Tag: Barbra Banda

Hayes: USWNT Olympic opponent Banda ‘best striker in the world right now’

The Orlando Pride star has 12 goals in just 12 games in her first NWSL season

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes knows what kind of challenge her side will face in Zambia striker Barbra Banda.

Banda has taken the NWSL by storm in her first season in the league, as the Orlando Pride star is currently tied for the league’s Golden Boot lead with 12 goals in just 12 games.

The Pride, who finished outside of the playoffs last season, are currently unbeaten and atop the league table with 11 wins and five draws in 16 games.

The NWSL will now go on hiatus with the Olympics coming up, with the USWNT set to open the tournament with a match against Banda’s Zambia side on July 25.

Speaking to ex-USWNT star Sam Mewis on stage for an interview with The Women’s Game on Monday, Hayes said Banda is the best striker in the world right now — making sure to add that last caveat in deference to her former star player at Chelsea.

“Zambia on form probably have the best striker in the world right now, banging in the goals — I say on form because I never want Sammy Kerr to phone me up later and remind me, which she will I might add, no matter the hour,” Hayes said with a laugh.

“With Zambia, you have a team that will play less progressive passes, i.e.  control the game in a certain way. But if you play man for man all over the pitch against them, it’s going to be a difficult game,” the coach added.

“Their ability to transition is better than any team I’ve seen in world football. We’ve been watching them, unbelievable their ability to go from back to front. So for us, structure becomes essential. That becomes the bedrock, what we do in possession and how we’re thinking about what happens when there is a turnover to be able to get those things right.”

Following the game against Zambia, the USWNT will close out group play with matches against Germany and Australia.

Hayes will be spared a meeting with Kerr in the group finale, as the Matildas striker was left off her country’s Olympic roster due to a torn ACL.

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Barbra Banda quickly turns NWSL into her personal playground

The Zambia international is already making NWSL history early in her Pride career

It’s only been three games, but it already seems like the NWSL hasn’t seen a new addition like Barbra Banda in quite some time.

Banda became the second-most expensive transfer ever in the women’s game when she joined the Orlando Pride in March. Whatever the expectations that came along with that hefty fee, Banda has shown in a week that they weren’t high enough.

The Zambia international made just her second start for the Pride on Wednesday and completely eviscerated the North Carolina Courage — a team that had been among the league’s best in the early season.

Banda scored twice and added an assist, making it a NWSL-record five goal contributions in her first two starts. She is also the first player in NWSL history to record a goal and an assist in each of her first two career starts.

But the stats only tell half the story.

Banda’s assist on Ally Watt’s opener was a play that showcased her devastating combination of speed, vision and a delicate final touch to tie it all together.

“One thing I know, if Barbra’s running towards the goal, you better be up there with her,” Watt said after the game. “She played a beautifully weighted ball into my run, and I knew I had to put it on goal, put it on frame, so I just did that. It was probably one of my easier goals I’ve scored. So, yeah, Barbra played an amazing ball in.”

From there, Banda would net a brace of her own to help Orlando win its fourth straight match, underlining its credentials as one of the NWSL’s top teams in the early season.

The scary thing? Banda has only been present for three of the Pride’s seven (undefeated) matches so far, starting just two.

Perhaps the league will start to figure out a more effective way to stop the Zambia star. Or maybe Banda will grow increasingly comfortable in her new surroundings, making herself an MVP candidate and the Pride a legitimate title contender.

It’s early, but we’re betting on the latter right now.

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