Jamaica earned their spot in the Women’s World Cup knockout stage for the first time in history on Wednesday in Melbourne, following a 0-0 draw that also halted the run of the Brazil out of the group stage for the first time since 1995.
This draw against the Brazilian formation also ended the career of Marta, its great leader, in the World Cup.
Marta holds the record for most World Cup goals of any gender with 17, but failed to top that tally in her sixth appearance at the global tournament.
As for Jamaica (1-0-2 -5 points), which allowed 12 goals on its World Cup debut in 2019, it shut out France (0-0), Panama (1-0) and the Brazil in back-to-back outings this year — the second tournament appearance in its history — to finish second in Group F, behind France.
“It’s the best feeling of my life. To realize this and to be a living witness to it is incredible. I thank the girls for accomplishing this for their nation. The country should be proud,” said Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson.
After starting the tournament with a 4-0 win over Panama, Brazil (1-1-1 -4 points) were unable to pick up the win that would have extended Marta’s run current edition of the World Cup.
With Marta in the starting line-up for the first time since the start of the tournament, Brazil maintained possession for the majority of the time in the first half, but struggled to test opposing goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer .
In the second half, the Brazilians increased the pace in the hope of getting the goal that would allow them to access the next round. They got six shots on target but struggled to truly threaten the opposing fortress.
Their best scoring chances came from Andressa, from a free-kick, and from a header from Debinha in second-half stoppage time.
By virtue of qualifying, Jamaica will face the team that finishes first in Group H, whose final two matches of the preliminary stage will take place on Thursday.
France overtakes Panama
Meanwhile, in Sydney, Kadidiatou Diani scored three goals to lead France to a 6-3 win over Panama.
The French, fifth in the FIFA world rankings, recovered from the shock of conceding the first goal of the match, that of Marta Cox from a free kick from 30 meters in the second minute, to finish at the top of the group table f.
France (2-0-1 -7 points), which had been limited to a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in its first game of the tournament, followed up with victories against Brazil (2-1) and the Panama.
The ‘Blues’ needed only a draw to secure their place in the knockout stage, against the team that will finish second in Group H next Tuesday in Adelaide.
They did, however, get a bit of a scare early in the game when Cox powered the ball into the top of the net, out of goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin’s reach, for Panama’s first-ever goal since the start of the game. tournament.
The French reacted with panache and returned to the locker room at half-time with a 4-1 lead.
Maëlle Lakar equalized the score in the 21st minute of play and Diani followed up with his first two goals of the match, including the second from a penalty in the 37th minute.
Léa Le Garrec made it 4-1 for France in stoppage time and Diani completed her hat trick in the 52nd minute with another penalty.
Captain Wendie Renard and Eugénie Le Sommer, the top scorer in the history of the France team, did not take part in the match. Renard and Le Sommer scored their side’s goals in their 2-1 win over Brazil.
