The Matildas staged a exciting second-half comeback to overthrow Zambia 6-5 in a pulsating match at the Stade de Nice.
Michelle Heyman came off the seat
to score a 90th-minute match champion in an 11-goal actioner, giving Australia
a central three points in Group B.
Coach
Tony Gustavsson made one change from the team that played in contradiction of
Germany, with Emily van Egmond replacing Cortnee Vine in the starting cast.
The thrilling
match started with a bang as Zambia's captain, Barbra Banda, unchecked a
long-range assault to open the scoring fair two minutes in.
Five
minutes later, Australia stable from a set piece. Protector Alanna Kennedy rose
high to nod home a powerful header from a cross by captain Steph Catley. Hellen
Chanda had a chance presently after, but it was Bay FC forward Rachel
Kundananji who put the Copper Queens forward again, finishing a robust run with
a low, hard strike.
The
electric pace continuous as Banda doubled Zambia's lead by striking low from
the advantage of the area after a angle.
Three
minutes later, the Matildas replied as another well-floated corner was met by
Hayley Raso, who directed it home to halve the deficit.
Raso then
set up Caitlin Foord in the 43rd minute, but Foord’s effort was dazzlingly
stopped one-on-one by Zambian keeper Ngambo Musole.
In extra
time, Banda added to her tournament scoring record with her third Olympic
hat-trick, putting Zambia up 4-2 at half-time.
Australia
nearly cut the central again in the 52nd minute when Mary Fowler hit both the
post and crossbar with a 25+ yard shot from near the tangential.
Three
minutes later, Kundananji stretched Zambia’s lead with a header from a Banda
cross.
The
Matildas made three replacements in the 57th minute, bringing on Michelle
Heyman, Kaitlyn Torpey, and Clare Wheeler, which paid off immediately.
Pressure
from Heyman involuntary an own goal from Musole, ramping up the game’s
intensity.
Australia
seemed to score again through Heyman’s effort with Caitlin Foord, but VAR ruled
out the goal due to a foul on the goalkeeper.
Minutes
later, the Matildas did score their fourth as Steph Catley struck a free kick
sweetly from near the penalty area.
In the
78th minute, Foord was brought down in the box, and VAR awarded a penalty,
which Catley coolly rehabilitated to level the score at 5-5.
Playing
in her first Olympics since Rio 2016, Heyman held the thrilling success for
Australia, sending home a great ball from Catley with just minutes to go.
Australia
will face the United States in their final group match at 3 am AEST on
Thursday, 1 August, at the Stade de Marseille, Marseille, for a place in the
Paris 2024 quarter-finals.
