Matildas hero out of qualifiers for 'personal reasons'

The Matildas' hopes of qualifying for Paris 2024 have been dealt another blow after Sydney FC forward and World Cup hero Cortnee Vine withdrew from this month's Asian qualifiers against Uzbekistan.

In a statement released by Football Australia on Thursday, it was announced that Vine would be replaced in the Australian squad by Sophie Harding, citing personal reasons.

The squad is already missing superstar striker Sam Kerr after she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in January during a mid-season camp in Morocco with her Women's Super League team Chelsea.

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For the two-legged tie, Vine has been replaced by Western Sydney Wanderers forward Harding.

The 24-year-old currently sits equal second in this season's A-League Women's Golden Boot competition having scored nine goals in 15 games.

Harding's elevation marks her first call-up for the national side.

She joins fresh inclusions Michael Heyman, Jada Whyman, Chloe Logarzo and Kaitlyn Torpey while Kerr, Lydia Williams and Charlize Rule were ruled out with injury, and Alex Chidiac was omitted.

Young Matildas midfielder Daniela Galic will also link up with the squad as a train-on player when the team assembles for a five-day training camp in Dubai next week.

Vine famously sent the Matildas' to the FIFA Women's World Cup semi finals for the first time after slotting her penalty shot to seal victory over France.

The Matildas will first meet Uzbekistan next Saturday in Tashkent before hosting them at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, February 28 as part of the third and final round of the Asian qualifiers.

The team that wins the series will qualify for the Olympic Games as one of two nations representing the Asian Football Confederation in the 12-team field.

The first qualifying match will be the second meeting between the two teams, with their last encounter taking place in 2007 during qualification for Beijing 2008.

On that occasion, Australia ran out comfortable 10-0 winners after racing to a five-goal lead in just 25 minutes.

Host nation France, the USA, Brazil and Colombia have already secured places for the Olympics Games.