Before they book their tickets for France the Matildas need to rubber stamp their qualification. That will occur on Wednesday night in Melbourne when the second-leg of this playoff takes place.

I’ll be back on deck for that, please feel free to stop by and keep me company. Until then, goodnight.

While all the focus will be on Heyman and Australia’s striking stocks, credit is due to the supporting cast, most of whom were superb tonight. The core of Kennedy, Hunt, Cooney-Cross and Gorry bossed the middle of the park, Carpenter and Raso were a permanent speedy menace down the right, Fowler wasn’t sighted often but everything she did oozed class, and Catley’s delivery remains world class. This is a side that can head to Paris confident of competing for a medal.

Hopefully Heyman’s impact will force Tony Gustavsson to consider his plans. Without Sam Kerr for the Olympics Australia need a solution in attack and it was clear how much better the Matildas were with a recognised No 9 on the field. Not just the way Heyman straightened up attacks and provided movement in the box, but how she created space for Fowler and Foord around her. The contrast with players asked to play out of position in the first half was stark.

Australia dominated from the first whistle to the last against limited opposition and eventually ran out comfortable victors. For an hour there was plenty of toil with little to show for it but the introduction of Michelle Heyman provided some much needed cutting edge. After she nodded home the opener the dam burst and the Matildas could have left the first leg with more than three goals.

90 mins: “Well if anything typifies the ‘it’s like a bus’ joke then this is it,” emails HarryofOz. “No goals for ages - then three at once :) Go the Matildas.” To continue the analogy, it just needed the bus company to roster on an extra driver to get things moving.

89 mins: Gorry almost makes it four but her shot from the edge of the box isn’t clean and ends up safely in the goalkeeper’s arms.

85 mins: The scoreline is now finally a fairer reflection of Australia’s dominance. Wednesday night should now be a celebration.

83 mins: Now Carpenter should score! Another floated ball in from the left from Fowler finds Carpenter steaming in at the far post but the header isn’t kept down and on target.

81 mins: It should be two! The floating ball in from the left looks destined for Foord’s forehead but the unmarked striker doesn’t connect and the cross bounces agonisingly wide of the far post.

79 mins: Another Catley corner, another Hunt header, but this one doesn’t lead to anything. Australia could fill their boots in these closing stages.

77 mins: Uzbekistan look weary now, struggling to force their bodies upfield after booting the ball clear. Carpenter is still full of running though and she works a one-two with Gorry but the resulting cutback doesn’t find a target. Foord joins the fray, and she earns another corner.

76 mins: Kennedy again has an opportunity with her head from a corner but she can’t direct her effort on target.

75 mins: Another threat from a corner with Hunt and Kennedy causing problems in the air. Australia have the bit between their teeth now.

74 mins: It’s almost as though a team is more likely to score a goal when it plays with a striker.

72 mins: Australia keep probing and Foord has a snapshot deflected behind for a corner.

70 mins: Raso has to do better with the final ball after excellent work from Heyman through the middle. Foord was free at the far post but the cross was too close to the goalkeeper.

68 mins: Gorry lets fly from distance but it’s always slicing away from the target.

67 mins: Heyman then wins the header from the corner, flicking on at the near post, but she has to watch it skim just over the bar.

66 mins: Australia already look more dangerous. Fowler runs at the Uzbekistan midfield before slipping in Foord on the left. Heyman feints to go near post then peels to the back as the cross is glanced behind for a corner.

65 mins: Not before time, Michelle Heyman is finally on the field. Van Egmond makes way after a frustrating 65 minutes.

64 mins: Foord goes on her first mazy run of the night, and it ends with a diagonal ball into the box that is deflected into the path of van Egmond, but her cutback cannot find a teammate.

63 mins: Repeat free-kicks and throw-ins have disrupted the flow of the game. It’s all got a bit scrappy and niggly.

62 mins: Mackenzie Arnold into action! For the first time tonight the Australian goalkeeper has to rush off her line and gather at the feet of Kurdatova after good work from Khabibullaeava following a throw-in.

60 mins: Fowler has time in midfield and picks out van Egmond between the lines, but the No 10’s control lets her down and a promising opportunity ebbs away.

59 mins: A lovely ball into the channel finds the onrushing Raso. Her ball across the top of the box finds Fowler cutting in from the left, but after a lovely first touch the ball doesn’t settle and the snapshot squirts high and wide.

57 mins: After that bright start to the half the tempo has slowed a little. It suits Uzbekistan who can catch their breath and restructure defensively.

55 mins: Stick a couple of scruffy goals on this scoreline and it’s a routine night for the Matildas. As it is, it’s hard not to question the judgement of a coach who refuses to select a recognised striker for a side that struggles to score goals.

53 mins: How are the Matildas not in front? Fowler gets on the ball finally on the left and her wand of a left boot curls over an inch perfect cross that van Egmond side-foots over the bar from point-blank range.

