Zambia lose 0-5 in maiden FIFA women’s World Cup appearance

The Copper Queens’ maiden FIFA World Cup appearance has started on a miserable note with Japan thrashing them 5 goals to nil in a dramatic match that saw goalkeeper Catherine Musonda sent off at the brink of full time.

The Asians were in total control of proceedings at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton New Zealand and the score line could have been worse with two goals ruled out for offside after the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Zambia almost weathered the storm in the first half owing to a couple of brilliant saves from Musonda and poor finishing from the Japanese but in the 43rd minute Hinata Miyazawa breached the Zambian defence to give the Asians a deserved lead at half time.

Mina Tanaka who Zambia struggled to contain finally scored in the 55th minute as she raced into the box after Jun Endo beat the Copper Queens offside trap to provide an assist.

This was after Tanaka had two goals ruled out by VAR, one in the first half and the other in the 49th minute.

Tanaka then turned provider in the 62 nd minute when she barely kept the ball in play to square it to Miyazawa for her to register her second goal of the match to make the score 3 goals to nil.

Japan were running riot and in 72 nd minute Jun Endo scored the fourth goal of the match.

Just when it looked like the match would end 4 nil, there was drama when Musonda was sent off for a second yellow card after bringing down Riko Ueki in the box.

Reserve goalkeeper Eunice Sakala initially saved the subsequent penalty by Ueki but a retake was ordered when the goalie was judged to have encroached.

Ueki converted the retake, which compounded Zambia’s misery leaving the Copper Queens bottom of Group C with an inferior goal difference.

Zambia will be hoping to bounce back to victory four days from now when they face group leaders Spain.

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