Australia 6-5 Zambia: Matildas roar back from 5-2 down in Olympics thriller – live reaction | Paris Olympic Games 2024

Dechlan Brennan has emailed me again, hello! He has pointed out Banda is not the only Olympic star to get a hat-trick and not win. GB’s Ellen White scored three against Australia in the 2021 quarter-final. It must be a weird feeling, do you keep the match ball? I’m unsure I’d want a reminder of a loss, especially in tonight’s fashion.

The other game in this group, USWNT v Germany, has just got underway. What a tasty encounter that will be.

That is the third time Barbra Banda has scored a hat-trick at the Olympics. Every time she has lost the game. It will be interesting to see how they go against Germany where a win is needed.

Zambia just seemed to fall apart defensively in that second half. I am stunned Australia came back and Zambia must be too. A lovely moment there as Fowler goes over to Musole to comfort her, the goalkeeper in tears.

Zambia players are on the floor, they look distraught. Australia are not celebrating either, they know their performance was not good enough tonight.

Full time: Australia 6-5 Zambia

90 + 8 min: Kundananji makes a huge run and shows her skills and it takes a good save from Arnold to stop her. Zambia have a corner but it is dealt with by Australia. It seems beyond Zambia now after they led for 90 minutes. Huge from Australia but my word you have to feel for Zambia.

90 + 7 min: The corner is popped in but Musole claims it.

90 + 6 min: Australia have a free kick, Hunt pops it into the area but Zambia deal with it. Australia keep coming and they pop it into the area, they win another corner. This game is all action.

90 + 5 min: Banda is an impressive as ever, she takes a shot which I thought was deflected for a corner but it’s a goal kick. Imagine scoring a hat-trick and you don’t win the game, so crushing.

90 + 3 min: Pictures are shown of Zambia fans getting emotional in the stands, no matter how this game ends they will be so proud of their team. Australia have a corner here, it’s delivered well but a resulting header goes over the bar.

90 + 1 min: That has to be utterly crushing for Zambia. They will have injury time but my word. On the other end of the scale elation for Australia, Heyman has been such a bright spark for them. There are eight minutes added.

GOAL! Australia 6-5 Zambia (Heyman, 90)

89 min: Banda wins a free kick in a great position after a Kennedy foul. Is this the winner? No. Banda stands over it, it’s a good delivery but Arnold punches away. It comes to Chanda but her effort is wide.

87 min: Aussie fans in the stadium can be heard urging their team on to find a winner here, they know a win would give them the best chance of progressing out of the group after losing their first game. They try and try a move, Torpey fires at goal but Musole saves – she really should have squared it to Foord in the middle there.

85 min: Banda is lurking again here and she takes a shot but it hits the side netting, both desperate to find a winner.

84 min: Australia are absolutely pelting the ball at the Zambia goal and I have to say the scrambled frantic defence from Zambia was top class. It’s impossible to take your eyes off of this game.

82 min: Zambia have a corner and it’s frantic in the box, there’s no clean shot and Australia clear. Australia make a great play as Foord squares it but Tembo clears with Musole out of position, wow wow wow.

81 min: I think on the balance of the game Zambia have been the better side but Australia have really dug in to fight back. Will we see a winner from either side? I hope so but I love goals.

79 min: How crazy is this game? I really thought Australia were on for a thrashing but now here we are – 10 goals later – and we’re level again.

PENALTY! Australia 5-5 Zambia (Catley, 77)

77 min: There’s a penalty, wow. I think it is slightly harsh but hey ho.

77 min: The referee has been told to check this which usually means it is given. No confirmation yet.

76 min: Foord manages to keep the ball in play, she stays down and wants a penalty but the referee is having none of it. Australia keep coming and another defensive scramble from Zambia in the box but they eventually get it away. VAR are going back to check if there should be a penalty for that Foord tackle.

74 min: Zambia are slowly getting more time on the ball and Banda fires a shot towards goal but Arnold saves well. The team come forward again but the sting is taken out on Kundananji’s shot.

