pinto; but it was Charlotte Grant who was given the infringement despite protesting her innocence.

There were a number of questionable refereeing decisions in the match, but the yellow card fiasco was far from the worst blunder.

Substitute Telma Encarnacao scored for Portugal with just minutes left in the match after a sloppy turnover by the Matildas - but replays showed she was very clearly offside.

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