July 22, (THEWILL) – Zambia faced a daunting start to their Women’s World Cup journey in New Zealand as they suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat at the hands of former champions Japan.
The match, at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, saw Hinata Miyazawa, Mina Tanaka, Jun Endo, and substitute Riko Ueki score for Japan, taking them to the top of Group C. Although Zambia registered a pre-tournament victory against Germany, they struggled to find their footing and failed to pose a threat, registering no shots on target, leaving them with a challenging task ahead as they prepare to face Spain in their next encounter.
Japan, the 2011 World Cup champions, left no room for Zambia to show their potential. Although Zambia managed to hold off Japan’s attacks for a significant portion of the first half, Miyazawa’s goal just before the break broke the deadlock. Japan continued their relentless pursuit in the second half, adding two more goals to their tally. Two additional strikes by the Japanese were disallowed for offside and a penalty opportunity, went begging. Still, Zambia’s defense struggled to contain their opponents and keeper Catherine Musonda was sent off at the end.
Captain Barbara Banda, who had been a key player for Zambia in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, was effectively neutralised by Japan’s solid defensive tactics. Having failed to find their rhythm against Japan, the ladies now have to regroup quickly and work on their tactics and coordination. With Musonda suspended for the next game due to her red card, Zambia will need to rely on Eunice Sakala to step up as they strive to improve their performance.
Spain, who kicked off their campaign with a confident 3-0 victory over Costa Rica, will undoubtedly pose another formidable challenge for the Copper Queens.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
