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Matildas in stunning scenes at Paris Olympics as fans erupt over 'most insane game ever'

The Aussies have kept their campaign alive with an absurd comeback against Zambia.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

The Matildas have kept their Olympic dream alive with an extraordinary comeback 6-5 win over Zambia. Desperate for a win after going down 3-0 to Germany in their opening game, the Matildas were on the verge of more embarrassment when they trailed 5-2 against the African champions.

But the Aussies scored four goals in the late stages - including Michelle Heyman's winner in the 90th minute - to pull off an absurd victory in an 11-goal thriller. The Matildas got late goals from captain Steph Catley, a strike from Alanna Kennedy, a header from Hayley Raso and a bit of help from the erratic Zambian keeper Ngambo Musole who was involved in a farcical own goal.

Zambian and Matildas players after their clash at the Olympics.
Zambian players were left in tears after the Matildas scored an insane 6-5 win at the Olympics. Image: Getty

But it was 36-year-old Heyman who won the game off the bench. The veteran striker kept a cool head with 90 minutes on the clock to slot home past Musole, after she was freed by a superb pass from Catley. "A memorable night in Nice ... the Matildas have cooked up their most extraordinary comeback yet," said commentator Brenton Speed on Channel 9.

Aussie football legend Craig Foster wrote on social media: “Craziest game ever. Gutsiest performance. Talk about never say die. Unbelievable.”

Heyman told Channel 9 after the match: “We want that medal. We are trying our hardest to bring something home. We knew we could do it. It was going to come. We have it our all, and we never gave up.”

Michelle Heyman, pictured here celebrating with Matildas teammates at the Olympics.
Michelle Heyman celebrates with teammates after her match-winning goal for the Matildas against Zambia. (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson celebrates. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The win means the Matildas are still a big chance to make it through to the quarter-finals, but they may still have to take at least a point against the powerful USA team in their final match. Eight of the 12 teams will advance to the next stage, with two of the third-placed pool finishers to move on alongside the top two in the three pools.

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Amidst the elation for the Matildas players there was absolute agony for Zambia, with a number of players breaking down in tears after the heartbreaking loss. The African champions are little chance of advancing after a 3-0 loss to the USA in their first game.

Barbra Banda opened the scoring in the first minute and went on to score a hat-trick, with Racheal Kundananji scoring twice for Zambia. An Alanna Kennedy goal had cancelled out Banda's opener, only for Kundananji to restore Zambia's lead before Banda made it 3-1. Hayley Raso pulled one back for Australia, but Banda scrambled in to complete her hat-trick just before the half-time break and make it 4-2.

Kundananji then headed home for a 5-2 lead in the 56th minute, but a number of defensive blunders from Zambia handed last year's World Cup semi-finalists a way back into the contest. Lushomo Mweemba played a clearance from her own line into the net for an own goal, and the goalkeeper then fumbled in a Catley free-kick to make it 5-4.

Catley converted a penalty to level at 5-5 before Heyman ran through for the Matildas' winner. Aussies watching at home were left in absolute disbelief as the Matildas kept their campaign alive in the most dramatic of fashion.

"How the hell did the Matildas win that?" wrote Jon Ralph of the Herald Sun. "Heyman with the clinical winner. A sporting smash and grab. The tournament still alive. Never seen anything like it."

with agencies