Zambian female football sensation Barbara Banda scored a hat-trick to guide Shanghai Shengli to a 4-3 win over Wuhan Jiangda in the second round of the title group of the China Taiping CFA Women’s Super League.
Shengli came into the match on the back of a 2-2 draw with Beijing BG Phoenix while Banda was looking to continue her goal scoring spree having netted a brace in the draw.
Wuhan were the first to strike just just nine minutes into the match, Malawian star forward Temwa Chawinga netting from close range after being put on goal by Wang Shuang. Shanghai were level four minutes later as Barbara Banda pick pocketed a defender in the box and slotted past a Wuhan Jiangda goal minder.
Shengli took the lead a minute later as Barbara Banda set up young midfielder Shen Mengyu for an easy tap in. Wuhan were handed a chance to equalise when the referee gave them a penalty but Wang Shanshan hit the crossbar in the 27th minute.
Six minutes to the Barbara Banda grabbed her brace with a close range finish after her initial shot hit the post but the Wuhan Jiangda failed to clear the ball allowing the Copper Queens skipper chance to make a small touch on the ball and score Shengli’s third of the match. Wuhan reduced the deficit at the death of the first half thanks to a well taken free kick by Han Peng.
Banda completed her hat-trick in the 73rd minute as she outpaced the Wuhan defence to find a well timed Yang Lina to put in past Zhu Yu with easy. Bia Zaneratto headed in Wuhan’s third ten minutes from time but it was not enough as Shanghai managed a 4-3 win.
Shanghai Shengli have now opened a 1 point lead at the summit of the title group with one game to goal. Barbara Banda has now scored 17 goals and made eight assists in 11 games so far in China.
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