Australia beats Zambia 6-5 in Olympic women’s football slugfest

Steph Catley (YouTube)

The women’s football competition continued on Sunday at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Of the eight games that took place, there was one particular game that stood out of all the rest. The reason is because of the score. In an incredibly high scoring result, Australia defeated Zambia 6-5.

If you are wondering if the 11 total goals was an Olympic women’s soccer record, it is not. The record is 13. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, the Netherlands defeated Australia 10-3.

In Australia’s 6-5 win over Zambia, Barbra Banda actually had a hat trick for Zambia, but it was not enough. Banda’s first goal was actually in the first minute of the contest.

The Australians’s leading scorer was Steph Catley of Melbourne, who scored twice. Catley scored her first goal in the 65th minute, to pull Australia within one goal at the time. Then Catley tied the game at five on a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Michelle Heyman of Shellharbour, New South Wales scored the game winning goal in the 90th minute.

Two more Australians scored in the contest. Alanna Kennedy of Campbelltown scored in the seventh minute, and Hayley Raso of Gold Coast scored in the 35th minute. Australia also benefited by a Zambia own goal.

With the win, Australia improved to a record of one win and one loss for three points in Group B. The Australians lost their opening game by a score of 3-0 to Germany on July 25. Australia plays their final Group B game against the United States on Wednesday.