That was until Heyman came on in the 65th minute. Almost immediately, the Matildas just looked better for having an actual striker on the field. Lo and behold, seven minutes after her introduction, Heyman’s finishing touch broke the deadlock from a set piece.

From there, the Uzbeks unravelled, the Matildas relished the suddenly open space in front of them, and Foord and Fowler finished the job. This was all part of the plan, Gustavsson said post-match, although a better plan might have involved Heyman from the outset.

“I am so happy,” Heyman said. “It’s just so nice to be back with the girls, back playing for my country and to come on and score a goal – it’s a dream come true.”

When the ‘false nine’ system works, it works. But when it doesn’t, they need a back-up plan - preferably one that doesn’t involve chucking Alanna Kennedy up front. Heyman is the answer.

Kerr won’t make the Olympics, and there is unfortunately no up-and-coming striker ready to take her place. Foord and Fowler are amazing attacking players, but they’re only strikerish; they’re better used in other ways. Heyman, on the other hand, is an out-and-out traditional No.9: tall, strong, good in the air, and someone who can both sniff out a half-chance and make it count.

This isn’t just barracking for the fairytale, but there’s a bit of that. Many fans who are new to the Matildas would have no idea about Heyman’s long and storied history in the national team. Her lanky frame and short blonde hair were once as iconic as Hayley Raso’s ribbons or Fowler’s gloves, it’s just that fewer people cared back then. Before Saturday night, she hadn’t scored for Australia in eight years, hadn’t played for Australia in six, and when she sat out the 2019-20 domestic season after announcing her retirement from international football, it looked like she was done.

She’ll be 36 come Paris, but age has not wearied her. She’s been on fire since returning to Canberra United in the A-League, becoming the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer, but was consistently overlooked by Gustavsson until his hand was ultimately forced by Kerr’s injury.

He now reckons Heyman is in arguably career-best form.

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“She represents something we all should be extremely proud of,” he said. “When players are as professional as she is, you can actually have a very, very long career today in women’s football. And I think that’s amazing. She’s taking care of her body and her mind, she is having fun when she’s playing football ... she is well deserved to come back in.”

She also deserves a start on Wednesday night and, quite possibly, if Gustavsson can find a way to make the numbers work in his Olympic squad, one last major tournament with the Matildas – not for emotional reasons, but because they might need her, too.

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