Jamaica created history by qualifying to the second round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Tournament when they held mighty Brazil 0-0 in front of 27,000-plus spectators inside the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Wednesday morning.
The Jamaicans, in only their second World Cup Tournament, had opened Group F with a 0-0 result against group winners France, who hammered pointless Panama 6-3 in the other group game.
Jamaica then edged CONCACAF neighbours Panama 1-0 on an Allyson Swaby header to put the Reggae Girlz in pole position ahead of Brazil for the second spot from the group.
On Wednesday morning, Brazil were much the better team in possession and chances created but the Jamaicans, as they have done so far in the three games, stood resolutely and defiantly at all attacks thrown at them.
In dumping out the South American champions, the Reggae Girlz inflicted a severe blow on Pia Sundhage’s Brazil, and certainly pulled the curtain on the career of one of the greatest women’s player of all time, six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta, who started the game before being substituted late in the second half.
It was Brazil’s earliest elimination at the group stage in over six World Cup cycles.
Goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer was one of the outstanding players for Jamaica, proving equal to the task at denying all efforts on goal and appearing to be in the right position at all times.
Jamaica will now face the winner of Group H, currently being led by South America’s Colombia on August 8 in the Round of 16 knockout. It is the first time a Caribbean team has advanced to the knockout round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Tournament, an extraordinary accomplishment for a team which had its women’s programme scrapped a decade ago.
