Trailing Zambia 4-2 at half-time of a chaotic second game, the Matildas completed a stunning comeback to win 6-5 and keep their Olympics hopes alive.
The Matildas have kept their quest for an Olympic medal alive after an incredible come-from-behind win over Zambia in the second group game in Nice .
Australia equalised five minutes later, with a looping free kick from captain Steph Catley sailing over Zambia's entire defensive line and onto the head of Alanna Kennedy, who headed low and hard into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-1. Hayley Raso then pulled a goal back for Australia a minute later, launching highest to connect with a curling corner from Kyra Cooney-Cross, to bring the scores back to 3-2 just before the half-hour.The Matildas began to pile on the pressure towards the end of the first half, sending several crosses and aerial balls into the box, but many opportunities went begging with no dedicated centre-forward to aim for.
Less than a minute after coming onto the field, Heyman had the Matildas back at 5-3, ghosting into the box to get on the end of a spinning cross that she flicked off the back of her heel, with the ball deflecting off a Zambian sock before rolling into the net. The final 15 minutes were total chaos, with the Matildas throwing multiple players and direct balls vaguely towards Zambia's defensive third, hoping that the luck which had deserted them earlier in the game had suddenly, miraculously, returned.
"Obviously we didn't want to concede all of , but I think Zambia are an incredible team. They've got one of the most in-form strikers in the world in Barbra Banda; we knew she was going to be dangerous and she showed her quality, we didn't handle it very well.The result gives Australia a much-needed 3 points after their opening loss to Germany, and gives them some buffer-room heading into their third and final group game against the USA on Thursday.
We'll have a match report up shortly, and I'm going to try my best to analyse the absolute insanity of that match later this morning, so keep an eye on ABC Sport for whatever ends up pouring out of my fingers! She's all alone now and opens her body up, curling her foot through the ball, aiming for the front post.94' Chance Australia!A cross-field ball falls in behind Zambia's exhausted defenders and finds Michelle Heyman, who takes a touch into the box before clipping a cross towards the back post.Kaitlyn Torpey is steaming towards the back post, but the bounce is just too awkward and she shins it out for a goal kick.
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