City trio book Olympics spot with play-off victories | OneFootball

Alanna Kennedy, Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa each secured their place at the 2024 Olympic Games with play-off victorious in AFC qualification.

Kennedy and Fowler both helped Australia cruise to a 10-0 victory over Uzbekistan, with the latter grabbing a goal and assist as part of the rout in Melbourne.

Having also got on the scoresheet in a 3-0 first leg triumph earlier in the international break, Fowler repeated the trick with the Matildas’ sixth of the evening, firing a vicious first-time effort into the top corner from Katrina Gorry’s pass.

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City’s number eight had already turned provider by that point, with her pinpoint cross from the left providing Michelle Heyman with a simple finish to complete a 16-minute hat-trick.

Tony Gustavsson’s side were in control from the get-go and found themselves eight goals to the good by half-time in Melbourne.

Further strikes from former City winger Hayley Raso and Amy Sayer rounded off an emphatic victory, as Australia confirmed their spot at Paris 2024.

Things were less clear cut for Hasegawa’s Japan, but they also ensured they’d feature at the Olympics with a hard-fought 2-1 win over North Korea.

With the first leg having finished goalless in Jeddah last week, both sides knew the victors in Tokyo.

The City midfielder had a huge hand in the game’s opening goal, finding Mina Tanaka with a free-kick, whose header was tipped onto the crossbar by Pak Ju Mi.

Hana Takahashi was first on the scene to nod home inside 30 minutes, with the World Cup quarter-finalists doubling the advantage through Aoba Fujino after the break.

Kim Hye Yong pulled one back for the visitors late on, but Japan held on to progress.

Congratulations to Alanna, Mary and Yui for booking their place at this summer’s Olympics!