Australia staged a remarkable comeback to overcome a three-goal deficit and defeat Zambia 6-5 in Sunday’s Olympic women’s football match. Meanwhile, World Cup champions Spain secured a spot in the quarter-finals, and Japan delivered a surprising victory over Brazil.
The Australians began their Group B campaign poorly, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Germany in their first match. Things seemed to be going from bad to worse as they fell behind Zambia 5-2 early in the second half in Nice.
However, the Matildas surged back and triumphed in an 11-goal spectacle, with Michelle Heyman scoring the decisive goal in the 90th minute of a thrilling game.
Zambia’s collapse was unexpected, as Barbra Banda scored in the opening minute and completed a hat-trick, with Racheal Kundananji also contributing two goals.
Alanna Kennedy swiftly equalized Banda’s initial goal, but Kundananji then put Zambia back in front before Banda scored again to make it 3-1.
Hayley Raso managed to score a goal, but Banda managed to complete her hat-trick with a goal just before halftime, increasing the score to 4-2.
Kundananji then headed in to make it 5-2 at the 56-minute mark, but defensive mistakes by Zambia allowed last year’s World Cup semi-finalists to claw their way back into the game.
Lushomo Mweemba inadvertently scored an own goal by directing a clearance from her own goal area past goalkeeper Ngambo Musole and into the net. The keeper later mishandled a free-kick from Steph Catley, making the score 5-4.
Catley equalized with a penalty kick, bringing the score to 5-5, and Heyman then broke through to secure the winning goal.
