Matildas, A-League news: Battle for Paris Olympics spots intensifies as stars impress on league return

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has a difficult few months ahead as he wrestles with the make-up of his Paris Olympics squad. And players aren’t holding back in trying to impress him.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: Michelle Heyman of the Matildas celebrates a 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 Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Matildas’ Australian-based players have wasted no time to re-impress Tony Gustavsson as the race to be selected in the smaller squad for Paris officially starts - with all three scoring goals.

Tameka Yallop, Chloe Logarzo and Michelle Heyman all scored goals for their respective clubs just days after their whirlwind Matildas camp finished in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Logarzo put away a penalty 10 minutes in- the second of four goals scored by Western United in their 4-2 win against Canberra United.

Heyman played the second half against Logarzo’s team scoring in the 95th minute.

Yallop put away the first of Roar’s two goals in their major upset win Melbourne City.

With just four rounds of the season left before finals and the Olympics not until July the A-Leagues based Matildas only have a few rounds left to show Gustavsson what they can do.

Their hardest challenge will be staying fit in the offseason. It will be interesting to see if any of them chase contracts with overseas clubs.

Michelle Heyman had a serious impact in her Maildas’ recall. Picture: Getty

CITY ISSUES

After dominating the competition for most of the season City have hit a major hurdle, failing to win in any of their past five outings.

The loss of Kaitlyn Torpey has hit them hard with impressive defender’s absence obvious in their 2-0 loss to Brisbane Roar.

City’s new Brazilian import Barbara was put under pressure early and she did well to keep a clean sheet in the first half.

The loss leave City now four points behind league leaders Western United and just one point ahead of Sydney FC.

The win has a huge impact on Roar’s chances at playing finals though putting them just one win away from sixth places sides Newcastle Jets, Western United and Perth Glory.

The Brisbane Roar delivered another blow to City’s title credentials. Picture: Getty

SYDNEY FC SURVIVE

Sydney FC have survived their first match without their six under-20s Australian players who are away in Uzbekistan thanks to an 18-year-old debutant.

Casey Tallon-Henniker, who joins the Sky Blues as an injury replacement last month, had an impact from the moment she came off the bench in the Sydney derby.

She earned the penalty which Mackenzie Hawkesby easily put away before scoring an impressive goal in stoppage time to lock in the score at 2-0.

Western Sydney Wanderers struggled from the start but being forced down to 10 players in the 72nd minute after a tackle on Cortnee Vine opened the gates for Sydney FC.

Western Sydney Wanderers are now sitting in seventh place, on the same points at Newcastle and Perth.

Originally published as Matildas, A-League news: Battle for Paris Olympics spots intensifies as stars impress on league return