We are only one day into football being played at the Olympics, and a new record has already been set. Netherlands women defeated Zambia women by putting 10 goals past them.
The final scoreline read 3-10, meaning a 13-goal showdown between the two teams. Barbra Banda scored a hat trick for Zambia, but they still ended up losing as Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema scored four goals, Lieke Martens netted a brace while Jill Roord, Shanice van de Sanden, Lineth Beerensteyn and Victoria Pelova all got in the act for what was a record-breaking result.
Banda is the first woman from Africa to score three goals in a game at the Olympics, and the first to lose a game while doing so. What’s more, the 21-year-old’s goals were the country’s first at the Olympics in its history. The Netherlands went into the tunnel at half time leading 6-1, and the second half was played at a similar intensity to the first, with the Zambian team enduring another embarrassing half. However, the last 10 minutes saw Banda score twice to reduce the goal deficit.
Sweden beat USA 3-0, Brazil won by putting five past China and Australia defeated rivals New Zealand 2-1 in the most notable other matches of the tournament. The women of the Netherlands next face Brazil on Saturday in a heated clash, pitting two in-form teams against each other.
