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Jonathan White

If neither China nor Zambia go through as one of the two best third-placed teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women’s football tournament, and the odds are against them, it will not have been for lack of trying.
The pair played out a 4-4 draw at the Miyagi Stadium where both will feel they did enough to win it and keep their dream alive.
China – the silver medallists in Atlanta in 1996 – will feel like they let the biggest opportunity slip through their fingers, though.
The Steel Roses took the lead through star player Wang Shuang, the former Paris St Germain forward, after just six minutes.


Despite Zambia levelling through Racheal Kundananji on the quarter hour, Jia Xuquan’s side were soon 3-1 up, thanks to Wang completing her hat-trick with goals in the 22nd and 23rd minutes.
The scoreline was indicative of the expected gulf in class between world No 15 China and the 104th best team in the world.

Zambia striker Barbra Banda had other ideas than sticking to the Fifa rankings, making the score 3-2 by the interval with a penalty and then levelling soon after the restart.


The 21-year-old scored her third and Zambia’s fourth on 69 minutes to take the lead for the first time.
Banda should have been all too familiar to the all-Chinese Women’s Super League squad, having torn up defences for CWSL side Shanghai Shengli since 2020 where she is a teammate of five players in the China squad.


Wang, who dragged China to Tokyo with a starring role over two legs against South Korea in the play-offs, stopped the Zambian fairy tale.
Her penalty and her own fourth goal of the game in the 80th minute levelled matters before late drama at both ends.
First, China hit the post through substitute Xiao Yuyi before Zambia immediately countered and Li Qingtong was sent off for pulling back Banda when clean through on goal.

One-woman show Wang forced another smart save from Zambia keeper Hazel Nali in the five minutes of added time.
Neither teams are likely to go beyond their final group games.
Not only do these teams only have a point each after two games, they both have a shocking goal difference.



China lost 5-0 to Brazil in their opener, while Zambia’s Olympic debut ended with a 10-3 win for the Netherlands.
China play the Netherlands, while Zambia meet Brazil in the last group matches on Tuesday.


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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo Olympics: China’s Wang Shuang scores four in draw with Zambia

Wang Shuang celebrates scoring for China in their group F match against Zambia in Miyagi, Japan. Photo: Xinhua

Zambia's forward Babra Banda (C) celebrates her goal with teammates during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women's group F first round football match between China and Zambia at the Miyagi Stadium in Miyagi on July 24, 2021. (Photo by Kohei CHIBAHARA / AFP)

(210724) -- MIYAGI, July 24, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Players of Zambia celebrate scoring during the Tokyo 2020 women's football group F match between China and Zambia in Miyagi, Japan, July 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)

Tokyo Olympics: China fans congratulate Wang Shuang and women’s football team – then stick boot into men

China’s Wang Shuang celebrates after the second leg of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Asian qualification play-offs win over  South Korea in Suzhou. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Steel Roses book ticket to Tokyo 2020 after Wang Shuang heroics against South Korea

Chinas Wang Shanshan (left) and South Korea’s Cho So-hyun compete for the ball during the qualifying play-off second leg women’s football match for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Suzhou. Photo: AFP 

Chinese players celebrate after scoring during their second leg playoff qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Suzhou, Jiangsu province in April. Photo: AFP  

China’s Lou Jiahui and South Korea’s Ji So-yun compete in the second leg of their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifier at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Suzhou, Jiangsu province in April. Photo: AFP  

Sport

China


Former PSG star scores all four for Steel Roses in eight-goal thriller with Zambia that all but ends Olympic dream
Barbra Banda nets a hat-trick in topsy-turvy tie that also sees Chinese defender Li Qingtong sent off in late drama



Former PSG star scores all four for Steel Roses in eight-goal thriller with Zambia that all but ends Olympic dream.


Tokyo Olympics: China’s Wang Shuang scores four in draw with Zambia

Former PSG star scores all four for Steel Roses in eight-goal thriller with Zambia that all but ends Olympic dream Barbra Banda nets a hat-trick in topsy-turvy tie that also sees Chinese defender Li Qingtong sent off in late drama

Former PSG star scores all four for Steel Roses in eight-goal thriller with Zambia that all but ends Olympic dream

Barbra Banda nets a hat-trick in topsy-turvy tie that also sees Chinese defender Li Qingtong sent off in late drama