Zambia was outclassed 3-0 by the United States in their opening Group B match in the women’s football tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games on Thursday.
The Copper Queens held on in the early stages of the match at the Allianz Riviera in Nice despite countless waves of attack from the Americans. The Africans even came close to shocking the four-time Olympic gold medallists but Barbra Banda failed to convert her chance after a brilliantly worked counter attack.
Paris 2024 Olympics
FULL-TIME: USA 3-0 Zambia
Trinity Rodman 17’, Mallory Swanson 24’, 25’
The Copper Queens next match is against Australia on Sunday 28 July, 2024.#Paris2024 #Olympics #WeAreCopperQueens pic.twitter.com/cimE6eAYeH
— FAZ (@FAZFootball) July 25, 2024
However, the United States broke the deadlock in the 17th minute via a sublime finish from 22-year-old forward Trinity Rodman, and from that moment it was all Emma Hayes’ team asking the questions.
Seven minutes after Rodman’s opener, Mallory Swanson doubled the USA’s lead with a left-footed strike. The 26-year-old scored her second of the match in the 25th minute to put the tie to bed before the half hour mark.
More misery was heaped on the Zambians when defender Pauline Zulu was sent off after being shown a straight red card after a VAR review for pulling Sonia Smith just outside the penalty area and denying a scoring opportunity.
The Copper Queens sit bottom of the group, while the United States are in second place behind Germany, who were also 3-0 winners against Australia in the other game.
Zambia will face Australia’s Matildas in their next game in Nice on Sunday, July 28, while the United States will tackle Germany in a top-of-the-table battle at the Stade de Marseille.
