‘Give me the ball’: Matildas saviour Michelle Heyman ready for USA clash – if selected

Waiting on the bench as the Australians were pummelled by Zambia on Sunday, veteran Michelle Heyman knew she could make the difference. “I was just waiting for my opportunity,” she said, rather diplomatically, after scoring a remarkable late winner to end an 11-goal thriller in Nice.

When Heyman was brought on midway through the second half, with the Matildas’ Olympic dreams hanging by a thread, the Canberra United striker had one thought in mind: “Let’s just change the game.”

Related: Matildas could face rude awakening in USA clash after fever-dream win over Zambia | Kieran Pender

Change the game Heyman did. Without an out-and-out striker on the pitch, the Matildas had slumped to a 5-2 deficit. Barely a minute after Heyman was introduced, the comeback had begun. And then with the game locked at five-all as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Heyman found herself alone in the box.

“I knew I had it,” she said afterwards. “The keeper was standing very central when I looked up, and I knew all I had to do was curl it around her.” The A-League Women all-time leading goalscorer calmly slotted it home. “I just I went for it,” she said. “I’m very grateful that I’ve still got it.”

In France, the absence of star striker Sam Kerr through a long-term ACL injury has posed a puzzle for coach Tony Gustavsson. In the opening game against Germany, he experimented with an interchangeable, roving forward line of Mary Fowler, Cortnee Vine, Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso. When that approach failed to fire, Gustavsson swapped out Vine for Emily van Egmond against Zambia. Again, no success.

With a crunch final group stage encounter with the United States, is it time for the Matildas manager to opt for his sole dedicated poacher, the saviour in Nice?

The fact of Heyman’s participation in this tournament at all is truly remarkable. In 2019, the striker was burnt out and nursing physical and mental injuries. Publicly, she indicated she was retiring from international duties. Privately, there was a bit more to it. “I had to just pretend that I wanted to retire but it was mainly because I got fired,” she would later reflect.

After more than a decade playing club football in the W-League, Denmark and the United States, Heyman had a season off. Retirement suddenly seemed on the cards – not just from international football, but the club game, too. Until in late 2020, Heyman returned to the club she had lifted to dual A-League championships and two premierships earlier in her career: Canberra United.

Back at a happy home, Heyman returned to form – scoring a hat-trick in her first game. She helped take United to the semi-finals in her return season back, before serving as a bright spot as the team struggled in subsequent years.

And so when Kerr tore her ACL, and the Matildas were suddenly in need of a striker, Gustavsson turned to the veteran. Heyman scored four, including a rapid fire hat-trick, in her first Matildas start in six years against Uzbekistan in the final Olympic qualifier. And suddenly, a player who had quit, or been shoved, from the national team was back for Paris 2024.

The 36-year-old brings with her the benefit of perspective. “I’m wiser now,” she said. “I don’t get – I’m nervous, but I’m not. I’m more excited than I’ve ever been. I’m just excited to get on the field, to be a part of this team, and prove to myself that I should be here.”

The United States will pose a stern test on Wednesday, as the Matildas return to Marseille – site of the opening defeat to Germany. Given the top two third-placed teams in the tournament progress to the quarter-finals, it is possible – although subject to outcomes in other matches – that the Matildas will progress even with a loss. A draw or a win would put them in a much stronger position, and likely avoid some of the tournament favourites in the next round.

Related: Matildas stay alive after late winner settles chaotic 11-goal Olympic thriller with Zambia

“We all know what the US are like – it’s going to be another high-energy game,” Heyman said. “We just got to build momentum off this [Zambia] game. We’ve got the three points now, we have something within us, now we just have to go out there and give it our all and keep pushing for each other. I think it’s going to come down to belief within the team, and hard work and dedication, to do everything we can to get that win.”

Whether Heyman starts up front or on the bench, the veteran will again back herself to make an impact as she enjoys an Indian summer in a career that almost ended five years ago. Back in the national team and back scoring important goals, Heyman is here to make a difference.

“I just love football, I love scoring goals,” she said as she reflected on her winner against Zambia. “And it just makes me happy. I was like, ‘give me the ball, I’ll show you, give me the ball, I promise I’ll get one.’” Get one she did – can Heyman now get a few more to help the Matildas stay alive at the Olympics?