The ruthless Matildas have thrashed Uzbekistan 10-0 to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in style, with Michelle Heyman scoring four goals to put her hand up for a ticket to Paris.
Australia led the tie 3-0 after Saturday’s first leg in Tashkent but blew Uzbekistan out of the water to win 13-0 on aggregate, with Caitlin Foord, Kaitlyn Torpey, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Amy Sayer also scoring.
Temperatures hit 36C in Melbourne earlier on Wednesday, but it didn’t deter a crowd of 54,120, which included Olympic greats Cathy Freeman and Anna Meares.
The Matildas took the lead inside 34 seconds at Marvel Stadium and never looked back, with Fowler at her spellbinding best in an eight-goal first-half rout.
“You could sense the focus in the group when the game started today,” coach Tony Gustavsson said.
“They were on a mission.
“Very good training session yesterday and then I know for a fact that these players feed off of the energy in the stands as well and that was massive tonight.
“You can see we’ve come out flying from from minute one.”
Heyman, 35, who also scored in Tashkent, replaced Emily van Egmond for her first international start since March 2018.
The striker’s movement and guile proved far too hot for Uzbekistan to handle as she snared a hat-trick inside the first 16 minutes.
“The job description for me as a forward is to just get in the box and score goals,” Heyman said.
“And that’s all I wanted to do was get out there and try and be in the best position every single time that ball got crossed in, to make sure I was there to finish.
“When I looked at Tony after the third one he was smiling and I even said, ‘I’ve got five in me – like, hold on!””
Second-gamer Torpey, 23, had a hand in three goals and scored her first international goal in her own compelling audition for the 18-player Olympics squad.
Australia took the lead when Torpey’s squaring ball deflected off Uzbek defender Dilrabo Asadova for an own goal.
Three minutes later, Fowler launched a diagonal ball from the left and Torpey brilliantly stuck out her right leg to cut the ball across goal.
Clare Hunt fluffed her shot but Heyman was on hand to tuck it away.
For the third, in the eighth minute, Steph Catley lofted a ball in from the left that dipped for Heyman to nod home.
Heyman sealed her hat-trick when Fowler threaded a great ball behind the Uzbek defence for the striker to put away.
Torpey scored the fifth in the 22nd minute when Uzbekistan failed to clear a corner and she rifled a close-range strike into the roof of the net.
Rarely troubled, Mackenzie Arnold made a strong save to deny Uzbekistan captain Lyudmila Karachik in the 28th minute.
Six minutes later, Katrina Gorry picked out Fowler with a wonderful inside pass and the playmaker rifled home.
In the 38th minute, Uzbekistan failed to deal with a Kyra Cooney-Cross free kick and Foord pounced for Australia’s seventh.
On the stroke of half-time, Uzbekistan cleared a corner off the line but Torpey squared it for Heyman to stoop and head home her fourth.
Heyman, Foord, Gorry and Ellie Carpenter came off at half-time, for Sayer, Tameka Yallop, van Egmond and Raso, while Charli Grant replaced Catley in the 65th minute.
Raso rifled home in the 68th while Sayer’s first international goal in the fourth minute of injury time put an exclamation mark on the victory.
Jash
Roar Rookie
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Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
What about Channel 10 , their one high rating program they dont promote, you keep pointing out channel 9 and channel 7 are doing this and that. Yes they promote NRL and AFL non stop, The AFL ad I have also noticed is at a very high volume compared to normal programming. Channel 10 what is the story, no one wants to point the finger at them, everyone makes excuses for them, they are no 1 problem. Its not like they dont do promos they are non stop now its in the jungle. The APL are asleep at the wheel Channel 10 is a disgrace.
Grem
Roar Rookie
With e amount of advertising they get from Channel 9, the news, newspapers, etc they should be able to have more viewers than the Matildas on 10. You’d have to be dead to not know that rugba loig is in LA!
Punter
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies did it against their arch-rivals New Zealand in Melbourne where a lot of Kiwis live. The Matildas did against a little known not rivalry central Asian country, not too many Uzbeks in the crowd last night.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Will be interesting to see how the NRL games goes from Las Vagas this Sunday arvo with ratings. 1st game of the NRL season showcased in the USA channel 9 has been really pushing it and the games over there have been in the news for weeks. Its a shame Ch 10 didn't get the Olympics but there tight on money.
Grem
Roar Rookie
That’s bigger than NRL grand finals and many Origin games. The Matildas are unbelievably popular, they are the highest rating broadcast for Channel 10 and they didn’t buy the Olympics telecast!
