Significant defeat for Zambia and striker Barbra Banda: Greatly superior Japanese gave the African team no chance in the 5-0 (1-0) victory at the World Cup.
Much had been said and written about Zambian striker Barbra Banda in the run-up to the game – her high testosterone levels had sparked debate. But only outside of FIFA. The World Football Association had simply refused this topic.
Japan dominant from the start
Regardless, Banda was involved. But not really. Zambia faced an extremely dominant Japanese team from the start in Hamilton, New Zealand, which was nine degrees cold. In front of a good 16,000 spectators, the Japanese let the ball and their opponents run with their sophisticated technique.
Banda and fellow high-profile striker Racheal Kundananji, who scored 25 goals for Madrid CFF in the Spanish league over the past season, have remained in complete isolation. The Zambian defense literally stumbled from one embarrassment to another, hitting hard-fought balls aimlessly from within their own half. Without being able to bring one of the two strikers into play even once in the first half.
No chance: Barbra Banda (r.)
VAR turns on – Tanaka’s hit doesn’t count
So it remained in the “Waikato Stadium” with Japanese offensive actions – but there were plenty of them. In the 7th minute, Aoba Fujino’s shot from 11 meters was denied by the well-reacted Zambian goalkeeper Catherine Musonda. Luckily three minutes later, a 20-yard shot from Fujino again smacked the right post.
Musonda – far from being perfectly trained in her goalkeeping trade – was given a lot of work as a result. Saved long shots, slapped crosses and threw herself in front of opponents who were ready to score. But she too was beaten in the 21st minute, when Mina Tanaka dusted off a Japanese free-kick from close range to put it 1-0. However, the hit was not valid. Referee Tess Olofsson from Sweden took him back for offside after VAR advice.
Highly deserved Japanese leadership
The vastly superior Japanese seemed to be in despair when the Zambian box rang. Fujino had once again overrun the Zambian defense on the flank and this time her cross found Hinata Miyazawa, who had been left completely alone, in the center and scored from six meters to make it 1-0 (43 ‘).
It was a well-deserved position at half-time, in which one had to ask oneself above all from a German point of view: how could this Zambian team have beaten Germany 3-2 in the friendly?
No penalty, offside, goal
The second half was just seven minutes old when the seventh penalty seemed to be due in the seventh tournament game. Olofsson whistled right after a Musonda attack against Japan attacker Fujino. However: Here too VAR, here too the decision was reversed: Fujino was just offside.
But Zambia remained in trouble and a little later conceded the 0-2: Endo went wide to the left of the defensive line this time. Mina Tanaka found her cross and easily put it in from six meters (55′).
Japan conjures up 3:0, 4:0 and 5:0
Zambia was now shaking, the team threatened to fall apart. In the 61st minute, Miyazawa just had to put his foot down after Tanaka crossed to make it 3-0. The 4:0 followed ten minutes later: Endo was freed from the left, ran towards the goal alone and confidently converted a shot into the far post.
Also sent off in stoppage time: Musonda knocked substitute Riko Ueki off his feet. She had to leave the field with yellow-red. The fouled first missed the penalty kick due, but was allowed to play again because the goalkeeper had moved too early. This time she scored to make it 5-0. And the Japanese left it at that.
Zambia will continue on Wednesday (07/26/2023, 9:30 a.m. CEST) against group favorites Spain. Japan meets Costa Rica beforehand from 7 a.m.