It was not the best of debuts for the Copper Queens of Zambia, as they lost 5-0 to Japan in their Group C opening game at this year’s FIFA women’s World Cup on Saturday.
Japan took the lead in the 43rd minute through Miyazawa Hinata from a Fujino Aoba cross.
Ten minutes into the second half Japan doubled their lead thanks to Tanaka Mina who slid home Endo Jun’s pass beyond Zambia keeper Catherine Musonda.
Hinata then got her second goal of the game to make it 3-0 to Japan in the 61st minute.
Japan continued to go in search of more goals and were rewarded on 71 minutes off the boots of Endo.
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In the 90th minute Japan were awarded a penalty and Zambia keeper Musonda sent off for a foul on Ueki Riko.
Riko converted from the penalty spot to put Japan 5-0 ahead 11 minutes of added time.
Zambia’s next Group C game is against Spain on July 26.
The Spanish side got their campaign off to a good start with a comfortable 3-0 win against Costa Rica.
3 Comments
Despite playing lots of friendlies including defeating the Germans, I expected lot more from Zambia. What a disappointing performance !!! The worst part of it was that it could have been much more worse for them. Japan had 2 goals ruled out by VAR and also had a penalty missed. It could have easily been 8-0 to Japan
Spain, their next opponent, and can pass to death will wreck this squad. But I liked their interplay the few moments they had the ball.
We’re just witnessing the first few games, so it’s early days yet. But so far, a serious contender for player of the tournament has emerged in Spain’s Paralluelo. The left-footed playmaker is Spain’s secret weapon in this competition. Perhaps not so secret, as she’s been doing the business with Oshoala and Barcelona all season. And she’s just 19 yrs old.
Of course, other contenders will emerge eventually.
Ceteris paribus, Paralluelo is a name that should keep coming up as the tournament progresses.