51 mins: Australia are camped inside Uzbekistan’s territory again with the hosts all at sea when they try to clear their lines. But the Matildas need broken play to exploit their pace and look stagnant when the game slows to a walking pace. eventually Hunt larrups a throughball-cum-shot from 40m that is gathered by the keeper. Mary Fowler is isolated and under utilised on the left.

50 mins: Carpenter and Raso again slice through Uzbekistan on the right. This time it’s Raso with the cross and this time it finds a forward eager to shoot, but Foord, just on, shanks her effort over the bar. The Matildas have started this half well.

48 mins: Raso and the excellent Carpenter link well down the right but the latter’s cross isn’t attacked in the box. Cooney-Cross picks up the pieces from miles out and lets fly, forcing the keeper to tip over the bar awkwardly. Catley’s corner is dangerous but Uzbekistan do enough to clear. The second ball in is even more threatening but van Egmond shows a creator’s instinct as the ball lands at her feet six yards out when something more direct was required.

46 mins: We’re back underway in chilly Tashkent. Can Australia break the deadlock?

It looks like a change at the break for the Matildas, and an obvious one, with Caitlin Foord coming on for debutant Kaitlyn Torpey.

“Matildas lacking creativity and ideas… seems to be a common theme. Is it Tony G?” asks James Paraksevas, “or do we not have the players”. I don’t think we will ever know if we have the players or not James, if Gustavsson doesn’t pick them.

Gustavsson has led a charmed life in terms of scrutiny compared to Klinsmann.

Lots to like from the Matildas in that half – apart from one glaring issue. Out of possession they look composed, structurally they are well drilled, and they are all trying to play neat sophisticated football. But without a striker it’s all hat no cattle. Kaitlyn Torpey has looked uncomfortable in her attacking role on debut, and Emily van Egmond simply doesn’t offer the required cutting edge.

45+5 mins: Australia continue to push and Catley gets in behind on the left from a throw-in. She picks out van Egmond with her cross but the resulting header glances well wide.

45+4 mins: The ball spends a rare couple of minutes in Australia’s half with Uzbekistan winning repeat throw-ins down their attacking left. Nothing threatening comes of it and Australia seize the opportunity to play on the counter through Fowler, but with two teammates in the box she fails to beat the first defender.

45+2 mins: Lovely feet from Kennedy, allowing the ball to run across her body and invite danger before striding out of trouble. She releases Raso down the right and Australia should have a corner but inexplicably the set-piece goes Uzbekistan’s way.

45 mins: Australia get a free-kick from deep. Catley lofts it in, it comes off an Uzbekistan head and Jonimqulova makes a simple save. The hosts can’t play their way out of defence again though but Torpey cannot capitalise.

43 mins: Australia have gone off the boil in possession in the past ten or so minutes, but there’s nothing wrong with their workrate winning the ball back. Carpenter and Gorry in particular have been busy and physical.

41 mins: An indication of the problem facing Gustavsson is when Fowler takes possession off Hunt on the left wing near the halfway line, looks up, and sees only a gaping hole where a recognised striker should be. Either Fowler needs to be further up the field or a forward not named Kerr needs to be trusted with that role.

39 mins: Fowler then gets on the ball in attack and curls over a delightful low cross that arcs between the goalkeeper and back four, inviting Torpey to challenge at the back post and force a corner. Nothing comes of it.

38 mins: Uzbekistan string two passes together around halfway and Kurdatova has space to run into. But not for long with Fowler soon on the scene to cover. That’s as good as it’s been for half-an-hour for the hosts.

35 mins: Meanwhile, Kennedy is very fortunate not to be booked for lunging after a loose ball and catching Nabikulova high on the shin.

34 mins: I hope Mackenzie Arnold is wearing thermals because she’s had nothing to do in the freezing cold.

33 mins: Uzbekistan are all over the place. They cannot retain possession and continually give the ball away cheaply trying to play out from the back.

31 mins: Now van Egmond should score! Another cross from the right causes panic in the Uzbekistan defence. Jonimqulova can’t deal with the threat under pressure from Raso, but from eight yards out van Egmond slices a volley over the bar with the goal at her mercy.

30 mins: Chance! Best of the night so far perhaps and the outcome of another demonstration of Australia’s preferred pattern of play. The build up is precise down the right, with a ball into the channel freeing the wide runner, Torpey. She pulls the ball back for Raso, but on the burst she scuffs her shot across the face of goal. That’s the move we’ve seen so often from the Matildas in recent seasons.

29 mins: Uzbekistan make a meal of playing out from the back but, not for the first time tonight, Torpey looks uncertain what to do with the ball at her feet. She is clearly playing in an unfamiliar role.

27 mins: I know we’re only 27 minutes in, but I’d already sub on Michelle Heyman. Uzbekistan have fashioned absolutely nothing. The tie is there for Australia to win tonight and turn Wednesday into an exhibition.

24 mins: Gustavsson’s repeated reluctance to replace Kerr with another genuine striker is frustrating. Surely Australia cannot head to Paris without having a serious look at an alternative No 9, not just a rotating cast of No 10s.

