Match Review: Costa Rica (Wom) vs. Zambia (Wom), 31 July 2023

In a riveting encounter in the Women's World Cup, Zambia triumphed over Costa Rica with a final scoreline of 3-1. Zambia displayed an emphatic dominance early on, with two goals scored in the first half at the 2nd and 30th-minute mark, placing them in a commanding position. While Costa Rica managed to retaliate in the second half, netting a goal in the 46th minute, Zambia sealed their victory with a final goal at 92nd minute, effectively subduing Costa Rica's hopes of an equalizer.

On a more granular analysis, the match statistics reveal key factors that influenced the game's final outcome. Zambia had a clear upper hand in corner kicks, outmatching Costa Rica with 7 against 3. This likely had an effect on Zambia's offensive strategy, effectively applying pressure on the Costa Rican defense.

Costa Rica, on the other hand, struggled with maintaining discipline on the field. The home team had three yellow cards inflicted in the first half, which may have led to tactical changes and a more conservative game approach in fear of escalating it into a red card which could have jeopardized their entire game plan.

Zambia’s no-offside strategy paid off, allowing them a greater range of attacking options without restricting their play. This was in stark contrast to Costa Rica, who, with two offside offenses could have been more mindful of their forward line when attacking.

Despite a solid attempt, Costa Rica's performance was marred by an excess number of fouls, 11 in total compared to Zambia’s 19. This could be indicative of over-aggressiveness or potential defensive weaknesses. Either way, this has undoubtedly given Zambia the advantage in terms of free-kicks and field positioning.

Comparatively, Zambia may need to address their discipline, accruing 19 fouls and a yellow card issued in each half. Even though it didn't drastically impact the final outcome, it could potentially be harmful in future confrontations, against more attack-heavy teams.

Overall, Zambia's superior offensive performance and benefits gained from Costa Rica's disciplinary issues culminated in a decisive victory. However, Zambia will need to rectify their discipline to increase their chances in upcoming matches. For Costa Rica, an introspection into their defensive tactics, fouling habits, and on-field discipline could be critical if they aim to turn their fortunes around in their next match.

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