By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No 1 Women’s Football Journalist
Zambian players celebrating a goal
Expectedly, Africa’s sole representative at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Zambia suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of the Dutch as the Zambians were walloped 10-3 by Netherlands in their Group F opening match as women’s football took the center stage.
Infact, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup beaten finalist, Netherlands were not a match to the Zambians who are making their first appearance at the global stage especially in the Olympic Games football tournament.
It was clear to the blind that the Netherlands will have Zambia for dinner when a big mistake by Zambia’s goalkeeper Nali in the 9th minute who came out of the area badly, let the ball go out and gifted Dutch Superstar Vivienne Miedema the chance to run at full speed to beat her to the ball and score with the goalpost completely open.
Netherlands line-up
Netherlands’ pressure paid off almost immediately as striker Miedema struck the post and with goalkeeper of Zambian out, the rebound was scored by Liefre Martens who scored the second goal in the 14th minute.
Midema made it three goals for Netherlands in the 15th minute with a lobbed shot in front of Nali as the Zambian goalkeeper is being left virtually alone in front of the goal definitions.
After a good long pass from Lungu, Barbra Banda, captain of Zambia scored Zambia’s first-ever goal at the Olympics in the 19th minute just as another through ball this time found Van de Donk, who crossed precisely for Miedema and the striker found her third goal of the match and the fourth for the Netherlands in the 29th minute.
Zambia’s hattrick scorer Banda on the way to score her third goal against Netherlands
Ten minutes later, Martens scored a wonderful goal when she received a delayed pass and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box that curled past goalkeeper Nali for the fifth goal for Netherlands
An extraordinary pass from Jamie Roord in the 44th minute finds her teammate Van de Sanden at the far post, who scores with a first-time shot for Netherlands’ sixth goal in the first half.
On resumption, the Dutch pressure continue and it did not take long before Zambia conceded the does not learn the filtered passes and another one comes from Van de Donk, who headed the ball to Miedema and the striker scored the Dutch seventh goal and her fourth goal of the night in the 58th minute.
Impressive play by Jamie Roord, who took three African defenders with her as she sped into the box and struck with her left foot at the near post in the 64th minute for the eight goal.
Another mistake by the Zambian defense in the 75th minute that fails to cut well and Beerensteyn recovers the ball to rush into the box and cross with his left foot for nineth goal.
Zambian goalie Nali diving in vain
A good cross from Jansen down the right flank for Pelova, who crosses the ball first time in front of the goal No.10 in the 80th minute even as Zambia’s late charge saw the inspirational Banda banged in two quick goals late on.
She entered the Dutch penalty area with the ball under control, beat the goalkeeper with a spectacular feint, and scored her second goal of the game at the near post after being swept aside by a defender in the 82nd minute.
Not done, Banda scored her hat-trick in the 83rd minute ad she recovered the ball from Nouwen’s misplaced run-out and cut inside the box to score at Van Veenedaal’s near post.
But it was too little too late as Netherlands ran away with 10- 3 scoreline to make the match look like a routine training ground result to the disappointment of
Zambians who will face China in their next game while the Netherlands will trade tackles with Brazil in their next games on July 24.
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