Player Rater: Zambia 0-1 Costa Rica

The Zambia U20 national soccer team lost 1 – 0 to Costa Rica in their final group match. If pre-kick off scenes in the tunnel are anything to go by it was clear that the African champions were oozing with confidence knowing that even if they lost, they would qualify as group winners.

The ZamFoot Crew now looks at how the players performed.

1. Mangani Banda 8/10 – He was agile, he picked the crosses with ease. Did well to save the spot kick and one can’t blame for the goal as he could have done with some assistance from his defense. For the second penalty, very well to keep out the shot from the rebound.

2. Shemmy Mayembe 7/10 – His best game yet at the World Cup. He was calm and was always looking to play the right pass out of defense. He whipped in good crosses from the right giving Costa Rica something extra to think about. He plugged his end in defense very well hardly allowing any cross.

3. Prosper Chiluya 4/10 – Maybe his worst game since this team was assembled. He was being caught out of position by the #7 attacker. Both penalties came from his end and could have been avoided if kept a lid on his man.

4. Moses Nyondo 5.5/10 – He was solid winning balls in the air always making himself difficult to beat. He was quick to cover for the full backs when beaten but he went in to hard when he was beaten to concede the penalty.

5. Benson Muchindu 7.5/10 – What a performance by the debutant defender. A good football head, good sense of positioning and he knew when to go in for a body contact and when to hold back. Most impressive was his ability to start attack from behind with long pin-point passes.

6. Ngosa Sunzu 7/10 – He was out to prove a point and he did. Played side by side with Boyd Musonda in the first half. He was unlucky to see his shot parried onto the crossbar by the keeper. He was combative in the holding role and passed the ball around very well varying his passing from the shirt one two to the crossfield switches. He conceded the second penalty.

7. Boyd Musonda 6/10 – He ventured forward more with Sunzu playing by his side and he looked a different player when he didn’t have to sit back. Gave way for Emmanuel Banda.

8. Enock Mwepu 7/10 – Another good shift by the lanky midfielder. He played just behind Patson Daka arriving late to make the numbers in the box.Always an assert both going forward and when he drops in midfield to help start the press.

9. Patson Daka 8/10 – He  led from the front. Always available for the first ball which he made great use of to help his team mates come to join play. Excellent control picking the right moments to run, to hold or to just pass it. He outpaced his marker in the first half only for the goalkeeper to stick out his leg to block the shot. He should have equalized but was unfortunate to see his late goal reversed by video assistant referees.

10. Edward Chilufya 6/10 – Not at his lighting best today. Did not do enough to trouble his marker who clearly could not have kept up with his pace as was seen on the early minutes when he outpaced him. Even when a chance gell to him,  the usually lethal finisher only managed to hit the side netting from close range.

11. Fashion Sakala 7/10 – He was the outlet on he flank for Zambia. He was looking to play with his team mates today and should have had an assist when he crossed the ball for Daka whose effort was just wide in the 64th minute.

Substitutes

Emmanuel Banda – came on for Boyd Musonda on 51 minutea. He changed he complexion of the game when he came in. Zambia looked better going forward a D he was stringing the passes as the boys went on wave after wave of attack.

Harrison Chisala – in for Mwepu
Musonda Siame – in for Chilufya