Epic Matildas comeback highlights eventful day in women’s football in Paris 2024
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Australia forward Michelle Heyman scoring a late winner to secure a 6-5 Olympic Group B win over Zambia at the Allianz Riviera on July 28.
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS – Australia served up an Olympic Games football epic on July 28, coming back from 5-2 down with 34 minutes left to win 6-5 at the Allianz Riviera.
The Matildas got off to a terrible start in Group B with a 3-0 defeat by Germany in their opener and appeared to be heading for a second straight loss when they trailed Zambia 5-2 early in the second half in Nice.
But they came roaring back and prevailed thanks to Michelle Heyman’s 90th-minute strike.
It was a shocking collapse by Zambia, for whom Barbra Banda scored in the first minute and went on to net a hat-trick, with Racheal Kundananji adding two.
“Losing this kind of match is – this is worse than heartbreak,” said Kundananji. “We were winning, and then we just lose like that. Which doesn’t make sense.”
Alanna Kennedy quickly cancelled out Banda’s opener, only for Kundananji to restore Zambia’s lead before Banda made it 3-1.
Hayley Raso pulled one back but Banda scrambled in to complete her hat-trick just before the break and make it 4-2.
Kundananji then headed in for 5-2 on 56 minutes, but defensive mistakes by Zambia handed the 2023 World Cup semi-finalists a way back into the contest.
An own goal by goalkeeper Ngambo Musole and two Steph Catley strikes set the scene before Heyman ran through for the winner.
Heyman said: “We try our hardest to bring something home, we knew we could do it.
“We knew they would get tired which is why I was happy to come on with fresh legs and enjoy the game. We were giving it our all and we never gave up.”
In other matches, the scandal-hit Canadians kept alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals with a last-gasp 2-1 win over France as the United States joined Spain in the last eight.
The reigning champions came into the Group A match against the hosts with their hopes hanging by a thread after they were docked six points over a spying scandal.
A drone was used over a New Zealand training session ahead of Canada’s first match, which they went on to win 2-1. Coach Bev Priestman, who has been sent home, has been suspended for a year by Fifa.
She has apologised for the incident and promised to cooperate with an investigation.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto had put the hosts in front but Canada equalised just before the hour mark via Jessie Fleming. In the 12th minute of added time, Vanessa Gilles secured the dramatic victory.
Canada face Colombia in their final group match on July 31 and can advance to the knockout round as one of the two best third-placed teams with a win.
In Group B, Sophia Smith scored twice as the Americans thumped Germany 4-1 to stay on track for a record-extending fifth gold medal. Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams were also on the score sheet, with Giulia Gwinn scoring Germany’s consolation goal.
In Group C, Spain beat Nigeria 1-0, with Alexia Putellas scoring a late free kick. Earlier in the same group, Momoko Tanikawa scored a stunning 96th-minute winner as Japan came from behind to beat Brazil 2-1 in Paris.
Japan were staring at a second straight defeat after Jhennifer put Brazil ahead early in the second half. But captain Saki Kumagai rolled in a 92nd-minute penalty before substitute Tanikawa’s incredible first-time shot from distance. AFP, REUTERS
