Michelle Heyman has delighted in scoring her first international goal in almost eight years to inspire a 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan and drag the Matildas one step closer to a place at the Paris Olympics.
In their first match since superstar skipper Sam Kerr tore her ACL in January, Australia understandably missed one of the world’s best strikers at the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent on Saturday.
Coach Tony Gustavsson turned to Canberra United star Heyman, 35, to replace Emily van Egmond off the bench in the 65th minute, and the veteran delivered just eight minutes later.
Mary Fowler, who was wonderful in the second half, scored a sublime individual goal in the 84th minute, and Caitlin Foord headed home in the 86th to seal victory.
“I am so happy,” Heyman said.
“It’s just so nice to be back with the girls, back playing for my country and to come on and score a goal is a dream come true.
“It’s what I wanted and I am so happy to get it done.”
In her first appearance since 2018, Heyman headed home her 21st goal for Australia and her first since netting twice against Zimbabwe at the Rio Olympics on August 9, 2016.
“I didn’t know. That’s just wild,” she said.
It was a compelling audition for the 18-player Olympics squad.
“Really happy for her because I know how hard she has worked for such a long time,” Gustavsson said.
“And I also need to credit her for the energy she brings into the group when she comes in.
“She gives energy as the game changer even when she is not playing and then when she comes in, she does what she is here to do, scoring goals off the bench.”
It means Australia will head into Wednesday’s second leg at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium with a crucial 3-0 lead in the tie, despite a wasteful and sometimes scratchy performance.
Debutant Kaitlyn Torpey started on the wing, wearing Kerr’s No.20 but was hooked for Foord, who was having her game time managed, at halftime.
Australia had 75 per cent of possession in the first half but lacked cohesion and had just four shots and one on target.
Van Egmond in particular had a horror night in attack, missing one sitter and failing to convert two other chances she would normally bury before being replaced by Heyman.
But after Heyman scored, the flood gates just about opened – and Australia ultimately finished with 26 shots (eight on target).
“It was a very mature performance. We didn’t panic and get frustrated from not scoring in the first half,” Gustavsson said.
“(But) we left way too many goals on the table. Our conversion rate must have been really bad. We could have scored, we left a lot of goals out there.
“That needs to be better on Wednesday.”
Heyman delivered the lead when she nodded a corner onto the bar, then followed up with a second header.
Fowler then intercepted a clearance with a wonderful first touch, weaved between defenders and ripped a fantastic long-range strike inside the near post.
Foord found space and turned home a Steph Catley cross to wrap up proceedings.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
There are so many good and some great Matildas playing in top quality leagues that they have to have a good chance in any tournament. Of course, TG can stuff it up again with nonsensical selections, and poor squad management within games and across a tournament. At least there are fewer games in the Olympics so less chance of completely exhausting the repetitively picked players.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
She is excellent. Good control, deceptively quick and elusive, locked in as defensive midfielder for years to come.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Grem, Hunt for me is one of the top 3 defenders in the world. She's strong, relatively quick and has great sense of positioning. We are so lucky to have her now that a few of the other central defenders are getting on. If only she can improve her heading at attacking corners! She should already have had a few international goals from set pieces.
chris1
Roar Rookie
So true about her being a conundrum. She misses absolute sitters and yet she is nearly always in the right place. She has scored some critical goals for us from midfield and then gives away the ball in dangerous situations. I'd rather have her than not as she is a class player - minus the bloopers!
Grem
Roar Rookie
There’s a lot of gems in that team. We’ll see how we go against Spain, etc at the Olympics (I assume we’ll make it), but our defence is looking very promising. Hunt’s another gem.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Personally I see KCC as the hidden gem..she’s back covering, hard to get the ball off, lays exquisite passes (why she takes corners) and covers a lot of ground. She looks slowish but as actually reasonably fast too. She only needs to imrpove her shooting!!