22 mins: Somebody shoot! The Matildas carve their way through Uzbekistan with Carpenter underlapping superbly, but after feeding in van Egmond on the shoulder of the last defender the auxiliary striker eschews the shot and the extra pass is cleared.

20 mins: And Torpey should score on debut! The play began wide on the right, as expected, and Raso whipped in a perfect cross that van Egmond could have attacked first near the penalty spot, but she leaves it for Torpey at the far post. Instead of shooting, the San Diego signing tries to square the ball back across goal but missed her target. She will regret not going for goal.

19 mins: Torpey was down for a while after suffering a knock, but she’s good to go.

17 mins: Hunt and Gorry demonstrate that relationship to execute a precise move out of defence that breaks the initial press. The shift to the right then frees Australia down the flank but from the wide attacking area the ball cannot make its way into a shooting opportunity in the box. That looks to be the pattern of the match. The Matildas just lacking that attacking threat, as you might expect without either Kerr or Foord in the line-up.

15 mins: Australia’s core five of Arnold, Kennedy, Hunt, Gorry, and Cooney-Cross are so assured now as a unit. There is great understanding, they know how to trust each other without the ball and how to find each other in possession. It provides such surety to side to have that portion of the pitch locked down.

13 mins: There is Mary Fowler! For the first time tonight the Manchester City schemer got on the ball and drifted gracefully into the finally third, stepping inside onto her right foot and rifling a low shot that Jonimqulova does well to save low to her right. She suffered a bump to her lower back in the process but she’s fine to continue. Fowler showing her obvious class there. Australia need to get her on the ball as often as possible.

11 mins: Raso again uses her pace to find some space – on the right this time – but she loses control and the ball runs free.

10 mins: Australia’s speed is all out wide. On the right Carpenter is eager to overlap, while on the left Raso is darting around linking up well with Catley. Fowler hasn’t seen much of the ball yet though, and she will be the vital link between those wide sorties and a goal threat.

8 mins: Uzbekistan are set up in a 4-2-3-1 without the ball, holding their shape nicely, unafraid of conceding space to van Egmond, not the paciest lone striker going around.

6 mins: Catley gets away with an awful pass out of defence, straight to Khabibullaeva. Bodies get around the ball and the eventual shot from range is deflected behind for a corner, that is dealt with easily.

5 mins: All Australia in these early stages, keeping the ball moving in defence and midfield, not allowing Uzbekistan to settle into a low block.

3 mins: Australia are looking bright early on and switch the ball from back to front quickly through Catley and Raso – now buzzing over on the left. The move ends when Gorry can’t pick out a target in the box from deep.

2 mins: Catley’s inswinger is dangerous and earns another corner. The second set-piece is menacing too but Kennedy can’t divert her header on target and Uzbekistan deal with the second effort.

1 min: As expected, Torpey does start wide on the left, but it’s the Australian right side that begins proceedings brightly. Raso and van Egmond dovetail nicely and as the latter darts into the box the ball is smuggled behind for a corner.

Out come the two sides into the freezing conditions. Uzbekistan are top to toe in royal blue. Australia are in their change uniform of teal. The match ball manufacturer is… Molten.

The TV camera pans out to reveal around 1,000 or so fans in the stands, wrapped up warm.

A clutch of intrepid Matildas fans have made the journey to Tashkent. There don’t appear to many locals around to drown out their chants.

The Matildas will be playing in their teal change strip tonight.

Tony Gustavsson has had a few words with Channel 10, most of them were not worth reporting, but he did drop an interesting nugget about Australia’s style of play tonight, and especially the importance of Alanna Kennedy. “Extremely good on the ball,” Gustavsson said. “She knows when to hold off and when to invite pressure, when to penetrate, through and around and over, almost like a quarterback. She is very important for us.”

The Matildas have spent the past week in a training camp in sunny Dubai. They landed in frigid Tashkent yesterday where temperatures are hovering around zero. They are currently “warming up” as light snow drifts onto the turf.

Paris 2024 qualification is almost complete. Seven of the 12 teams are already known:

France (hosts)
USA & Canada (CONCACAF)
Brazil & Colombia (CONMEBOL)
New Zealand (OFC)
Spain (UEFA)

By the middle of next week they will be joined by:

Australia or Uzbekistan (AFC)
North Korea or Japan (AFC)
Netherlands or Germany (UEFA)

And finally, sometime in April, two sides from CAF will complete the line-up.

Torpey’s selection continues a meteoric ascent. The 23-year-old, Melbourne City’s players’ player of the year, has just joined San Diego Wave in the NWSL for a record transfer fee understood to be $75,000.

With a return leg to come on Wednesday in Melbourne, it makes sense for Australia to adopt a risk-free approach in Tashkent. It might not make for the most thrilling contest, but that’s qualification football.

“Sometimes those sort of games can be a little frustrating. But we’ve got a few tools now to use to break down the opposition,” explained veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne.’ It’s key for us to remain positive and remain calm and stick to our processes and our gameplan.”