By narrowly defeating Costa Rica in their final Group C game, Zambia won their first Women’s World Cup match.
Within the first three minutes, Lushomo Mweemba scored the opening goal for Zambia against Costa Rica, and Barbra Banda added a second from the penalty spot midway through the first half.
Shortly after the half, Melissa Herrera of Costa Rica scored, but Racheal Kundananji added a third goal in stoppage time to seal the victory. After two games, both teams had already been crowned losers.
Zambia had fallen 5-0 to both Japan and Spain, but at least their campaign came to a successful conclusion.
They got off to a great start in Hamilton as Mweemba volleyed in Avell Chitundu’s corner after two minutes and eleven seconds.
After Katherine Alvarado tugged on her shirt in the penalty area, captain Banda doubled their lead from the spot for the 1000th goal in Women’s World Cup history.
Just before halftime, Maria Paula Coto of Costa Rica, who was also trying to win their first World Cup in only their second event, rallied and hit the crossbar.
After the break, Herrera assisted Valeria del Campo in halving the deficit by nodding in the cross-goal attempt.
When Zambian goalkeeper Catherine Musonda tripped Priscilla Chinchilla in the area, an equalizer appeared imminent. However, a long video assistant referee review disallowed a penalty kick because of an offside in the lead-up.
Midway through the second half, Herrera scored again, but her shot from a tight angle was disallowed for offside.
As Costa Rica pushed for an equalizer, Banda’s covert ball sent replacement Kundananji through, who completed a historic victory. In Group C, Zambia came in third place, ahead of fourth-place Costa Rica.