Grem
Roar Rookie
They are amazing. What a shame that wasn’t at the MCG (even if it is a dreadful football ground) as they would have cracked 100000.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I hope Polkinghorne and Van Egmond are not selected! They are too slow, recent games have shown they aren’t good enough anymore, and younger players should be selected ahead of them
Garry
Roar Rookie
He will pick a 3rd cb..so that means probably Luik or Polkinghorne. Im hoping he goes for Van E as a ‘CB’ using her as a utility. I think he might pick Yallop for her experience and I dont believe Torpey is guaranteed tho she perfomed well. The problem is if you bring back Logarzo – I would – spaces up front are limited.
Saffi
Roar Rookie
Great effort by the Matilda’s. Heyman and Torpey should have cemented their places in the Olympic team. But, Tony is Tony. You just can’t trust him. Instead of bringing Logarzo, Wheeler and Grant on at half time, to see if they can add anything to a successful first half he brings on his favourites, Raso, Van Egmond and Yallop.why? I suspect so that he avoided being embarrassed by those two putting in a big performance and having more selection headaches. As it is Sayer doesn’t justify selection, Heyman definitely does. Van Egmond doesn’t justify while Raso or Yallop do. As it is, 15 player's are obvious inclusions (if fit) Fowler, carpenter (back to her best), Raso, Gorry, Catley, Cooney -cross, Foord, Torpey, Arnold, Heyman, Vine, Grant, Kennedy, Hunt (best defender by a mile) , Micah. That leaves 3 spots. My guess is that Tony then goes …. Yallop/Van Egmond/Luik/ because he doesn’t know or trust any others. I hope I’m wrong and that Logarzo/ Simon and McNamara (if fit) get a run in the next friendly to offer serious alternatives to the main team.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
FOOTBALL: MATILDAS V UZBEKISTAN 10 2,122,000
Blink
Roar Rookie
We do like to see the team playing with confidence so that was a very comprehensive win. We have a chance at an Olympic medal which would be epic to win.
pacman
Roar Rookie
What an embarrassment, and in particular the behaviour of many (or most) of the fans. No signs of humility, which I thought was warranted in view of the lowly standard and ranking of the opposition. That aside, the Matildas were too strong, too fast, and too strong for the opposition, so well done. Tougher days ahead.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies got 53,245 in Melbourne in 2022 for a midweek Thursday Bledisloe Match, it was a sell out. Maybe they could have on a Wednesday night as well??? No chance anyone but the Matildas could do it in 2024.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Ruthless performance in first half with no mercy shown. Great to see. Haven't seen anything of the tie but interesting to see Japan only winning by 2-1 over two legs against North Korea. With only 12 teams in the tournament, getting a medal is not out of the question. That would be an amazing legacy on the field to go with everything they've done off the field in so capturing the Australian public's attention.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Certainly TG continuing to select Emily van Egmond makes one wonder about what he sees when he watches a game. At least he put Heyman on from the start, a proper striker who understands which runs to make, and how to get in front of a defender to get to a cross first. Kerr obviously knows all this; no-one else in the squad does. Logarzo has come into really good form in the ALW and I reckon she is worth a place in the 18, certainly ahead of EVE and Yallop.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I was impressed by Heymans physical condition, she tracked back to the penalty area with a decent turn of speed. Its a lot tougher for her in the A-league W than against Uzbekistan but she has scored over a dozen two years in a row. I would have liked to see Sophie Harding get a go she has scored 9 goals this season. Logarzo has scored 8 as an am. Amy Sayer has she scored in Sweden, is she a starter ,the Swedish women stats arent in soccerway, she is certainly not a striker, Missed a lot of chances, doesnt hold the ball up well, the only thing is she finally got the ball in the back of net unlike Van Egmond. Van Egmond despite the Uzbekistan lack of athleticism she looked the slowest player on the field as she does in the A-league W. Butt has been okay in the A-league W , but would not be in the top 20 Australian players in the A-league W. Torpey was good only selected after she gets a transfer out of the A-league, Gustavsoon for all we know is sitting back in Sweden he is not based Australia watching the EPL and drinking beer thats the impression I get.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Heyman was outstanding. She led the front line with real passion and determination that we haven't quite seen before for a long time. Our WAL has unearthed a real gem that bodes well for our local competitions.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Matildas for qualifying for the Paris Olympics, but what did we learn? Our fringe players outperformed the regulars.
Punter
Roar Rookie
The buzz about the Matildas is real. They have star quality in Sam Kerr, Catlin Foord & Mary Fowler. They have real Ballers like Cross-Cooney & Gorry. They have heart like Kennedy, Carpenter & Heyman. Long may it continue.