Well thank you so much for joining me for this utterly chaotic and amazing game. Zambia did not go behind until the 90th minute after Michelle Heyman scored to lose 6-5 and end what would have been a historic result. Zambia’s wait for an Olympic win in women’s football continues. Australia’s Olympic hopes march on. To relive all the action have a read of the report below.
Dechlan Brennan has emailed me again, hello! He has pointed out Banda is not the only Olympic star to get a hat-trick and not win. GB’s Ellen White scored three against Australia in the 2021 quarter-final. It must be a weird feeling, do you keep the match ball? I’m unsure I’d want a reminder of a loss, especially in tonight’s fashion.
The other game in this group, USWNT v Germany, has just got underway. What a tasty encounter that will be.
That is the third time Barbra Banda has scored a hat-trick at the Olympics. Every time she has lost the game. It will be interesting to see how they go against Germany where a win is needed.
Zambia just seemed to fall apart defensively in that second half. I am stunned Australia came back and Zambia must be too. A lovely moment there as Fowler goes over to Musole to comfort her, the goalkeeper in tears.
Zambia players are on the floor, they look distraught. Australia are not celebrating either, they know their performance was not good enough tonight.
Full time: Australia 6-5 Zambia
Wow. What a game. What a display of skill in the women’s game. What a comeback from Australia. They were 5-2 down at one point but fought back to take all three points. A nod to Banda and Kundananji who had amazing games.
90 + 8 min: Kundananji makes a huge run and shows her skills and it takes a good save from Arnold to stop her. Zambia have a corner but it is dealt with by Australia. It seems beyond Zambia now after they led for 90 minutes. Huge from Australia but my word you have to feel for Zambia.
90 + 7 min: The corner is popped in but Musole claims it.
90 + 6 min: Australia have a free kick, Hunt pops it into the area but Zambia deal with it. Australia keep coming and they pop it into the area, they win another corner. This game is all action.
90 + 5 min: Banda is an impressive as ever, she takes a shot which I thought was deflected for a corner but it’s a goal kick. Imagine scoring a hat-trick and you don’t win the game, so crushing.
90 + 3 min: Pictures are shown of Zambia fans getting emotional in the stands, no matter how this game ends they will be so proud of their team. Australia have a corner here, it’s delivered well but a resulting header goes over the bar.
90 + 1 min: That has to be utterly crushing for Zambia. They will have injury time but my word. On the other end of the scale elation for Australia, Heyman has been such a bright spark for them. There are eight minutes added.
GOAL! Australia 6-5 Zambia (Heyman, 90)
A one-on-one and Musole is beaten.
89 min: Banda wins a free kick in a great position after a Kennedy foul. Is this the winner? No. Banda stands over it, it’s a good delivery but Arnold punches away. It comes to Chanda but her effort is wide.
87 min: Aussie fans in the stadium can be heard urging their team on to find a winner here, they know a win would give them the best chance of progressing out of the group after losing their first game. They try and try a move, Torpey fires at goal but Musole saves – she really should have squared it to Foord in the middle there.
85 min: Banda is lurking again here and she takes a shot but it hits the side netting, both desperate to find a winner.
84 min: Australia are absolutely pelting the ball at the Zambia goal and I have to say the scrambled frantic defence from Zambia was top class. It’s impossible to take your eyes off of this game.
82 min: Zambia have a corner and it’s frantic in the box, there’s no clean shot and Australia clear. Australia make a great play as Foord squares it but Tembo clears with Musole out of position, wow wow wow.
81 min: I think on the balance of the game Zambia have been the better side but Australia have really dug in to fight back. Will we see a winner from either side? I hope so but I love goals.
79 min: How crazy is this game? I really thought Australia were on for a thrashing but now here we are – 10 goals later – and we’re level again.
PENALTY! Australia 5-5 Zambia (Catley, 77)
A really well taken penalty and a 5-2 lead for Zambia has been cancelled out.
