Michelle Heyman has scored her first worldwide purpose in virtually eight years to encourage a 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan and drag the Matildas one step nearer to a spot on the Paris Olympics.
Of their first match since famous person skipper Sam Kerr tore her ACL in January, Australia understandably missed one of many world’s greatest strikers on the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent.
The Matildas have been scratchy and lacked cohesion, whereas Emily van Egmond had a horror evening up ahead, lacking one sitter and failing to transform two different possibilities she would usually bury.
Coach Tony Gustavsson turned to Canberra United star Heyman, 35, to switch van Egmond off the bench within the sixty fifth minute, and the veteran delivered simply eight minutes later.
In her first look since 2018, Heyman headed residence her twenty first purpose for Australia and her first since netting twice in opposition to Zimbabwe on the Rio Olympics on August 9, 2016.
Mary Fowler, who was fantastic within the second half, scored a elegant particular person purpose within the 84th minute, and Caitlin Foord headed residence within the 86th to seal victory.
It means Australia will head into Wednesday’s second leg at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium with a vital 3-0 lead within the tie.
Debutant Kaitlyn Torpey began on the wing, sporting Kerr’s quantity 20 however was hooked for Foord, who was having her recreation time managed, at half-time.
Australia had 75 per cent of possession within the first half however simply 4 pictures and one heading in the right direction, however they completed with 26 (eight heading in the right direction).
They need to have taken the lead within the twenty first minute when Torpey tried to sq. for van Egmond as a substitute of capturing.
Hayley Raso dragged a first-time strike vast on the half-hour mark, and shortly afterwards van Egmond hooked over the bar.
Simply earlier than half-time, van Egmond did not get a header heading in the right direction from point-blank vary.
Within the 54th minute, Fowler curled an exquisite ball behind the Uzbekistan defence and van Egmond inexplicably did not faucet residence.
Heyman headed over the bar a minute after approaching, then delivered the lead when she nodded a nook onto the bar earlier than following up with a second header.
Fowler then intercepted a clearance with an exquisite first contact, weaved between defenders and ripped a incredible long-range strike contained in the close to publish.
Foord discovered area and turned residence a Steph Catley cross to wrap up proceedings.
Take a look at how all of the motion unfolded in our reside weblog under.
Key occasions
Last ideas
Initially: whew.
That first half was fairly rusty, as anticipated, however Tony Gustavsson’s substitutes gave the Matildas precisely the power and dynamism they wanted to unlock what had been, till then, a really strong Uzbekistan defence.
Michelle Heyman can be completely buzzing, scoring her first purpose since 2016 upon her return to the nationwide group after a four-year retirement, whereas Mary Fowler and the wonderful Caitlin Foord added objectives two and three.
You’d should assume the Canberra striker is a lock to start out within the second leg in Melbourne on Wednesday: she offered Australia with a goal participant, peak, energy, and essential motion to convey different gamers into the sport round her.
Now that they’ve made it by means of this chilly first recreation, the Matildas return residence with wind of their sails and a 3-0 benefit, which is strictly what they’d have wished.
Thanks a lot for becoming a member of me on the weblog for tonight’s recreation, and I can not wait to be again right here on Wednesday as we see whether or not the gals can qualify for his or her third Olympic Video games in a row!
See you then!
Full-time: Uzbekistan 0 – 3 Australia
Crowd numbers
Robbie Thompson has stated the group in Tashkent is slightly below 2,500 folks.
As of at this time, virtually the whole lot of Marvel Stadium is bought out for Wednesday’s second leg.
The Uzbekistan gamers will not be prepared for noise like that, I reckon.
Permutations
What occurs if Tillies win tonight and Uzbekistan wins Wednesday evening? Who goes to Paris?
– EveWintergreen
It relies on how a lot Uzbekistan hypothetically win by.
If Australia end this recreation 3-0 winners, Uzbekistan would want to win at the very least 4-0 in Melbourne on Wednesday to qualify for Paris.