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
She has had her moments but lacks the class for this level of competition imo.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Her goal was an absolute beauty. What a strike.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
I had great doubts about Tony G’s competence through the WWC; in particular, the way he kept the same players constantly on the field until the team that played the semi was worn out. And last night’s game made me feel that I could do a much better job of picking the team than he does…. Perhaps Gary van Egmond has some compromising photos of TG? But really, Emily is no longer worth a place in the team. She is not a defensive midfielder, she is not an attacking midfielder, and she is certainly not a replacement for Kerr. I would have had Heyman on from the start instead. She is fit, in excellent scoring form, and she is an actual striker. I also wonder when Wheeler will get a go instead of Gorry. Gorry runs and runs, but much of her passing is straight to the opposition, her shooting is reliably non-threatening, and she fouls a lot. The really bright spot is Fowler. We saw her deliver deadly dipping crosses equally easily with both feet, we saw her track back effectively in defence, and her goal was a masterclass in throwing defenders and goalkeeper off balance. Perhaps her lack of starting time at Manchester City is a blessing for the Matildas, as she is here not having been overworked.
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
As a long time critic of EVE as a midfielder I am going to give her a pass for last night’s bloopers. It can happen to anyone on occasions. Two good touches and we would have need have been singing her virtues. I thought she played the same role with some aplomb during the World Cup and is actually one of Gustavsson’s successes. He has got value out of her when she was going from bad to worse as a midfielder. However, she remains a conundrum. She looked a class above in her short ALW stint but her slow legs mean every touch needs to be next to perfect to perform reliably at international level.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Question for NoMates – the Matildas last night had 1.5 million people watching them on Channel 10. How did that compare to Peppa Pig and the rugby league “world” Club Championship game? Please inform us.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
That was embarrassing from Van Egmond, two point blank opportunities. Even if she's not normally a striker her reaction time is too slow, even when she's back up field she turns possession over too easily. Time to put her out to pasture.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Thought that was going to be a 0-1 sucker punch, glad it wasn’t.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
She’s been a good servant for the Tillies over the years, but she’s been slow and off the pace for a while now and that showed last night. She should not be in the squad anymore. Ditto Polkinghorne. Time to give some young guns a go.
Garry
Roar Rookie
she looked good but reluctant to shoot so they needed goals…Foord natural replacement plus they didnt want to over play Foord.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Strange tactic to play EvE up front, as versatile as she is, she simply dose not have a strikers instinct for goal. Great to see Torpey, yet another QAS/Roar product, get her senior debut. Not sure why she was replaced at half time, and great to see Heyman score on return. Given the location, a good win.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
I'm amazed to see V E in the squad let alone in the starting line up. And number 9 at that.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Strange tactics, Gustavsson seems to want overseas clubs to sign up players because he is unable to pick out players or doesn't watch A-league womens. The record transfer fee business. Well this is the first I have heard of a transfer fee ever from the A-league womens, so it could be anything and be a record. Torpey at City I would have though Galic would have been worth a try at wing, I think there was some tactical decision to play for time in the first half, the Matildas played slow, I think this played into Uzbekistands hands. Gorry had a horror show in the first half maybe it was something to do with Gustavsson flying in to Uzbekistan from Dubai. Maybe he thinks he is a genius this tactic is done in South America to avoid being ambushed by the opposition fans in the hotel. Another strange decision Fowler to drop deep and Van Egmond to play as the 9. Van Egmond had a shocker of a performance and nearly produced a miracle result for Uzbekistan. When your playing a team that defends so much you need a proper 9 and certainly not VAn Egmond. Van Egmond is so slow and getting slower, Heyman might be older but would beat her in a sprint easily. Gustavson is Liuk going to be kept around till she is 50, this bringing her on a sub is quite weird as well. Tameka Butt another incumbent, she is not even the best player at her club, Logarzo has helped put Western United back up the table.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Hopefully Heyman starts in Melbourne in front of a full house. If the Matildas click it could be a real party atmosphere. 1 more win (or not losing by three) guarantees their attendance at another Olympic Games. Congratulations to this wonderful team and long may this success continue.