The Zambia Women’s National Team gave away a 2-1 lead to lose 5-2 on Friday afternoon in an international friendly match away in Seoul, South Korea.
A match characterised by blunders, miscommunication and poor judgement, saw the hosts come back from 2-1 down to beat the COSAFA Champions.
The hosts started putting pressure on the AFCON bronze medalists and it paid off in the 25th minute as Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Cho So-Hyun was found unmarked in the box and she made no mistake beating Catherine Musonda in the Zambia goal.
Zambia however quickly recognized and started piling pressure on the hosts, Rachel Kundananji and Barbra Banda leading the charge.
Kundananji who has been in fine form for Madrid CFF in Spain pulled Zambia level in the 37th minute with a close range finish after a scramble in the box.
Kundananji six minutes later turned provider as she squared a brilliant ball for Barbra Banda to tap in and put the visitors in the lead, 2-1 the match went to the break.
In the second half, The hosts came back with intent but were also helped by defensive errors.
Brighton and Hove Albion forward Lee Geummin scored twice in five minutes first in the 58th minute aided by poor defending and a fine finish in the 63rd minute to level matters and put the hosts in the lead.
Cho So-Hyun grabbed her brace five minutes to time as she capitalised on Pauline Zulu’s failure to clear a ball, slotting home with ease.
In additional time another error involving miscommunication between Pauline and Catherine Musonda gave Korea an opportunity and they took it, 5-2 the match ended.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday for another match. The two games are being used as preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
South Korea is in Group H alongside Morocco, Colombia, and Germany.
Zambia are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.The World Cup will kick off on July 20 in Australia/New Zealand.
International friendly match
Full-Time
South Korea 5- 2 Zambia
(Cho So-Hyun 25′, 85′, Lee Geummin 58′, 63′, Eunsun Park 90′ | Rachel Kundananji 37′, Barbra Banda 45′)
Zambia Starting XI vs South Korea: 1. Catherine Musonda, 4. Esther Siamfuko (Mary Mulenga 66′), 5. Pauline Zulu, 10. Grace Chanda, 11. Barbra Banda ©, 12. Evarine Susan Katongo (Inonge Kaloustian 80′) , 13. Martha Tembo, 14. Ireen Lungu (Susan Banda 80′), 15. Agness Musesa, 17. Rachel Kundananji, 20. Rachel Nachula (Xiomara Mapepa 66′)
Unused Substitutes: 16. Hazel Nali (GK) 18. Eunice Sakala (GK), 2. Judith Soko, 6. Mary Wilombe, 9. Hellen Mubanga, 21. Hellen Chanda, 22. Comfort Selemani, 24. Ochumba Oseke Lubanji.
My piece of advice for coach Bruce and his technical advisers,the match started well despite the host put more pressure in the second half,
Now my advice is,next tournament please allow 3 or two technical advisers to watch the match from smart phone, tablet or laptop, this will help you to identify the area that the team is not performing well , take this please
It’s a good start carry on girls good results will follow but don’t injure yourselves good luck. S Banda.
Bruce Mwape should reconsider his decisions as well as his technical team all else they will suffer at the hands of the Zambia Disciplinary Committee ASAP
The team lacks a tactician. They went into the game without studying their opponents! There also seemed to be no game plan! It’s good that some new players were tried and failed to perform, because some of them made a lot of mistakes especially in defence. When the defence and goal-keeper are weak, the attackers also get demolarized. So the players that failed to perform should be benched, especially the goal-keeper Musonda, Zulu, Mulenga, and Inonge , though some came in as subs, but that’s when things completely fail apart. In the next game, the Korean centre forward needs to be tightly marked even 3 Zambian players to put score line decent!
Wely done girls at least you are making the country proud. Show men that there are plenty of opportunities for the visionary and displined people. The sky is the limit.
The Zambian technical bench needs bolstering. Ol’ Bruce is commendably well to achieve the historic feat of getting the team to the World Cup, but one fears he’s probably going to get pasted at this level.
The Zambian technical bench needs bolstering. Ol’ Bruce is commendably well to achieve the historic feat of getting the team to the World Cup, but one fears he’s probably going to get pasted at this level.
The team is good just needs coaching and captain coordination.
Congratulations 👏 to both teams South corea and copper Queens its a good experience to Zambian copper Queens don’t worry Queens soon you will improve and collect the mistakes where you have weakness, best international teams starts the way you copper Queens you are performing, accept defeat so that next time you will conquer. Otherwise we’re still supporting high, go Zambia go go forward,
Copper Queens should be used to play best teams for them to learn more tactics of defending to win international games, you are still copper Queens just find or create tactics of winning the games, to the women team coaches you are the best ever just encourage the team or comfort the team. We trust you all the best ever