REIMS, France — Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz, playing in their first-ever Women’s World Cup, lost 5-0 against 15th-ranked Italy in a Group C football match at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France on Friday.
The defeat means that the 53rd-ranked Reggae Girlz are without a point from two games in the four-team group. The team lost 3-0 to Brazil in their opening match on June 9.
It was Italian Striker Cristiana Girelli’s hat trick that put Italy into the second round over Jamaica. Girelli’s three goals were the third hat trick so far this World Cup.
Girelli’s first goal was on a penalty kick she got two chances at making. Jamaica goalkeeper Sydney Schneider saved Girelli’s low penalty shot to the right post, but video review determined Schneider came off her line too soon. Girelli scored on her second attempt to get Italy rolling.
Aurora Galli came in as a substitute for Italy and scored twice to push the final score to 5-0.
The Girlz, despite their losses, have received an outpouring of support from fans around the world for their strength and determination.
The night before the match, Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt used Skype to call into a team gathering of the Reggae Girlz and encouraged them to “to go out there and do your best. You don’t worry about what other people are thinking.”
The Jamaicans will round out their group stage action on June 18 against sixth-ranked Australia, once again at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims.