77 min: There’s a penalty, wow. I think it is slightly harsh but hey ho.
Updated
77 min: The referee has been told to check this which usually means it is given. No confirmation yet.
76 min: Foord manages to keep the ball in play, she stays down and wants a penalty but the referee is having none of it. Australia keep coming and another defensive scramble from Zambia in the box but they eventually get it away. VAR are going back to check if there should be a penalty for that Foord tackle.
74 min: Zambia are slowly getting more time on the ball and Banda fires a shot towards goal but Arnold saves well. The team come forward again but the sting is taken out on Kundananji’s shot.
72 min: Heyman has been a great introduction to this game, she has added a fiery spark that was lacking in this Matildas team. Apologies for not announcing her arrival, I was about to and then there was goal after goal.
70 min: Australia have a corner and Fowler takes it. It’s dealt with and Banda tries to counter quickly but Australia close her down well.
69 min: Zambia need to slow the pace of this game down, Australia are completely running away with it at the moment. The team have completely clicked into place.
67 min: Australia come forward again but Foord’s effort is over the bar. Zambia make a change with Zulu off for Chileshe.
66 min: Musole got her hands to it but the power of the ball saw it keep going and to the back of the net. Are Australia about to stage one of the biggest comebacks of all time?
GOAL! Australia 4-5 Zambia (Catley, 65)
What a goal!
64 min: Zambia may have got away with that goal but Australia are really upping the pressure here, they have a free kick now.
NO GOAL! Australia 3-5 Zambia
It has been ruled out because the keeper was fouled.
62 min: I believe they are looking if Musole was fouled in the build-up from Heyman.
61 min: Hang on there’s a goal check now.
GOAL! Australia 4-5 Zambia (Foord, 60)
Defensive errors.
59 min: Heyman has only been on for a few seconds, she tried to backheel it but Mweemba tries to clear it off of the line but it hits the keeper and goes in. What is this game?!
GOAL! Australia 3-5 Zambia (Mweemba OG)
Oh my.
Updated
GOAL! Australia 2-5 Zambia (Kundananji, 57)
Zambia have a free kick and Banda is standing over it. She puts in a great delivery to Kundananji who heads home.
56 min: Some Matildas fans are not happy with the side. Dechlan Brennan has emailed and said:
I can’t remember the Matilda’s ever being this leggy and slow. They had plenty of prep but there were signs in the warm up, and then in the first game against Germany. It can’t just be no Sam Kerr
I think on this occasion they have been stunned by the pace and tactics Zambia are presenting them. There are also some Australian players not having their best outing, namely Carpenter and Arnold.
54 min: Oh my word, how did that not go in? A long range effort comes in from Australia but Musole manages to scoop it out. Foord then pops it back in but the keeper is there again.
52 min: The pace on this game has slowed drastically in the last few minutes, just settling into this second half. Australia need to make sure they are the next to score.
50 min: Australia are yet to throw a punch in this second half and Zambia are the next to pop off a shot, this time through Kundananji but it is wide.
48 min: Zambia have a corner from the save but it’s deflected out for another corner. It comes in again but it’s over the head of Banda and cleared.
47 min: I don’t believe there have been any half-time changes. Australia almost score immediately, as they did in the first half, Arnold makes a huge save from Mupopo.
Back underway! Australia 2-4 Zambia
Will we get more goals? Or will Zambia seal this win with this scoreline? All to come.
The two Zambian stars in the spotlight ahead of the game were Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji and they have both delivered so far. Banda with three goals, Kundananji with the other and some silky skills.
Updated
Barbra Banda’s hat-trick is her seventh international hat-trick. It is her third Olympic hat-trick.
Half-time: Australia 2-4 Zambia
What. A. Game. This has turned into a thrilling encounter with six first-half goals. Barbra Banda opened the scoring in the first minute but Australia responded. Zambia then went 3-1 up but Australia replied again only for Banda to finish the first half scoring.
