Play It Forward Queens on Thursday stumped authority in a 8-goal thriller edging ZANACO Ladies 5-3 to record their first victory of the 2024/25 Zambian Premier League (ZPL) Women’s Super League season thanks to a brace each from Grace Phiri and Nana Malanda.
One of the outstanding players from this encounter was speedy winger and captain of the side Grace Phiri popularly known as Pogba, a future prospect of the Copper Queens who scored a brace after a well spirited performance against ZANACO who succumbed to their sixth loss of the season.
Phiri opened the scores as early as the 6th minute with a bullet shot inside the 18-yard box after benefiting from a good long range pass from Zambia U17 Women’s National Team Defender Nana Malanda before Nana scored from a free kick making it 2-nil to Play it Forward in the opening 16 minutes.
ZANACO fought back twice in a space of five minutes scoring 2 Goals through Tisilile Lungu to end the half on a high note with a scoreline of 2-2 going at the break.
Immediately after the resumption, Blessed Chisenga put the visitors back in the lead with an easy tap in before Phiri completed her brace following a defensive mistake in the box as the Stubborn Students led comfortably 4-2.
A few minutes later The Bankers reduced the deficit through their defender Anna Zulu but unfortunately they couldn’t fight harder as Nana Malanda buried the tie with a fifth goal of the day for Play It Forward from another long range free kick as Regina Tembo in goal for the hosts failed to challenge a hard taken free kick which she fumbled in her own net making it 5-3 in favor of the Coach Selina Mashewa drilled lasses who now have 7 points, 2 behind ZANACO.
With both teams still fighting to move out of the relegation Zone, this weekend will be interesting when Play It Forward face Luyando Foundation Girls away at Shamuel Complex Ground whereas ZANACO will take a long trip to Kitwe to face the rejuvenated Kamfinsa Police Blue Eagles in what is expected to be another exciting match.
With such an amazing performance from the likes of Phiri, she may just be re-called to the Zambia U17 Women’s National Team who will be regrouping soon ahead of the upcoming 2024 COSAFA U17 Girls Championship set for December.
By Moses Pedro Mwanza,
The ZamFoot Community Football Reporter.
