The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup witnessed a dramatic turn of events for Zambia during their Group C matchup against Japan at FMG Stadium Waikato in New Zealand.
Zambia, making their World Cup debut as the lowest-ranked team at No. 77 globally, faced a formidable Japanese squad with eight previous appearances and a 2011 World Cup title under their belt. Japan's experience shone through, securing a dominant 5-0 victory, the largest margin achieved by any team in the tournament thus far. It was their second-largest World Cup win of all time.
Things turned from bad to worse for Zambia in the final seconds of the game, as starting goalkeeper Catherine Musonda received a red card while trying to stop a scoring attempt in the penalty box. The ejection spelled trouble for the Copper Queens, who will have to start their third-string goalie against Spain.
Japan netted its fifth goal of the game on a late PK. The first attempt was missed, but Japan got a second chance when it was ruled that Zambia's goalie came off the line early.
Highlights of the Match: Japan vs. Zambia
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- 43': GOAL! Sweet pass sets up score. Japan played crisp soccer throughout the first half, finally seeing its work pay off as Miyazawa struck pay dirt with her fifth international goal.
- 48': Overaggressive. What could have been another goal for Japan was called back after VAR determined that Tanaka was just a hair offside. That was the third score taken off the board for the squad due to an offside penalty.
- 55': IT'S GOOD. After two offside penalties on potential goals, Tanaka finally got her goal, as she smoothly slid to convert a nifty pass from Endo. It marked Tanaka's fifth goal in international play.
- 62': Offensive onslaught! Japan's two previous goalscorers - Mina Tanaka and Hinata Miyazawa hooked up for a pretty play on Japan's third goal of the match. Tanaka just saved the ball from going out of bounds near Zambia's goal and rattled off a superb dime to Tanaka, who finished the job in front of the net.
- 71': Jun in July! Assist on a goal, then score one. It's only right! Jun Endo added a score to her impressive stat sheet late in the tilt, as she broke away from the defense and deposited a screaming shot into the back of the net.
- 90+11': Capitalizing on the penalty. Japan netted its fifth goal of the game on a late PK. The first attempt was missed, but Japan got a second chance when it was ruled that Zambia's goalie came off the line early.
Referee Tess Olofsson shows a red card to Zambia's goalkeeper Catherine Musonda during the Women's World Cup Group C soccer match between Zambia and Japan in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, July 22, 2023.
The Goalkeeper Conundrum
Zambia has only played one Women’s World Cup match and are already down to their third-string goalkeeper. Musonda started the game in relief of Zambia's longtime starter, Hazel Nali, who tore an ACL just before the tournament.
Hazel Nali was ruled out of the Women’s World Cup only days before Zambia’s tournament debut with a torn ACL. She was replaced by relief goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, but the backup picked up her second yellow card - which essentially equals a red card and disqualification for the next match - when she tripped Japanese striker Riko Ueki in the waning moments of Zambia’s 5-0 tournament-opening loss. Nali was a star for the Copper Queens with 18 career international appearances and the only Zambian keeper who plays outside the country.
So the job went to Eunice Sakala, who replaced Musonda ahead of Japan scorinh on the ensuing penalty kick and final whistle. Those final minutes were the international debut for the 21-year-old, who will have to carry the load Wednesday against Spain in Auckland. The Spaniards are ranked sixth in the world, and fresh off a dominating 3-0 win over Costa Rica to start their tournament. They will be the toughest competition Sakala has ever seen - she is used playing in the lesser-talented Zambian Premier League.
“There’s nothing that we can do apart from using the players that we’ve got,” Zambia coach Bruce Mwape said Tuesday. “We have Eunice as a replacement against Spain.”
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Mwape wasn’t clear who would replace Sakala in the nightmare scenario Zambia needed a fourth keeper, but 18-year-old keeper Leticia Lungu was called up to the national team after Nali went down.
“There is also another (goalkeeper) who is on standby,” Mwape said. “She’ll be on the bench.
Has FAZ officially protested against the first red card that handed down to our goal keeper Catherine Musonda? It is not fair that goalkeeper Musonda will miss the game against Spain after collecting two yellow cards against Japan. The question is: why was Musonda’s first yellow card not canceled after the VAR review? Did any official representing Zambia at the games protest that it be cancelled? If not, what then is their role as Zambia’s official representatives at the world cup?
However, as you will note from the above citation? The answer is YES! Ba FAZ you have three days before the next game for Zambia. Do something or otherwise come back.
Ba Minister Hon Elvis Nkandu, please take interest in this serious issue. If FAZ cant do it on their own, them direct them to do so… an official protest for the cancellation of the first red card is inevitable.
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Zambia's Goalkeepers
| Goalkeeper | Status |
|---|---|
| Hazel Nali | Ruled out with torn ACL |
| Catherine Musonda | Red carded against Japan |
| Eunice Sakala | To start against Spain |
| Leticia Lungu | Called up as replacement |
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