Michelle Heyman scores in her Matildas comeback as Australia take a big step towards qualifying for the Paris Olympics

Returning veteran Michelle Heyman scored her first Matildas goal in eight years as Australia moved a step closer to Paris with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in the first-leg of the Olympic Games qualifier in Tashkent.

Despite dominating possession, the Matildas wasted a host of opportunities before Uzbekistan’s resistance was finally broken in the final 20 minutes of the contest to ensure the Australians would have a handy advantage heading into Wednesday night’s second-leg at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

The injury-enforced absence of superstar striker Sam Kerr was telling for the majority of the contest, and it wasn’t until the entry of Canberra United striker Heyman in the 65th minute that the Matildas finally upped their game in front of goal.

In her first national appearance since 2018, Heyman broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, heading the ball home from close range after Uzbekistan failed to deal with a Steph Catley corner.

It was 35-year-old Heyman’s 21st goal for the Matildas and her first since finding the back of the net against Zimbabwe at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“Back playing for my country, to come on and score a goal, it’s a dream come true,” Heyman said.

“It’s what I wanted and I’m so happy to get it done – it’s a really nice feeling.”

The Matildas then further upped the ante with goals from Mary Fowler and substitute Caitlin Foord in the final 10 minutes ensuring the Australians would enjoy the lengthy trip home ahead of the second leg.

“When you come home to home soil, and see the fans, and the memories we had from Melbourne from the World Cup, that’s going to recharge them so much, so the energy is not going to be a problem in that game,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson promised.

Earlier, it seemed it was going to be one of those days for the Australians, who lacked potency for a large part of the contest.

The Matildas had the first chance of the game in the 11th minute when Fowler found some space on the edge of Uzbekistan’s penalty area.

The Manchester City star unleashed a right-foot shot that was well saved by goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova.

Debutant Kaitlyn Torpey had a great opportunity to give the Matildas the lead in the 21st minute after Hayley Raso found her unmarked at the far post with a well-placed low cross.

However, instead of shooting, Torpey attempted to square the ball into the path of Emily van Egmond but failed to find her new San Diego Wave teammate.

The Matildas had another chance on the half-hour mark, but Raso couldn’t hit the target after the ball had been cut back into her path by right-back Ellie Carpenter.

A minute later it was van Egmond’s turn to waste a gilt-edged chance after Uzbekistan keeper Jonimqulova failed to properly deal with a Torpey cross.

Jonimqulova punched the ball straight to van Egmond, but the Matildas stalwart blazed her shot over the crossbar.

Van Egmond was again wasteful in first-half stoppage time when she couldn’t direct a header on target after Catley found her teammate unmarked with a dangerous cross.

The Matildas continued to attack after half-time, with midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross’ long-distance strike in the 46th minute tipped over the crossbar by Jonimqulova.

Three minutes later Foord, who came for Torpey, blew a golden chance when she couldn’t hit the target after being found unmarked in the penalty area by a Raso cross.

There was more agony for the Matildas in the 54t minute when van Egmond somehow failed to score from inside the six-yard box after running on to a perfectly placed cross from Fowler.

However, the Matildas’ persistence was to finally pay off, with Heyman’s introduction proving crucial.

Shock omission

Arsenal star Caitlin Foord, the Matildas’ best attacker in the absence of Kerr, was left out of the starting side.

Team officials said Foord wasn’t injured, with her omission instead part of “managing her load” ahead of Wednesday night’s second leg in Melbourne due to her recent busy schedule with the Gunners in the English Women’s Super League.

With the Matildas’ attack lacking potency, Foord was brought on at the start of the second half for Torpey.

Originally published as Michelle Heyman scores in her Matildas comeback as Australia take a big step towards qualifying for the Paris Olympics