Jamaica’s surprise run at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came to a crashing end at the Round of 16 stage as they were edged 1-0 by Colombia inside the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday morning.
Jamaica, who entered the contest as the only remaining team yet to concede a goal after three group stage games – 0-0 vs France, 1-0 win against Panama, and a 0-0 result against Brazil which eliminated the South American champions – extended that record for another 45 minutes as the first half ended 0-0.
It was more of the same with Jamaica displaying gritty defence but sputtered attacks, while Colombia, the South American second ranked team, probed in attack trying to create openings.
It was captain of the day Catalina Usme who proved the difference in the 51st minute when she took a diagonal pass from 18-year-old Ana Guzman beautifully in her stride past left wing back Deneisha Blackwood before calmly slotting past the hapless Rebecca Spencer in the Jamaican goal.
It was the first goal conceded in nearly five-and-a-half hours.
Left with no choice but to attack and find an equaliser, the Reggae Girlz threw numbers forward and created a few openings, the clearest falling to the little dynamo Jody Brown looked on in disbelief when her back post header slammed against the right upright from a Blackwood corner.
Colombia had a glorious chance to extend the lead when the accurate left foot of Usme picked out Leicy Santos inside the penalty box, but her smart header hit Spencer left upright.
At the other end in one of the best attacks from Jamaica all tournament, substitute Tiffany Cameron went down the right flank and centred a pass which Drew Spence nodded just wide of the far post, leaving the Reggae Girlz and their supporters holding their heads in disbelief.
Jamaica, in only their second World Cup appearance, following the France 2019 debut, became the first Caribbean team to make it to the Round of 16 of any World Cup, but their lack of attacking force was always negative and so it proved in the end.
Colombia will now face England in the quarter-finals.