45 + 3 min: Van Egmond tried to head the ball clear in the box but it went into Banda’s path and from there she doesn’t miss. What an utterly impressive talent she is.
GOAL! Australia 2-4 Zambia (Banda, 45 + 2)
A first half hat-trick for Banda. Banda had a shot but it is deflected out for a corner. The delivery was good but it was frantic in the box and Banda converts.
45 + 1 min: What a brilliant save from Musole, Foord had a one-on-one with the keeper out of position but she still makes the save and Zambia clear. Wow. There will be four minutes added.
44 min: Raso with a good run down the left, she crosses in but it is headed away. It comes back in but it’s well defended again, Australia are really cranking up the pressure here. Foord has a lovely bit of skill and she takes the ball around a defender and she takes a shot but Musole reads it well once more to save.
42 min: Arnold looks absolutely fuming, she must be frustrated about conceding three and her goal is still be peppered with chances. This is such a thrilling encounter.
40 min: Kundananji, who has been a good spark for Zambia, makes another good run but a cross comes straight to Arnold. Australia launch their own attack and they are quick about it, a shot comes off but Musole is wise to it and saves.
38 min: Zambia have a free kick from halfway and they are launching it upfield, they want to restore the two-goal lead. Australia defend well initially but Zambia still have it.
36 min: Australia won a corner and they have looked deadly from the set piece. The delivery was good and Raso converts. Which way will this one go.
GOAL! Australia 2-3 Zambia (Raso, 35)
This game!
34 min: I know Matildas fans will now be watching this through gritted teeth but this would be a historic game if the score remains like this. Zambia have never won a women’s football game at an Olympics. Banda pulling all the stings.
GOAL! Australia 1-3 Zambia (Banda, 33)
This is huge. Zambia has a free kick in a great position Siamfuko takes the set piece, Arnold came out to punch away but punched it into Banda’s path and she scores.
32 min: Australia had been putting pace into their game after conceding their first goal but they seem to have slowed in the last few minutes, they need to inject something. This could just be it, Van Edmond’s header is on target but Musole collects.
30 min: Siamfuko scuffs a clearance kick and Cooney-Cross pounces, her effort going over the bar. That would have been a huge error if that led to an equaliser.
29 min: Banda is okay to continue, great news. We restart with a Zambia corner won from that Hunt tackle. The set piece is taken short and Australia have read this really well and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
27 min: Hunt does extremely well to time her tackle, if she didn’t make that Banda would have had a one-on-one with Arnold. The tackle, which was a legal one, has seen Banda down injured, she is getting some ice to her shin.
25 min: Zambia’s goal came from a good series of pressure from the team, they kept knocking on the door and it eventually opened. Here they come again, Kundananji makes a great run but she is unable to square it Mupopo. A few moments later it is almost an identical move but this time Mupopo gets it and sends it just over the bar.
23 min: Kundananji slices it across goal and it beats Arnold, smacks the post and bounces it. Huge.
Updated
GOAL! Australia 1-2 Zambia (Kundananji, 23)
A tap in.
20 min: And building they do. Australia are patient in their build-up and it looks promising but the attack ends with an Aussie offside.
18 min: Australia win another free kick and these are starting to notch up for Zambia now. It’s by halfway so they have a lot of building to do.
16 min: Zambia now have a corner after some superb work from Kundananji, she gets in the box but her shot is deflected out. The delivery sees the ball hitting the cross bar. Australia counter attack and Gorry gets an attempt but it’s over the bar.
14 min: Australia win another corner and it is as though conceding early has really revved the team up, they are looking much more slick than they were against Germany. Cooney-Cross takes it but it is headed away. It comes back in and it’s well placed for Hunt but she draws it wide.
12 min: Australia win a corner and it is Arsenal star Catley over the ball again. It’s a good delivery bit it is punched away from Musole, it comes to Fowler but it is blasted over the bar.
