WATCH: CommBank Matildas book ticket to Paris with 10-0 victory over Uzbekistan

Taryn Heddo 1709118986,1709122502

The CommBank Matildas have decisively defeated Uzbekistan 10-0 in the AFC Olympic Qualifiers (Third Round) second leg in front 54,120 fans in Melbourne.

The aggregate victory of 13-0 over the two-legged tie means that Australia has qualified for the Paris 2024™ Olympic Games.

Tony Gustavsson made two changes to the side that won 3-0 in Tashkent, with Michelle Heyman and Caitlin Foord replacing Emily van Egmond and Hayley Raso in the starting eleven. It was a move that paid off, with Heyman scoring four goals in the first half, and Foord adding one of her own.

The home side wasted no time getting scoring underway. Kaitlyn Torpey – in the starting lineup for the second time after impressing in her debut – forced a deflection off an Uzbek defender that nestled into the back of the net.

Michelle Heyman soon got to work. Torpey was again involved, controlling the ball from a long diagonal and crossing it into the path of Heyman, who finished well.

She added her second after a cross from Catley and completed her hattrick thanks to some good work from Mary Fowler.

The 22nd minute was a moment that Kaitlyn Torpey will remember forever. The ball fell to her after a corner and she made no mistake, finding the back of the net for her debut goal.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: Kaitlyn Torpey of Australia celebrates with team mates after scoring her second goal during the AFC Women's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 Asian Qualifier Round 3 match between Australia Matildas and Uzbekistan at Marvel Stadium on February 28, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Kaitlyn Torpey celebrates with Clare Hunt after scoring her first goal. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Uzbekistan showed glimpses of their talent in transition, with their captain Karachik Lyudmila forcing a save out of Mackenzie Arnold. However, they were unable to capitalise, and it wouldn’t be long before Australia asserted themselves once more. With less than ten minutes to go in the half, Katrina Gorry found Mary Fowler in the box and the Manchester City player made no mistake, absolutely rocketing the ball into the back of the net to make it six.

Caitlin Foord made it seven, pouncing after a rebound, before Michelle Heyman added the icing on the cake of her performance with her fourth in first-half stoppage time.

Half-time saw mass substitutions from Gustavsson. Amy Sayer, Tameka Yallop, Hayley Raso and Emily van Egmond all made their way onto the pitch, replacing Heyman, Foord, Gorry, and Ellie Carpenter.

Charli Grant also got a chance for some minutes, replacing captain Steph Catley in the 65th minute, with vice-captain van Egmond taking the armband.

The half-time changes slowed the goals, but not Australia’s dominance. After hitting the side-netting - and coming close on several other occasions – Raso was the one who broke the second-half deadlock, finishing well at the back post after a clever leave from Emily van Egmond.

Mary Fowler was everywhere throughout the game, playing a vital role in the CommBank Matildas' incisive attacking play.

Central to everything in the second half was Amy Sayer, who played well but was still searching for her debut national team goal. It took until stoppage time, but in her 11th national team appearance, she put away a clinical finish in the penalty area.

In the end, it was a job well done for Tony Gustavsson and his side. They will take lessons from this window with them as they prepare for the Olympic Games in July and August.