90′ Three minutes of time added on
Similar, actually
UZB’s goalie kicking the ball again within the web after the third purpose is so actual. I’d be so annoyed
– Em for Matildas
89′ Australia substitution
Ellie Carpenter comes off for Charlie Grant.
Catchy!
The track we sing right here, Hey hey Heyman ooohh ahhh, I wanna know when you’ll kick that purpose!
– Canberra is cool
Yiew!!!
And once more ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Mary Fowler– Vic in Vic
HaHAAAAAA! Heyman + Fowler
– Huge Ben
Mary Mary Mary you beaute
– Em for Matildas
Simply my luck. I step out to place stuff within the fridge, and the Tillies rating a purpose. Belated Hooray, anyway!
– SeonaBath
Floodgates open. Thanks Caitlin! ⚽️💚💛
– Leo
85′ GOAL AUSTRALIA
Caitlin Foord makes it three!
The Matildas have been making an attempt this transfer all evening: a winger chipping a cross in behind Uzbekistan’s defenders to search out the pinnacle of an attacking participant, and this time Caitlin Foord is there, on their own, to nod residence a perfectly-weighted cross from Steph Catley.
3-0!
Hail Mary!
Mary Fowler you famous person! 😍⚽️💚💛
– Leo
83′ GOAL AUSTRALIA!
MAGIC MARY FOWLER MAKES IT TWO!
The midfielder has been chipping away at Uzbekistan’s defenders all evening, and this time she simply goes route one: choosing up the ball in deep midfield and dancing previous three gamers all by herself.
She skates in the direction of the highest of the field and steadies herself, unleashing her deadly proper foot by means of the rubber to ship a shot low and onerous throughout the goalkeeper and into the underside nook of the online.
2-0!!!
82′ Australia substitutions
Aivi Luik replaces Alanna Kennedy, whereas Tameka Yallop comes on for Hayley Raso.
80′ Probability Australia!
Goodness me, that was virtually a weird second purpose for the Matildas.
An extended, dipping cross from Mary Fowler far out on the left wing is falling completely into the Zone Of Hesitation between Caitlin Foord and Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper, with each of them considering the opposite was going to the touch it, just for neither of them to get it in any respect.
As a substitute, the ball bounces previous all of them and a puff goes across the floor because it virtually nestles into the far nook of the online, however bounces simply vast as a substitute.
77′ Matildas desire a second
They have been attacking Uzbekistan in waves for the previous 5 minutes, coming in in any respect angles and making an attempt to maintain the tempo and stress up on their opponents.
Catley’s corners have been on-point all evening, and are trying like Australia’s greatest attacking weapon for the time being. Alanna Kennedy might have nodded residence the Matildas’ second purpose a couple of minutes in the past, however she mistimed her soar. Clare Hunt did the identical simply now.
You’d assume they will be working a bit extra on ending their headers within the interim earlier than the second leg of this collection on Wednesday evening, however would not it’s nice to snag one or two extra objectives right here in order that the stress is off in Melbourne?
I certain would love that.
Woohoo!!!!
YYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
– Natty
Lastly ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ Michelle Hayman
– Vic in Vic
Oh Michelle! I’m in tears! ⚽️💚💛😍
– Leo
CRYING SCREAMING THROWING UP I AM SO HAPPY
– Em for Matildas
Lastly! Tillies rating off a nook in how lengthy? Thanks Ms Heyman and welcome again.
– Huge Ben
72′ GOAL AUSTRALIA!
MICHELLE HEYMAN SCORES IN HER COMEBACK GAME!
A superb nook from Steph Catley angles in in the direction of the entrance publish, bobbling off Heyman’s shoulder and clanging off the crossbar.
It might have deflected wherever, but it surely fell straight again to her, and he or she nodded it over the scrambling Uzbekistan defender on the road and into the online.
1-0!
