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That brings an end to our live blog coverage of the Matildas’ Olympic qualification campaign. It was the final step tonight as Australia secured their ticket for Paris.
A 10-0 scoreline against Uzbekistan was a brutal result, the match effectively sewn up after only 15 minutes.
Stay with this website for analysis from Emma Kemp plus all the news from the rooms as Australia digest what they’ve done.
Good night and thanks everyone.
Michelle Heyman’s right arm was in the air, feet fast at the edge of the box, eyes behind her back up the field. Waving at Mary Fowler with a brisk assuredness reserved for those who have done something successfully many times before and know they will do it again if they are given the ball.
Waving at Fowler but also waving at Tony Gustavsson. Telling the Matildas coach that the concept of scoring a goal is a simple administrative activity. “If you give me that file, I will put it in the filing cabinet. Give me another and I will slip that one in, too. In Tashkent four days ago. In Melbourne tonight. In Paris five months from now - if you choose to take me.”
Heyman did not score after this particular wave, 27 seconds into the home leg of Australia’s final qualifying tie. But she did pivot expertly and then pass the file to Katrina Gorry, who laid off to Kaitlyn Torpey for a cross that took such a devilish deflection off Dilrabo Shokirboy Qizi Asadova the deficit was 1-0 after 34 seconds.
By the 16th minute it was 4-0 and Heyman had a hat-trick. By the time she was subbed off at half-time she had four. Four files dutifully deposited in their rightful place. Yes, Uzbekistan’s drawer opened pretty smoothly. Granted, the world No.47 opponents did not require much oiling. But if the 45-minute shift the 54,120 at Marvel Stadium witnessed on Wednesday is not considered a fulfilment of all desired criteria then the job description missed the mark.
Michelle Heyman scored four first-half goals as Australia demolished Uzbekistan 10-0 on Wednesday to book their place in the women’s soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics.
Having won the first leg of the Olympic qualifier 3-0 on a freezing day in Tashkent, Australia were ruthless on a stifling night at Melbourne’s Docklands stadium where Heyman’s haul thrilled a sell-out crowd of 54,120.
“It was very special,” said Matildas captain Steph Catley.
“Everything we sort of set out to do we’ve done so it’s a proud moment for us to get to another Olympics.”
The Matildas’ qualification for Paris brings a smile to all Olympians.
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.
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.
Heyman, 35, who also scored in Tashkent, replaced Emily van Egmond for her first international start since March 2018.
The Matildas have been given their official ticket to Paris 2024 by Australian Olympic great and cycling great Anna Meares.
They accepted the ticket away from their special Matildas stage, as that is from Football Australia, not the Australian Olympic Committee.
Now they have moved over to the FA’s stage and put on their winners t-shirts.
A dubstep remix of the unofficial Australian anthem, Land Down Under, is playing over the speakers here as the Matildas huddle on the pitch celebrating their victory.
Suffice to say, the crowd is very, very pleased.
Oui oui!
The fans are waiting around to see the Matildas acknowledged as booking their place at the Olympics.
There will be a presentation from the AOC shortly while Uzbekistan’s players and staff are still shaking hands and taking in the scenes - they were soundly beaten tonight but will bounce back from this disappointment.
The Matildas have formed their traditional post match cycle and are talking through the win.