Women’s World Cup penalty shootout hero Cortnee Vine has withdrawn from the Matildas’ Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan for personal reasons.
Sydney FC speedster Vine, who famously buried the winning spot-kick in Australia’s marathon quarter-final victory over France, has been replaced by in-form Western Sydney striker Sophie Harding.
Vine (26 caps, three goals), joins injured skipper Sam Kerr (ACL) in missing the two matches.
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If Australia win the two-legged play-off against Uzbekistan, they will guarantee qualification for the Paris Olympics.
Wanderers forward Harding, 24, has received her first call-up for the games in Tashkent on February 24 and Melbourne four days later after scoring nine goals and notching two assists in 15 games.
Harding sits second only to Michelle Heyman (13 goals) in the A-League Women golden boot race.
“I received a call actually on a 10-hour shift last night from the assistant coach of the Matildas that I’d been called up for the camp in Dubai,” Harding told Western Sydney’s media.
“I was very overwhelmed. I just burst out laughing because I was so shocked in a way and then I got a bit teary and then rang my mum and Robbie (Wanderers coach Robbie Hooker) and they were all so excited.
“It’s a super-important moment for me. It’s obviously extremely exciting, something I’ve dreamt about for a long time
“Sometimes it didn’t really seem achievable so this season’s been super important in playing a part in that and I’m really excited to just take in as much knowledge as I can and learn as much as I can.
“They’re some of the best female players in the world so just playing around them in itself is a privilege.”
The Matildas will train in Dubai from February 19 to 23 before heading to Tashkent.
Melbourne City sensation Daniela Galic, 17, will head into the lead-up camp in Dubai as a train-on player after scoring five goals and notching four assists this season.
Galic will then link up with the Young Matildas for the U23 Women’s Asian Cup, also in Uzbekistan.