Olympics 2024: Australia score 10 against Uzbekistan as Japan edge North Korea to qualify

Heyman’s two appearances against Uzbekistan were her first international matches in six years

Australia beat Uzbekistan 10-0 while Japan edged out North Korea to seal their places at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.

Michelle Heyman scored four of the eight first-half goals, with Hayley Raso and Amy Sayer adding one apiece after the break in Melbourne.

Australia lost to the United States in the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020.

Japan, winners of the silver medal in 2012, survived a late scare against North Korea to progress with a 2-1 win.

Kim Hye-yong’s late goal gave North Korea hope of a first appearance at the Olympics since 2012, but strikes from Hana Takahashi and Aoba Fujino were enough for Japan to join Australia as one of Asia’s two representatives in France.

Having won the first leg against Uzbekistan 3-0, Australia’s dominance continued in front of a sell-out crowd of 54,120 at Docklands Stadium.

Heyman, whose appearances against Uzbekistan were her first international matches in six years, netted a hat-trick in just 16 minutes and scored her fourth just before half-time.

Manchester City midfielder Mary Fowler, Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord and Kaitlyn Torpey were all also on the scoresheet for Tony Gustavsson’s side.

“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.”

One of the final three remaining spots for the women’s football competition at Paris 2024 will be decided later on Wednesday, with either the Netherlands or Germany joining France and Spain as Europe’s representatives.

South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia are the six teams bidding for the two qualifying spots for African countries.

Along with France and Spain, the United States, reigning champions Canada, Brazil, Colombia and New Zealand have all already qualified for Paris.