10 min: Raso is down injured but I think it may be a case of dead leg, a knee accidentally hit her thigh. She is back to her feet and will stay on.
8 min: VAR checked if the Manchester City player was offside but the goal has been given. Kennedy was left completely unmarked in the box so she had all the space to head it home. Game on.
GOAL! Australia 1-1 Zambia (Kennedy, 7)
Gorry draws a foul from Chanda and Australia have a free kick in a good position. Catley takes the set piece and Kennedy heads home.
6 min: If you don’t watch women’s football often, particularly the NWSL, Kundananji won’t be a name you are familiar with but she is the most expensive transfer in women’s football history – she is a star to look out for. Right now the eyes on the Australia bench as they appeal for a red card after Carpenter is clumsily challenged but the referee doesn’t agree and we continue on.
4 min: Australia almost hit back immediately. Carpenter throws in and it is turned towards goal but it’s saved well.
3 min: Australia were sloppy, a pass from Carpenter was loose and Zambia gained possession. They worked it to Banda who took the effort from distance and lobbed Arnold. Wow, absolutely stunning.
GOAL! Australia 0-1 Zambia (Banda, 1)
OH MY GOD!
Kick-off! Australia 0-0 Zambia
Here we go then. Can one of these sides come out on top? Or will they be sharing the points? All to come.
The players are out in Nice, the anthems will follow shortly and then we have kick-off. The stadium is really bare, it’s sad to see.
I’d love to hear from you. Let’s get a bit of snack chat going, what do you have for the match? Today I’m going with an ice cream because where I am it’s 24 degrees. You can email me or message me on X (@rendellx).
With not long until kick-off, it’s another disappointing crowd - barely 1,000 at this stage, although people are still trickling in. That’s an even smaller crowd than saw the Matildas slump to Germany in Marseille. I wonder what it must be like for the Australian players, who would have quickly grown accustomed to capacity crowds for games in the green and gold. It’s odd that other French cities do not appear to have engaged with the Olympic football tournament - the crowds in Paris for other events have been almost at capacity.
Rarely do the Matildas do things the easy way. The team’s motto is not “never say die” for nothing. But a heavy defeat to Germany in Marseille was hardly the ideal start to an Olympic campaign, especially after stated pre-tournament aspirations of a podium position following consecutive fourth-place finishes at major tournaments. Losses like this do not inspire hope that the team can match or even surpass those recent results. Read more:
Zambia’s Barbra Banda is a star the Matildas will have to silence in this match if they want to come away with the win. Australia Tony Gustavsson is aware of the threat and said: “Will there be a couple of times where she gets a one-on-one with the keeper? Yeah, most likely. Even against the US, she was three times one-on-one with the keeper behind the backline, so we need to try to stop it.” Read more here:
Zambia team news is here.
Starting XI: Musole, Mweemba, Siamfuko, Tembo, Muchinga, Zulu, Chanda, Kundananji, Nachula, Mupopo, Banda.
The team news is in.
Australia is below and I am striving to find Zambia now:
STARTING XI 🗒
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 28, 2024
Here's how we line up for our game against Zambia 👊
⏰: 3:00am AEST
📺💻📱: Channel 9, 9Now & Stan Sport#Matildas #TilitsDone #Paris2024 #AllezAUS #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ZFqKmjEa8T
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Australia v Zambia at the Olympic Games. Both teams head into the game off the back of a loss and a win will be fundamental to get out of the group.
The group also consists of the USA and Germany and it is only the top two teams and three of the best third-place teams will progress to the knock-out stage. In the first round Australia fell to a 3-0 loss to Germany with Jule Brand spearheading a phenomenal performance by the Germans. For Zambia, they lost 3-0 to the USA in a first half that was an impressive outing for Emma Hayes’ side.
The team news will be interesting, especially for Australia who have had a fair few injuries in the build-up to the tournament. Captain Steph Catley was okay to start against Germany but she went through the wars in the match.
The team news will drop shortly before kick-off in an hour’s time.
