The Australian women’s football team came from behind to beat Zambia 6-5 with a 90th-minute goal in a fiercely contested Group B match at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday.

Playing at the Nice Stadium in Nice, the Matildas were down 5-2 at one point. However, a brace from captain Steph Catley (65’, 78’) and goals from Alanna Kennedy (7’), Hayley Raso (35’), Michelle Heyman (90’) as well as an own goal from Ngambo Musole (58’) helped the Matildas pull off an incredible win.

Despite Barbra Banda’s first-half hattrick (1’, 33’, 45’+1) and Racheal Kundananji’s brace (21’, 56’), Zambia couldn’t hold on to their lead and suffered a heartbreaking loss.

The Matildas entered the match after losing 3-0 to Germany in their campaign opener and they were rocked by an early goal. Barbra Banda scored in the opening minute to put Australia in a difficult spot.

Although the Matildas came close to tying through Emily van Egmond just two minutes later, the equaliser came in the seventh minute with Alanna Kennedy scoring off a Stephanie Catley assist.

The game soon turned into a free-scoring contest as both sides continued to carve out chance after chance. Zambia restored their lead at the 21st-minute mark with Racheal Kundananji beating goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

Banda doubled her tally to extend Zambia’s lead to two but the deficit was cut back down to one after Hayley Raso got on the scoresheet just two minutes later.

Banda completed her hattrick just before half-time to make it 4-2 in favour of Zambia leading into the break. She then turned provider for Kundananji who doubled her tally just nine minutes after the restart as Zambia led 5-2.

The Matildas were given a glimmer of hope with Ngambo Musole scoring an own goal just two minutes later. Catley’s free-kick goal in the 65th minute made a comeback seemingly possible.

Both Banda and Kundananji had consecutive chances to extend Zambia’s lead but the Matildas capitalised on their mistakes with captain Catley scoring from the penalty spot and restoring parity.

Just when the match seemed to be heading to a 5-5 draw, Australia completed a remarkable win after Michelle Heyman scored at the stroke of 90 minutes. Her goal was assisted by Catley.

Both Australia and Zambia had several chances in the eight minutes of additional time, but the frantic contest at Nice Stadium ended in a 6-5 come-back victory for Australia.

The Australian women’s football team are third in Group B following this result with Germany and the United States of America taking the top two spots.

The Matildas will take on the USA in the final group stage game of the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football tournament on Thursday.