Upstart Jamaica falls to Colombia in Round of 16 at Women’s World Cup
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Colombia’s gamers danced and sang on the sphere lengthy after the crew secured its historic first-ever journey to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals.
Catalina Usme’s second-half aim gave Colombia a 1-0 win over Jamaica. Both groups had been aiming for a primary victory within the knockout stage, with the winner transferring on to the final eight at soccer’s greatest match.
“After the goal went into the net, I had all sorts of emotions,” Usme said. “During all the years in women’s football, it’s such a beautiful moment, giving us the possibility to make history for our country. But we can go beyond. We came here to play seven finals. And we need to go step by step.”
Colombia, a crew that didn’t even qualify for the 2019 match, performed a bodily, scrappy match. Linda Caicedo, the crew’s 18-year-old sensation who performs for Real Madrid, created alternatives and examined a Jamaica protection that didn’t concede a aim within the group stage.
Colombia strikes to Sydney for a Saturday knockout match towards European champion England, which superior on penalties after a scoreless draw with Nigeria.
“The sport towards England, we got here right here to play seven finals,” Usme stated. “We’re certain in our preparations. We’re dreaming big. We know we can pull it off. We can do it.”
Usme yelled in celebration after trapping an extended cross from Ana Guzman and calmly ending within the 52nd minute. When she was subbed off late within the sport, the Colombia followers chanted her identify and she or he bowed to the gang.
Even when chatting with reporters afterward, Guzman and teammate Jorelyn Carabali broke into tune.
The match in Melbourne was an anticipated showdown between Caicedo and Jamaican Khadija “Bunny” Shaw. In the tip, although, it was Usme’s emphatic aim that made the distinction.
“We are three games away, but each time we get closer to the beautiful trophy that we really dream of. It’s difficult but not impossible,” Caicedo stated. “I do know we are able to do it, the crew actually goals of it, we wish it. There is not any impediment that we are able to’t overcome.”
Shaw was an attacking pressure with Manchester City final season, scoring 20 targets in 22 league video games, however she went scoreless on the World Cup.
“Right now we’re a bit low, because didn’t want to end the tournament. But I’m proud of all my teammates,” Shaw stated. “Lots of people didn’t assume we’d make it this far.
“We simply should be happy with our efficiency and raise our heads up. The hole is closing.”
The Reggae Girlz had only one aim within the competitors, Allyson Swaby’s header in a 1-0 victory over Panama, whereas Shaw sat out of that match due to a pink card within the opener towards France.
Caicedo, who was identified with ovarian most cancers when she was 15, had a pair of targets within the opening spherical amid questions on her health. She was seen dropping to the bottom throughout a observe session earlier within the match however performed everything of Colombia’s 1-0 loss towards Morocco in its group last on Thursday.
After defeating South Korea in its World Cup opener, Colombia upset Germany 2-1 earlier than falling to upstart Morocco in its group finale. Colombia turned simply the second South American crew to high its group, becoming a member of Brazil.
Jamaica’s protection held title contenders France and Brazil scoreless within the opening spherical, serving to to push the Reggae Girlz by to the knockout stage. The Jamaicans misplaced each sport on the 2019 match, their solely different look.
Colombia had extra possibilities within the first half however Jamaica’s stout protection held and the match was scoreless on the break.
There was a scary second when Jamaica’s Trudi Carter was hit onerous within the face by the ball within the twenty first minute however she returned.
Jamaica goalkeeper Becky Spencer was in a position to punch away Usme’s cross within the twenty ninth. Caicedo despatched the ball over the aim with an opportunity within the thirty eighth.
Jamaica’s Drew Spence was proven a yellow late within the half with a sort out on Caicedo, after Chantelle Swaby was additionally booked.
Spence almost scored on a header within the 82nd however it went simply extensive. She raised her palms to her face in disbelief over the missed probability to even the sport.
Colombia was with out Manuela Vanegas due to yellow card accumulation. Guzman, who like Caicedo is eighteen, changed her and gave the crew some spark — in addition to the essential ball to Usme for the profitable aim.
Las Cafeteras, making their third World Cup look, additionally reached the Round of 16 in 2015 however had been stopped in a 2-0 loss to the United States.
Now, they’re solely crew from the Americas nonetheless in rivalry.
“This is an immense pride. It’s a home pride, a regional pride. We know we’re worthy representatives of Colombia and South America,” Colombia coach Nelson Abadia said. “Now we’re representing the whole continent. We’re representing the whole of the Americas.”
