Matildas beat North Korea 2-1 to book place at Rio Olympic Games

THE Matildas are on their way to Rio. A 2-1 win over North Korea in Japan booked their place in the Olympic Games after a 12-year absence.

OSAKA, JAPAN - MARCH 07: Michelle Heyman (1st R) of Australia celebrates scoring her team's first goal with her team mates during the AFC Women's Olympic Final Qualification Round match between North Korea and Australia at Yanmar Stadium Nagai on March 7, 2016 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

THE Matildas are on their way to Rio. A 2-1 victory over North Korea last night confirmed Australia’s place at the Olympics in Brazil later this year, the first time they have made the Games since 2004.

Katrina Gorry’s late goal sealed the win, the fourth in a row at the qualifying tournament in Osaka, and sealed a fantastic achievement by Alen Stajcic’s squad.

In fact Australia had weathered a nervous start, under intense pressure from North Korea for the first quarter hour. Playing a little within themselves, no doubt as fatigue begins to creep in, Australia waited for the right moment - and then struck.

Michelle Heyman was the architect and builder, flicking on a long ball to Caitlin Ford on the right wing, and racing into the box in anticipation. Ford’s cutback bypassed two players and found Heyman for a confident finish from 12m.

North Korea’s response was ugly. First Kim Nam Hui reacted to a careless tackle by Chloe Logarzo by kicking out, only getting a yellow card that should have been red. Then goalkeeper Lydia Williams was poleaxed by a horrendous, studs-aloft tackle by Ra Un Sim straight into her chest.

Australia’s Michelle Heyman (right) celebrates her team’s first goal.

When they concentrated on football, the Koreans were equally threatening. On 37 minutes Kim Yun Mi deftly crossed to the far post, where Kim Un Ju blazed high over the bar when the goal beckoned.

Just before the break, Williams moved smartly to gather a header from Wi Jong Sim, as North Korea’s attacking waves kept coming. On 55 minutes Williams produced a save from the top draw, clawing away a shot from Kim Yun Mi after the ball was headed back across goal.

Deeper and deeper the Australians defended, and needed a second goal. On 71 minutes it so nearly came, via two substitutes, Lisa Da Vanna and Kyah Simon. De Vanna surged from her own half, feeding Simon on the left - her chipped cross to the far post found Gorry all alone, but her shot was superbly saved by Hong Myong Hui.

The miss looked even worse moments later as North Korea broke, and when a pass was struck into the area, captain Ra Un Sim touched it on to Kim Su Gyong to drive home a powerful shot. For a few moments, Australia looked rocked, but we should have known better.

With eight minutes left, Simon drove a low cross in from the right - Ford touched it back, and Gorry scored with a superbly accurate low shot.

Originally published as Matildas beat North Korea 2-1 to book place at Rio Olympic Games