The Matildas have booked their ticket to Paris for the 2024 Olympic games after completely dismantling Uzbekistan at Marvel Stadium in a 10-0 win.
Australia 10-0 Uzbekistan
By Emma Burke 28/2/24
Above: Australia celebrate a goal in front of over 54,000 fans. Photo: Football Australia
The first goal came seconds into the first half, after Kaitlyn Torpey’s cross was deflected into the back of the net.
From there the floodgates opened and showed absolutely no signs of stopping.
Michelle Heyman, in her first start for the Matildas in six years, scored four goals, while Katilyn Torpey collected her first ever international goal. Caitlin Foord also found the back of the net, along with Mary Fowler who scored what looked like an exact replica of her penalty against France in the World Cup, only during the run of play this time.
The Matildas ultimately headed into the rooms at half time up eight goals as Uzbekistan conceded an own goal in the opening minute of the game.
The second half saw a slew of changes made by head coach Tony Gustavsson. Emily van Egmond, Hayley Raso, Amy Sayer, and Tameka Yallop all stepped onto the pitch, while Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry, and Michelle Heyman all left the field.
Australia still looked threatening, attacking Uzbekistan at every turn, but took their time in finding the back of the net again.
Hayley Raso was the one to find the back of the net, capitalising on a very clever dummy play by van Egmond.
It wasn’t until the final play of the game, in the fifth minute of stoppage time that the Matildas hit double digits.
Another dummy play, this time facilitated by Tameka Yallop, who let a cross from Charlotte Grant, the last substitute of the evening, roll right through her legs into the waiting path of Amy Sayer.
With a final aggregate score of 13-0 to the Matildas, they received their boarding pass to Paris, a four-foot long Qantas ticket, presented to the team by Australian Olympic Cyclist Anna Meares.
Australia (4-4-2): Arnold, Catley, Kennedy, Hunt, Carpenter, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Torpey, Fowler, Heyman, Foord Substitutes: Van Egmond, Yallop, Grant, Sayer, Logarzo, Polkinghorne, Luik, Wheeler, Whyman, Micah
Scorers: Asadova (OG) 1’, Heyman 4’, 8’, 16’, 45+2’, Torpey 22’, Fowler 36’, Foord 38’, Raso 68’, Sayer 90+5’
Uzbekistan (4-1-4-1): J. Maftuna, Feruza, Nabikulova, S. Maftuna, Kuchkorova, Dilrabo, Ilvina, Umida, Mamatkarimova, Nilufar, Lyudmila Substitutes: Madina, Setora, Z. Norboeva, Diyorakhon, Bakhtiyarova, Kumushoy, Omina, A. Norboeva, Nozimakhon, Rustullaeva, Shokhida
Crowd: 54,120
Referee: Yamashita Yoshimi
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