Barbra Banda emerges as Chinese Women’s Super League top scorer

The Zambian ended her debut season with a strike for Shanghai Shengli as they clinched bronze in the Chinese top-flight

Zambia international Barbra Banda has emerged as the Chinese Women’s Super League top scorer for the 2020 season.

Following Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to holders Jiangsu Suning, Shanghai missed a spot in the final but they went on to claim the bronze medal.

The 20-year-old wrapped up her debut season on a high as she scored the opener in Shanghai’s 3-1 triumph over Beijing Phoenix in the third-place match in Kunming on Sunday.

To avoid finishing the season empty-handed, Banda raced through the middle of the opponents’ defence before scoring with a brilliant instep for Shanghai after just seven minutes.

Six minutes from half-time, Shanghai pushed forward for more and Zhao Yingying’s header doubled the lead from a corner kick.

Fifteen minutes after the break, rampant Shanghai continued from where they left off as they notched a third of the match through Yan Jinjin.

Beijing, however, could not find the target until Gu Yasha gained a consolation goal 10 minutes from regulation time.

Banda lasted the duration and netted 18 goals for Shanghai in 13 games, nine more than her closest rival Temwa Chawinga.

#CWSL | Title Group – Topscorers

🇿🇲 Barbra Banda (Shanghai) – 18 goals
🇲🇼 Temwa Chawinga (Wuhan) – 9 goals
🇨🇳 Ma Xiaoxu (Beijing) – 8 goals
🇧🇷 Bia (Wuhan) – 7 goals
🇲🇼 Tabitha Chawinga (Jiangsu) – 7 goals
🇨🇳 Tang Jiali (Shanghai) – 7 goals
🇨🇳 Ni Mengjie (Jiangsu) – 6 goals pic.twitter.com/GYztfcYl5z

— China Women's Football – 中国女足 (@CHNWNT) October 11, 2020

Besides winning a bronze on her first season in China, the Copper Queens captain is expected to receive her top scorer prize in the coming days.