A third Barbra Banda Olympic hat-trick wasn’t enough for Zambia as Australia came from behind to win an almost unbelievable 11-goal thriller in Nice on Sunday night.
Both sides came into this game knowing only a win would do, having both lost their opening games 3-0 to Germany and the United States respectively. It was a match that had the world glued the pitch and on the edge of their seats for the full 90 minutes but it ended in heartbreak for Zambia despite their magnificent efforts.
Banda takes control for Zambia
Banda got the scoring underway inside a minute in stunning fashion. Taking Racheal Nachula’s pass into her stride, the Orlando Pride forward turned Clare Hunt and unleashed a long range scorcher that gave Mackenzie Arnold no chance.
With seven minutes gone, Australia pulled it level thanks to an Alanna Kennedy header. The Matildas’ defender timed her run into the box to perfection to convert Steph Catley’s inviting free-kick. After a frenetic opening, the game settled down as both sides traded chances.
In the 21st minute, however, Zambia retook the lead and chaos ensued. Rachel Kundanandji was quickest to react to a poor touch from Emily van Egmond in midfield. Nipping in to take the ball, she drove through the heart of the Australia defence and coolly slotted home from a narrow angle.
The Copper Queens extended their lead in the 33rd minute through Banda’s second of the evening. Esther Siamfuko’s free-kick on the byline was punched away by Arnold, but only as far as Banda, whose shot whistled home between Clare Hunt and Katrina Gorry.
Less than a minute later, Australia were back in it when Kyra Cooney-Cross’ corner was misread by goalkeeper Ngambo Musole. Hayley Raso made no mistake to head home at the back post. That made it 3-2 to Zambia in case you’d lost count.
Banda finished the half as she started, by scoring to put her country 4-2 ahead. There was a touch of fortune about this one as the ball cannoned in off her from Van Egmond’s attempted clearance from Lushomo Mveemba’s ball into the box.
However, for the incredible Banda, it was a third Olympic hat-trick to add to those she scored against the Netherlands and China in Tokyo.
Australia turn the tables in the second half
Straight from the kick-off, Kabange Mupopo let rip with a fierce drive which Arnold did well to parry. Luck wasn’t on Banda’s side this time and she couldn’t adjust her feet quick enough to tap home.
The two most expensive women’s players in the world combined with 10 minutes played. Banda won her side a free-kick, which she took, playing a perfect pass into the path of Kundanandji. The Bay FC forward didn’t have to break stride to head Zambia into a scarcely believable 5-2 lead.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson reacted by making a triple change, bringing in Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Wheeler and MIchelle Heyman. Two of those — Wheeler and Heyman — were involved as Australia hit back instantly.
Wheeler laid the ball out to Foord on the right. Her high cross came back off the far post and fell into the path of Mary Fowler, who squared the ball for Heyman. The Canberra United legend backheeled the ball towards goal. Mveemba tried to clear off the line, but could only hit the back of the stranded Musole to make it 5-3.
After having what looked to be a fourth goal disallowed, the Tillies did get another on the scoresheet to pile the pressure on Zambia. A Catley free-kick from 25 yards out went through the Zambian goalkeeper’s hands, leaving her crestfallen.
Australia complete the comeback in Paris
From there, Australia threw caution to the wind, desperately searching for the goals to keep their Olympic dream alive. With 13 minutes to play, the lifeline they were be looking for arrived. Foord was fouled in the box by Esther Muchinga and after a VAR review, a penalty was awarded. Catley made no mistake, sending the ball past the despairing dive of Musole for her second of the night. That made the scoreline a quite ridiculous 5-5. And things weren’t done yet.
Kundanandji and Heyman both passed up good chances to grab a sixth for their sides as the madness continued. And then, with 90 minutes on the clock, came the final twist in a tale that will go down in Olympic lore. Cooney-Cross showed great strength to win the ball from Banda deep in her own half. Moving the ball forward, Catley picked it up in the centre circle before playing a slide-rule pass through for Heyman.
The 36-year old made no mistake, beating the offside trap to curl the ball home and make it 6-5 to Australia and cap off the most remarkable game you’re ever likely to see.
Source: Her Football Hub
6-5?
His visa to France was declined because of allegations. HH should address the nation how their employee managed the Olympics team.
The minister of SPORTS together with officials at Sports Council should be fired. Elvis Nkandu interferance in sport is too much.
This president is bad luck. God is watching
A president who call himself and elder but full of insults! . Ba Seventh Day nabo bene are a bad Omen. How do they keep an insulter as their elder? That why even a game we had won……God said no!! Repent!!!
This Elvis Nkandu…….at ba Minister of sports!!! Are we serious ! When people are telling HH to fire the who Cabinet….this is what they mean. They is no calibre in the current Cabinet.
FAZ needs to help Bruce Mwape by hiring a defensive assistant headcoach, whether he likes it or not. You do not lose a game in which you are leading 4-2 at half time. This is horrible coaching. If this was Zoom coaching the team, the game would be over at half time because no one outcoached Zoom in the second half. What a disgrace
If HH Cant address the zesco issue he certainly not going to address your concern
HH should not have said a word about this team. The moment he opened his mouth , I knew we would not get anywhere.
Blame the coach, who is failing the team, not the president who has given the girls more financial support than any Zambian president has ever done in history to any Zambian national team, men or women.
Even from a layman’s point of view it remains clear that the goal keeper for the Copper Queens is too heavy to dive for the ball. However, the team has great potential given more support.
I miss Nali every day. Not sure if she will even come back. Knee injury is no joke.
It is TIME for Bruce Mwape to resign period. The team has NO structured defense.
