Malawi Women’s National Football Team players showed grit as they came from behind to beat Zambia 3-2 in an international friendly match at Reiz Arena, Lusaka, in Zambia Tuesday.
This is a perfect revenge for the Scorchers after they lost 2-0 to the Copper Queens in the first match at the same venue on Sunday.
Unlike in the first match, the Scorchers delivered the kind of stuff that mesmerised even the home crowd.
But it was not on a silver platter as the Scorchers survived Zambia’s scare in added time.
In a match monitored on Football Association of Zambia (Faz)’s Facebook page, United States (US)- based striker Rachel Kundananji gave the hosts the lead just five minutes into the match.
Sensing danger, Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili made a double change, introducing Sabina Thom and Rose Kabzere for Sarah Mulimbika and Caroline Mathyola, respectively.
The changes brought some life into the Scorchers’ attack.
But the hosts held on for a slender lead at the break.
After recess, Kabzere pulled the Scorchers level with a great finish from outside the 18-yard box.
The Scorchers also introduced Leticia Chinyamula and Tendai Sani for Zainab Kapanda and Funny Magombo, respectively.
Faith Chimzimu put the Scorchers ahead after she weaved past the Zambia defence before putting the ball into the net after 56 minutes.
Two minutes later, Sabina Thom came to haunt Zambia again, two years after she scored the winner during the 2023 Cosafa Women’s Championship.
Thom bundled the ball into the net after a good pass from captain Tabitha Chawinga.
Rachel Nachula set up a tense finish when she scored with 10 minutes to full time.
The referee added nine minutes.
Nachula had a chance to pull the Copper Queens level in added minutes but missed the chance, with goalkeeper Yamikani Kaonga already beaten.
The Scorchers then held on for a win.
This could be a boost for the Scorchers as they will face either Zimbabwe or Angola in the second round of Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers.
Zambia, on the other hand, have been given a reality check as they prepare for the 2025 Wafcon finals in Morocco.
Fazili was pleased with the performance of the team.
“The Copper Queens have given us a good test.
“After the two matches, we are ready for upcoming tournaments,” he said.
He praised players for being clinical in front of goal.
“We focused much on finishing and the girls did well,” Fazili said.
Fazili made several changes to the starting line-up that lost 2-0 on Sunday.
US-based forward Temwa Chawinga was not even on the bench.
Kabzere, Thom, Chinyamula and Mercy Sikelo were relegated to the bench as Kaonga, Kapanda, Mulimbika, Magombo and Mathyola started the match.
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