Copper Princesses suffer heavy defeat at the hands of Japan

The Copper Princesses suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Japan in their final FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup group D encounter. 

Zambia came into the match looking to end the campaign on a good note having lost their opening two matches. 

However the match did not go as planned as Japan took the lead just six minutes into the match, skipper Miharu Shinjo with a brilliant lob to open the scoring. 

Zambia held on in the first half and tried to string passes together but they failed to utilise their chances as they were poor in the final third. 

In the second half, Japan doubled the lead 19 minutes in, Momo Sato converting from the penalty spot after Mapalo Maluba tripped a Japan player in the box.

Six minutes later, Shinjo grabbed her brace as she netted from close range after getting on the end of a brilliant cross from the right wing. 

Ota Mitsuki made it 4-0 with a close range header. Mapalo Maluba then forced an own goal from Haruko Suzuki to pull one back. 

Japan held on to win the match, 4-1 and end on top of group D while Zambia finished bottom. 

In the other match, Poland and Brazil played to a goalless draw, Poland finishing second with 5 points sending Brazil packing as they finished third with 4 points. 

FIFA U17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Full -Time 

 Zambia 1-4 Japan 

(Haruko Suzuki 87′ og | Miharu Shinjo 6′,70′, Momo Sato 64′ pen, Ota Mitsuki 86′)