Debutants Zambia claimed their first ever victory on the Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win over Costa Rica at Waikato Stadium on Monday, though each groups had been already out of rivalry for the knockout stage.
Zambia, whose first two video games led to 5-0 hammerings, completed third in Group C, with Japan prime after their 4-0 thrashing of Spain. Costa Rica completed backside and didn’t choose up a degree of their three matches.
Defender Lushomo Mweemba scored the quickest aim of the match up to now, with a spectacular volleyed effort at two minutes and 11 seconds, and captain Barbra Banda doubled the lead from the penalty spot simply after the half-hour mark.
Zambia was awarded the spot kick after Banda went to floor contained in the six yard field and the ahead stepped as much as calmly slot the ball into the underside left nook, scoring the 1,000th aim in Women’s World Cup historical past.
Playing at its second World Cup, Costa Rica was nonetheless trying to find its first win within the competitors and reduce the deficit early within the second half, when Melissa Herrera bundled the ball residence after goalkeeper Catherine Musonda was unable to clear it.
Costa Rica appealed for a penalty when midfielder Priscila Chinchilla collided with Musonda within the field, however was denied after a prolonged VAR test when replays confirmed ahead Sheika Scott was offside within the build-up.
Herrera had the ball within the internet once more with round 20 minutes remaining however was dominated offside and Valeria Del Campo fired vast earlier than, in opposition to the run of play, Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji scored from Banda’s cross in stoppage time to seal a historic win.