China's Wang scores four to deny Zambia in eight-goal thriller

BY

-

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 - 11:49 GMT

BY

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 - 11:49 GMT

 China’s Wang Shuang celebrates his goal, Reuters

China’s Wang Shuang celebrates his goal, Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - China’s Wang Shuang scored four goals including a late penalty as the Asian side grabbed a 4-4 draw with Zambia in the Olympics women’s soccer tournament at Rifu’s Miyagi Stadium on Saturday after Babra Banda netted her second hat-trick in as many games.

Zambia, thrashed 10-3 by the Netherlands in their Group F opener, found themselves down 3-0 after first-half strikes by Wang and in real danger of another big defeat, but responded through a Banda penalty and Racheal Kundananji’s goal.

China, who had conceded five goals in their opening defeat by Brazil, let in a third as the in-form Banda struck again in the 46th minute.

The 21-year-old Banda who plays for China’s Shanghai Shengli netted in the 69th minute to take her tally to six goals in two games.

But China had a sting in their tail as Wang stepped up to convert from the spot with seven minutes left to secure a point before they were reduced to 10 women after Li Qingtong was sent off.

Wang became only the third player to score four goals in a match at the Games and second in the tournament after Dutchwoman Vivianne Miedema.

Earlier, Canada forward Janine Beckie scored in either half as they beat Chile 2-1 at the Sapporo Dome.

Manchester City’s Beckie thundered in the opener six minutes before the break after latching on to a cross by Nichelle Prince before the pair combined again after the break to double their team’s advantage.

A well-timed run allowed Beckie to get on the end of a pass by Prince and the 26-year-old forward made no mistake as she finished past Chile’s Christiane Endler.

Chile pulled a goal back through Karen Araya in the 57th minute to ensure a nervy finish but Canada held on for their first win after a 1-1 stalemate in their opening Group E encounter against hosts Japan.

 

Comments

0

Leave a Comment

Be Social