What the HECK did they see in Musole to be selected, first and foremost she overweight, and she not a real goalkeeper.
Musole is a big disappointment to Barbra Banda and the Nation.
And also the kit manager, did they have the right boots for the pitch?
Ichoongo!!!!
If they had won, would you have said those words? Just afew months ago, you are the same people who were showering praises on goal keeper Musole. Today he is a villain. Short sight inded.
Musole was in there because Catherine Musonda was just as bad when she had her chance. The problem is more than the goal keeper. Bruce Mwape needs help. Zambia needs to add a defensive assistant headcoach to the bench
If they had won? Well they didnt! Thats why we are saying all this nasty stuff
Kundananji is not succeeding well at Bay fc bcuz of too much individual game. Cam someone explain to her about team work.
Yes Bruce Mwape and the entire coaching stuff need to resign, it’s about the flag and taxpayers money. Looks like you representations has hit the limit.
You have technical defense, no methodology.
Kundananji is very unselfish player. What is happening at Bay FC is that the dumb coach has paired her with the selfish Oshaola who does not want to ever pass the ball to her. As as result, Kundananji is looking out for her self. Real Madrid CFF played Kundananji as a central striker, and she went on record scoring tear. The useless coach of Bay FC plays her as a Winger.
Zambians overall team performance was good
As Australia is a tough team except goal keeper.The coaching staff should have sealed
The defence towards the end when Zambia
Were leading.
Zambians should grow and stop being petty. How do you blame the President when you lose a football mach. Why did you blame the one who lost a the whole team by giving them an old defective ZAF plane.
Uwawa tabula kabepesho.
Period of denial.
Trying to find a tree to lean on. Smarting ourselves from a defeat.
I feel Zambia was just unfortunate. Our coaches still need to know to manage games, especially the last 10 minutes.
HH has given these girls all the resources they could ever want. He has sent them to camps all over the world for their preparation. Bruce Mwape is good offensive coach. He has qualified the team to the Olympics, World Cup, and the Olympics again. He does need help. FAZ needs to add a defensive minded assistant head coach to the team. If Bruce Mwape does not like it, that is his problem. However, there is no way you let a team score 4 straight goals, after you take a 5-2 lead, in the second half. Lets hope that no one is selling these games to Asian gamblers..
We have a very good team, except that we don’t have a technical bench of tacticians. You can’t lose a game when you are leading 5-2 in the second half. The Minister of sport should fire the entire coaching staff.
The minister cannot do anything to FAZ. FIFA will come down on Zambia if he does that. The government needs to find a way to effect change in FAZ because Bruce Mwape knows nothing about defense
The whole FAZ should be fired!
They spend time rehearsing goal celebration choreography instead of focusing on training and Physical strength….and they all want to be bazungu with blonde hair and bleached skin….
All they had to do is park the bus when they were 3 goals up. They needed to employ a defensive strategy and counter when given the opportunity. It was the inept coach’s fault. The goal keeper needs to stick to net ball.
The defence- including the keeper- is really a tragedy. When you are leading you adjust your strategy. You cant play the same way when you have a lead of 4-2.
From their first game our team doesnt apply basic defence rules: Like dont allow the ball to bounce in your 18 yard area, Watch the ball and not the opponent. Anyway I can only suggest Olympics introduce a wooden medal -for the highest scoring losing team I guess
Absolutely. I agree.
We need a coach that knows how to manage the game. Defense and game management are the biggest problems we have. A more tactical coach can fix this easily
Despite the loss, let us rally behind this ladies team. They are different from the male team in two aspects. First, each and every one of them sang the national anthem, unlike the men’s team. Second, their surnames are truly representative of the length and breadth of the country, from Nachula near the Tanzania border to Musole near the Angola border, then from Mweemba near the Zimbabwe border to the Zulus and Bandas near the Malawi border. Not to mention the Chandas and Chilufyas from up north, near the Zaire border. We just need a new coach, and these ladies can perhaps win the WAFCON for us.
Tribal balancing has no place in sport or any other profession at that. Politics should be left for politicians
If thats the modus operandi then you have yourselves to blame for the losses. I dont think Musole is the best goalkeeper in Zambia.
Amafutu: singular is modus operandus (Latin for ‘operation mode’), plural is modus operandi (Latin for operation modes). In any case, it doesn’t matter what you think, reality is what matters.
Plural or singular isn’t the issue you nitpicker. Focus on the message. Follow the sense not the Latin grammar. And there’s many a Zambian publication presently needing your services so stop throwing spanners in the works for posters!
The fact thus team was 5-2 up and still went on to lose the game is shocking… poor defence and amateur errors that shouldn’t be made at this level. I agree that the coach should have thrown in defenders and packed the bus. They still made themselves exposed at the back, still trying to score even when they were 3 goals up. Cone on now, where is game management and intelligence?
Australia’s penalty was questionable though as the foul happened after the ball was already lost by the Aussie player Caitlin Foord. Also there was a foul on the Zambian player(s) leading up to Australia’s 6th winning goal. But the game was really lost by Zambia and only they should blame themselves.
Also please stop this ‘tom-boy’ looks and appear feminine… the game has evolved. It is no longer just a game played by boys or girls who look like boys. Put your make up and fake long hair and stop with the ridiculous looks.
We have best players in the world who individually are brilliant but the moment they come together as a team it’s a disaster. There is no cohesion, they don’t gel and it’s like they don’t play as a team. It’s the job of the coaching staff to take individual players, put them in the right positions and to make sure each one of them knows his or her roles so that they can play together as one but it seems our coaching staff doesn’t know how to do that. Bruce is only good at one on one night duties with some individuals in the team which is affecting performance.