Debutante African representative the Copper Queens of Zambia shocked Costa Rica 3-1 to earn her first win ever in the Women’s World Cup as both teams clashed at the FMG Stadium, Waikato in Group C.
Green Buffaloes player, Lushomo Mweemba scored 3rd minute with a volley from a Chitundu corner kick to send unheeded warning signals to the Costa Ricans. Irrepressible Barbra Banda was brought down in the penalty box by Alvarado and the Ref pointed to the spot which Banda scored at the 31st minute for goal number 2.
Girondi of France player, Dephine Monga retrieved a goal in the 47th minute from a Coto’s header in the box with a stunning shot at goal.
There was a stumping clash between Chunchilla and Goalkeeper Musonda of Zambia which left Musonda on the turf in pains but in the 58th minute but a VAR review said no penalty to Costa Rica.
Madrid CFF player, Rachael Kundennanji who loves scoring late goals got a Banda connect to put icing on the cake of victory at 90+3 minute for goal number 3. She scored against the German Machine in the 90th minute.
Spain thrashed Costa Rica 3-0 and Zambia fell to Japan 0-5 in the group first round; Japan slammed Costa Rica 2-0 and Spain walloped Zambia 5-0 in the second round.
Japan humbled Spain in the last match of the 3rd round 4-0. The two teams Zambia and Costa Rica are out of the world cup.
Japan thus tops Group C winning all three matches scoring 11 goals with a clean sheet (no goal conceded); Spain is 2nd with two wins earning 6 points and a lose scoring 8 goals and conceding 4; Zambia is 3rd with a win and two loses earning 3 points, scoring 3 goals and conceding 11 goals while Costa Rica rocks the bottom of the table going out with Zambia as the team lost all their matches with no point, scored one goal and conceded 8.
Spain will meet Group A winners, Switzerland in the Round of 16 on Saturday 5th August at 0600 hours while Japan meets Group A runners-up Norway at 0900 hours still on Saturday 5th August.
To determine the two teams that will move to the Round of 16 in Group B, Nigeria will meet Republic of Ireland at 1100 hours at the Suncorp Stadium while at the same time, hosts Australia will contest for survival against Canada at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium later today.
Tomorrow Tuesday 1st August, group E matches will be concluded at 0800 hours as Vietnam meets Netherlands at Forsyth Barr Stadium and Portugal try the Yankees of USA at Eden Park.
Group D matches will also be decided same tomorrow at 12 noon as the Lionesses of England tackles China at Hindmarsh Stadium and Haiti faces Denmark at NIB Stadium.
By Eniola Olatunji
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