72 min: Heyman has been a great introduction to this game, she has added a fiery spark that was lacking in this Matildas team. Apologies for not announcing her arrival, I was about to and then there was goal after goal.

70 min: Australia have a corner and Fowler takes it. It’s dealt with and Banda tries to counter quickly but Australia close her down well.

69 min: Zambia need to slow the pace of this game down, Australia are completely running away with it at the moment. The team have completely clicked into place.

67 min: Australia come forward again but Foord’s effort is over the bar. Zambia make a change with Zulu off for Chileshe.

66 min: Musole got her hands to it but the power of the ball saw it keep going and to the back of the net. Are Australia about to stage one of the biggest comebacks of all time?

GOAL! Australia 4-5 Zambia (Catley, 65)

64 min: Zambia may have got away with that goal but Australia are really upping the pressure here, they have a free kick now.

NO GOAL! Australia 3-5 Zambia

62 min: I believe they are looking if Musole was fouled in the build-up from Heyman.

61 min: Hang on there’s a goal check now.

GOAL! Australia 4-5 Zambia (Foord, 60)

59 min: Heyman has only been on for a few seconds, she tried to backheel it but Mweemba tries to clear it off of the line but it hits the keeper and goes in. What is this game?!

GOAL! Australia 3-5 Zambia (Mweemba OG)

GOAL! Australia 2-5 Zambia (Kundananji, 57)

56 min: Some Matildas fans are not happy with the side. Dechlan Brennan has emailed and said:

I can’t remember the Matilda’s ever being this leggy and slow. They had plenty of prep but there were signs in the warm up, and then in the first game against Germany. It can’t just be no Sam Kerr

I think on this occasion they have been stunned by the pace and tactics Zambia are presenting them. There are also some Australian players not having their best outing, namely Carpenter and Arnold.

54 min: Oh my word, how did that not go in? A long range effort comes in from Australia but Musole manages to scoop it out. Foord then pops it back in but the keeper is there again.

52 min: The pace on this game has slowed drastically in the last few minutes, just settling into this second half. Australia need to make sure they are the next to score.

50 min: Australia are yet to throw a punch in this second half and Zambia are the next to pop off a shot, this time through Kundananji but it is wide.

48 min: Zambia have a corner from the save but it’s deflected out for another corner. It comes in again but it’s over the head of Banda and cleared.

47 min: I don’t believe there have been any half-time changes. Australia almost score immediately, as they did in the first half, Arnold makes a huge save from Mupopo.

Back underway! Australia 2-4 Zambia

The two Zambian stars in the spotlight ahead of the game were Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji and they have both delivered so far. Banda with three goals, Kundananji with the other and some silky skills.

Barbra Banda’s hat-trick is her seventh international hat-trick. It is her third Olympic hat-trick.

Half-time: Australia 2-4 Zambia

45 + 3 min: Van Egmond tried to head the ball clear in the box but it went into Banda’s path and from there she doesn’t miss. What an utterly impressive talent she is.

GOAL! Australia 2-4 Zambia (Banda, 45 + 2)

45 + 1 min: What a brilliant save from Musole, Foord had a one-on-one with the keeper out of position but she still makes the save and Zambia clear. Wow. There will be four minutes added.

44 min: Raso with a good run down the left, she crosses in but it is headed away. It comes back in but it’s well defended again, Australia are really cranking up the pressure here. Foord has a lovely bit of skill and she takes the ball around a defender and she takes a shot but Musole reads it well once more to save.

42 min: Arnold looks absolutely fuming, she must be frustrated about conceding three and her goal is still be peppered with chances. This is such a thrilling encounter.

40 min: Kundananji, who has been a good spark for Zambia, makes another good run but a cross comes straight to Arnold. Australia launch their own attack and they are quick about it, a shot comes off but Musole is wise to it and saves.

38 min: Zambia have a free kick from halfway and they are launching it upfield, they want to restore the two-goal lead. Australia defend well initially but Zambia still have it.

36 min: Australia won a corner and they have looked deadly from the set piece. The delivery was good and Raso converts. Which way will this one go.

GOAL! Australia 2-3 Zambia (Raso, 35)