Australia defeats Uzbekistan 10-0 and qualified to Paris 2024

Melbourne: Australia were at their clinical best as they beat Uzbekistan 10-0 in the second leg of their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024™ Asian Qualifiers Round 3 tie to book their place in the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 13-0 aggregate score.
In front of a packed Docklands Stadium, Tony Gustavsson’s team put on an emphatic display scoring eight goals in the first half, to confirm passage to a fifth Olympics participation.
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The Matildas got off to a dream start, going ahead within the first minute, when Kaitlyn Torpey’s cross was inadvertently sliced into her own net by Dilrabo Asadova.

Australia doubled their lead in no time, when just three minutes later Mary Fowler’s deep cross found Torpey at the back post and her pass back into the centre was converted by Michelle Heyman.
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It became 3-0 in the eight minute when Stephanie Catley ghosted into space on the left and her delivery was inch perfect for Heyman to nod past Uzbekistan custodian Maftuna Jonimqulova.

Heyman then completed her hat-trick eight minutes later when she turned in Fowler’s cross.
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Uzbekistan failed to clear their lines from a corner kick in the 22nd minute with the ball eventually falling into the path of Torpey, who slammed in a powerful shot from close range to add to Australia’s score.

Midori Honda’s side did fashion a goalscoring opportunity midway through the first half but captain Lyudmila Karachik’s shot was blocked by Mackenzie Arnold, before Australia added another three goals through Fowler (36th), Caitlin Foord (38th) and Heyman (45th+3).
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Momentum remained in favour of Australia in the second half despite four changes made by Gustavsson, however, substitute goalkeeper Kumushoy Gulomova was in excellent form to block shot after shot.

One of four half-time changes, Real Madrid star Hayley Raso eventually increased Australia’s lead in the 68th minute before Amy Sayer’s goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time sealed a comfortable win for the Matildas.