Zambia secured their first Women’s World Cup win by edging out Costa Rica in their final Group C match.
Lushomo Mweemba opened the scoring for Zambia inside the first three minutes and Barbra Banda added a second from the spot midway through the first half.
Costa Rica’s Melissa Herrera pulled a goal shortly after the break, but Racheal Kundananji completed the win, netting a third in injury time.
Both sides had already been eliminated after two matches.
Zambia had lost 5-0 against both Japan and Spain, but their campaign at least ends on a high.
They made a brilliant start in Hamilton as Mweemba scored their first World Cup goal, volleying home Avell Chitundu’s corner after two minutes and 11 seconds.
Skipper Banda doubled their advantage from the spot – the 1000th goal in the Women’s World Cup – after her shirt was pulled by Katherine Alvarado in the penalty area.
Costa Rica, who were also chasing a first World Cup win in just their second tournament, rallied and struck the crossbar through Maria Paula Coto just before the break.
After the restart Amelia Valverde’s team halved the deficit with Herrera nodding in Valeria del Campo’s header across goal.
An equaliser seemed inevitable with Zambian keeper Catherine Musonda catching Priscilla Chinchilla in the box, but a lengthy video assistant referee review ruled out a penalty kick due to an offside in the build-up.
Herrera then found the net for a second time midway through the second half, but her strike from a tight angle was ruled out for offside.
With Costa Rica pushing for an equaliser, Banda’s disguised pass sent through substitute Kundananji who sealed a famous win.
Zambia finished third in Group C, ahead of Costa Rica in fourth.
Player of the match
WilombeMary Wilombe
Costa Rica
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Squad number11Player nameRodríguez
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Squad number21Player nameScott
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Squad number7Player nameHerrera
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Squad number4Player nameBenavides
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Squad number14Player nameChinchilla
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Squad number10Player nameVillalobos
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Squad number3Player nameCoto
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Squad number16Player nameAlvarado
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Squad number13Player nameValenciano
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Squad number5Player namedel Campo
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Squad number20Player nameVillalobos
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Squad number23Player nameSolera
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Squad number9Player nameSalas
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Squad number19Player namePinell
Zambia
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Squad number6Player nameWilombe
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Squad number21Player nameChitundu
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Squad number11Player nameBanda
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Squad number9Player nameMubanga
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Squad number17Player nameKundananji
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Squad number4Player nameBanda
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Squad number8Player nameBelemu
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Squad number13Player nameTembo
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Squad number3Player nameMweemba
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Squad number12Player nameKatongo
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Squad number19Player nameMapepa
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Squad number1Player nameMusonda
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Squad number20Player nameChanda
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Squad number15Player nameMusesa
Line-ups
Costa Rica
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Solera
- 5del CampoBooked at 23mins
- 20Villalobos
- 4BenavidesBooked at 21mins
- 3Coto
- 16AlvaradoBooked at 6minsSubstituted forPinellat 90+1′minutes
- 11Rodríguez
- 7Herrera
- 10VillalobosSubstituted forSalasat 72′minutes
- 14Chinchilla
- 21ScottSubstituted forValencianoat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Pérez
- 2Guillén
- 6Sánchez
- 8Campos
- 9Salas
- 12Elizondo
- 13Valenciano
- 15Granados
- 17Varela
- 18Tapia
- 19Pinell
- 22Estrada
Zambia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Musonda
- 8Belemu
- 15Musesa
- 3Mweemba
- 13TemboBooked at 40mins
- 4Banda
- 21ChitunduSubstituted forMapepaat 85′minutes
- 20ChandaSubstituted forMubangaat 90+9′minutes
- 12KatongoSubstituted forWilombeat 74′minutes
- 17Kundananji
- 11BandaBooked at 66mins
Substitutes
- 2Soko
- 5Mulenga
- 6Wilombe
- 7Lubandji
- 9Mubanga
- 10Selemani
- 14Lungu
- 16Lungu
- 18Sakala
- 19Mapepa
- 22Banda
- 23Phiri
- Referee:
- Bouchra Karboubi
- Attendance:
- 8,117
Live Text
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Match ends, Costa Rica 1, Zambia 3.
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Second Half ends, Costa Rica 1, Zambia 3.
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Attempt saved. Barbra Banda (Zambia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Racheal Kundananji.
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Fabiola Villalobos (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Barbra Banda (Zambia).
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Substitution, Zambia. Hellen Mubanga replaces Hellen Chanda.
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Offside, Costa Rica. Emilie Valenciano tries a through ball, but Priscila Chinchilla is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Mélissa Herrera (Costa Rica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Mélissa Herrera (Costa Rica) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Priscila Chinchilla with a cross.
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Goal! Costa Rica 1, Zambia 3. Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Barbra Banda with a through ball.
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Substitution, Costa Rica. Alexandra Pinell replaces Katherine Alvarado.
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Attempt missed. Martha Tembo (Zambia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Siomala Mapepa.
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Corner, Zambia. Conceded by Daniela Solera.
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Attempt saved. Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Barbra Banda with a headed pass.
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Attempt saved. Barbra Banda (Zambia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mary Wilombe.
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Substitution, Zambia. Siomala Mapepa replaces Avell Chitundu.
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Substitution, Costa Rica. Emilie Valenciano replaces Sheika Scott.
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Corner, Zambia. Conceded by Fabiola Villalobos.
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Attempt blocked. Barbra Banda (Zambia) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Avell Chitundu with a cross.
