LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-Zambia suffered a second consecutive defeat in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, succumbing to a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Brazil in a match that was marked by controversy and heartbreak for the African champions.

The Zambian team had their hands full from the outset, struggling to contain the Brazilian attack.

Their troubles were compounded when they were reduced to ten players, a situation that seemed to embolden the Brazilians who capitalized on the numerical advantage to score multiple goals.

The Zambians had earlier conceded two penalties, which proved to be costly as Brazil converted them to take a commanding lead.

To add to their woes, their star player Barbra Banda was forced off the field with an injury, depriving the team of a key player and leaving them struggling to cope with the onslaught.

Banda, who had scored Zambia’s lone goal, was visibly distraught as she left the field, a testament to her importance to the team.

Her departure seemed to take the wind out of Zambia’s sails, and they were unable to mount a meaningful challenge to Brazil’s dominance.

Brazil’s victory was never in doubt, with their superior skill and experience telling in the end.

The 6-1 scoreline flattered Zambia, who were outplayed in all aspects of the game.

The defeat is a significant setback for Zambia, who will now need to regroup and reassess their strategy if they are to salvage something from the tournament.

The Zambian team’s next match is against another strong side, and they will need a major turnaround in form if they are to avoid an early exit from the competition.