Veteran Michelle Heyman leads demolition job as Matildas love affair goes on

Eighteen minutes in, and a break of play allowed Michelle Heyman to trot over to the bench for a drink. By that stage the Matildas’ rediscovered striker had quite incredibly created one goal and scored three herself. No 2 on her back, but now, seemingly first choice.

In the moment Canberra United’s finest wore a sheepish grin, expressing wordlessly how it shouldn’t be this easy. Met by giddy team-mates, she gave them a hug. Quenched her thirst. Looked up to the 54,120 fans in attendance. Then coach Tony Gustavsson lent in through the crowd of players, offering a fist bump.

It was not quite yet a ticket to Paris, but for the 35-year-old – the best comeback story in Australian sport – it was the closest thing to it. “He was smiling and I think I even said ‘I’ve got five in me’,” Heyman said, still grinning after the match.

The returning veteran ended up with four when she was taken off at half-time, five if you count the opener she scored off the bench in Tashkent. But the number itself didn’t matter. The cheers from the crowd, the love from her team-mates, the endorsement from the coach: Heyman was a Matilda again. “It’s been a very emotional roller coaster,” she said. “I’ve been pushing so hard to try and get back into the squad. And as soon as I got the email to say that you’re back in, I’m not letting it go.”

Late into the sweltering Melbourne night, smelling of – fittingly – champagne, Heyman was sitting in front of a crowded press room. Finally, her feats appeared to dawn on her. Her voice cracked with emotion. Tears welled in her eyes.

The Matildas celebrate after securing their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“It’s just been a long and a hard journey, but it’s been so rewarding because it’s worth so much more this time around, because of the hard work I’ve actually put in to get to where I am today.”

Heyman’s glorious return to the starting lineup was the exclamation point on another chapter in the Matildas’ spectacular recent tale. Look around Marvel on Wednesday, a 12th-straight home sellout, and the phenomenon shows no sign of slowing down.

This was the highest attendance for a standalone Matildas match in Melbourne, another milestone in the rise of this group of women with claim to the title of Australia’s team. The national women’s football side in recent years has revealed much about the country that had previously been unknown, or at least lain dormant.

Wednesday night delivered another revelation. Australia’s colours may well be green, gold … and purple. The prevalence in the crowd of violet Matildas goalkeeper jerseys – made famous at the World Cup last year and then released and sold out in hours earlier this week – reflected the commercial behemoth the side has become. Like lavender sprouting from a pile of bullion.

Onto the field and the occasion offered just enough tension at kick-off to electrify the surging mass of support. Qualification to Paris had not quite yet been confirmed after the 3-0 first leg win. When the first goal arrived within a minute it looked likely. By 8-0 at half-time, everyone got the message.

The second half became more of an exhibition, marked by a smoking guns goal celebration from Hayley Raso and Amy Sayer making it double figures in injury time. Yet every corner was still celebrated gleefully by the doting crowd. Ten-nil the match finished, tying the Matildas’ largest ever win over their opponents.

In contrast to the struggles in the first leg, midfielders Gorry and Mary Fowler were incisive going forward. Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter found penetration on the flanks. And Kaitlyn Torpey – the 23-year-old who recently set a record for attracting the highest outbound transfer fee ever recorded in the A-League Women – was an early standout. The winger had a leading role in much of the first-half damage, and scored the fifth herself.

But the star was Heyman, finishing with aplomb with both foot and head, and showing the class that age cannot weary. No player seemed to enjoy her success more than Gorry. They are long-time team-mates and both veterans of the vicissitudes of Australian football. At the final whistle, the diminutive midfielder jumped on the striker’s back. Heyman took the weight easily.

Gorry admitted afterwards, the striker had been missed. “It just feels like home, having her back in camp,” she said. “The energy that she brings, not just on the field, but off the field is something pretty special.”

Another record crowd, another record score, and for the Matildas another major tournament beckons. The bandwagon rolling on, and with room for one more.

“It’s grown so much since 2010 when I first debuted to where we are now,” Heyman said. “It’s just an incredible feeling to be able to be a part of that journey. And to see what football in Australia has done.”

The Olympics qualification was celebrated with a giant novelty plane ticket and an audience with Cathy Freeman. But with Paris looming in July, there’s still one thing that needs doing, according to captain Catley.

“This team wants to achieve something special. We already have done some amazing things over the years, but I think we definitely want something physical to show for it,” she said.

“I think this team’s hungry to win something.”