The Zambia Women National Team on Wednesday afternoon hosted Zimbabwe in the second round first leg of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Qualifier match at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Five second-half goals were enough to hand the coach Bruce Mwape tutored side a convincing and comfortable victory over the not so might Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Going into this match, gaffers from both sides were eager to collect positive results but it was Zambia’s Bruce Mwape who had the better of his Zimbabwean counterpart Sithethelelwe Sibanda who thought it was going to be a walk in the park for the Warriors but were caught off guard by the intelligent Copper Queens.
The game started on an even note with both sides trying to test each other but was losing it in the final third.
The first real chance of the game fell on Kazhakstan based Copper Queens forward Racheal Kundananji who failed to connect well with a Mary Mwakapila cross as she headed ball went off target.
The likes of Emmaculate Msipa, Majory Nyaumwe, and Felistas Muzongondi were kept at bay in the midfield by the hardworking Rhoda Chileshe who put up an excellent shift making sure that her backline comprising of Vast Phiri, Anita Mulenga, Margaret Belemu and Martha Tembo was well covered.
There was miscommunication between the referee and her first assistant as she raised the flag for an indirect free kick for Zimbabwe only for her to give the foul to Zambia. Chanda stepped up and scored just on the edge of the box and after the referee’s consultation with the first assistant, the goal was canceled and a call was made to give Zimbabwe an indirect free-kick.
A few minutes after that incident the Warriors quickly reorganized themselves and after a great display they managed to beat Hazel Nali in goal for Zambia and they scored but the goal did not count and instead was ruled out for an Offside as the second assistant had raised her flag.
Rudo Neshamba and Erina Jeke who were up front for the Warriors had a few chances but failed to find the back of the net.
The first half had nothing much to offer as both teams had a dismal display and lost possession very easily with Zambia’s Misozi Zulu and the creative Mary Mwakapila being the most active players on the pitch. The game went on a break with a barren scoreline.
The second half was electric as both sides looked more hungrier for goals and the fans at Nkoloma Stadium witnessed end to end action as the match became very entertaining, so different from how the first half was.
The skipper of the side and BIIK Kurzghurt forward Misozi Zulu opened broke the deadlock with a half volley after benefitting from a mistake by a Warriors defender just on the edge of the 18-Yard box.
Moments later Grace Chanda made it 2-0 in favor of the Copper Queens after a great interchange of passes between the two Racheal’s, Kundananji and Nachula.
Nachula later added a 3rd goal for the Queens with a tap finish in an empty net after Chanda had lobbed Warrior’s goalie Lindiwe Magwede who was the last person to beat and just inches away from crossing the line an on-rushing Nachula finished it Off to make it 3-Nil to Zambia.
Just when Warriors thought it was over Nachula scored the 4th goal after a bit of solo effort in the box towards the dying minutes of the match.
Kundananji completed the match goal-riot just before the end to seal a remarkable 5-Nil victory in favor of the Copper Queens.
After 90+2 minutes the Referee brought the match to the end.
The return match will be played on Sunday 1st September 2019 at 15:00hrs in Harare at the National Sports Stadium.
