Michelle Heyman scores four goals on return from Matilda’s retirement as Australia beats Uzbekistan 10-0 to seal place at the Paris Olympics
- Michelle Heyman scored four goals for Australia on Wednesday evening
- The 35-year-old veteran was handed a shock recall from the Matildas squad
- Matildas is about to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris
Michelle Heyman scored four first-half goals as Australia defeated Uzbekistan 10-0 on Wednesday to clinch their place in the women’s football tournament at the Paris Olympics.
After winning the first leg of the Olympic qualifier 3-0 on a freezing day in Tashkent, Australia were ruthless on a stifling evening at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium, where Heyman’s catch thrilled a sell-out crowd of 54,120.
“It was very special,” said Matildas captain Steph Catley.
“Everything we set out to do, we did, so it’s a proud moment for us to get back to the Olympics.”
With Sam Kerr and Kyah Simon sidelined through injury, Heyman has made the most of her first international matches in six years, scoring in both legs against world number 47 Uzbeks.
Michelle Heyman scored a hat-trick for the Matildas within sixteen minutes
The 35-year-old veteran was handed a shock recall from Tony Gustavsson’s side
In Docklands, the 35-year-old striker had a hat-trick after 16 minutes and scored her fourth in stoppage time before half-time.
Heyman was subbed off in the second half and was unable to add to her numbers, but may have already convinced coach Tony Gustavsson to include her in his squad for Paris.
Defender Kaitlyn Torpey also got on the scoresheet in the 22nd minute, along with Mary Fowler (36th) and Caitlin Foord (38th) as the Matildas stormed out to an 8-0 lead at half-time.
A bleak evening for football in Uzbekistan became even bleaker when goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova was injured in a goal and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher shortly after the restart.
Australia’s scoring dried up in the second half after Gustavsson adjusted his formation, but substitute Amy Sayer completed the rout in stoppage time after Hayley Raso’s 68th-minute goal.
Women’s World Cup semi-finalists Australia, who qualified for their third consecutive Olympic Games, will bid for a first medal in Paris three years after reaching the semi-finals in Tokyo.
Japan defeated North Korea 2-1 in the other qualifier to book their ticket to Paris after the two sides drew 0-0 in their first leg.
