MELBOURNE-A brave Jamaica held Brazil to a 0-Zero draw on Wednesday to succeed in the knockout section for the primary time in solely their second Ladies’s World Cup whereas condemning the South People to their earliest exit since 1995.
Needing some extent to undergo, the Reggae Girlz barely threatened to attain however had been tight in defence, repelling wave after wave of Brazilian assaults in a frenetic environment at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. On the ultimate whistle, the overwhelmed Jamaicans slumped to their knees and roared in pleasure earlier than forming a circle to bounce and sway to the Bob Marley track “One Love”.
Having misplaced all their matches in France 4 years in the past, the Jamaicans have come a good distance in a short while. They held France 0-Zero and beat Panama 1-0, ending second in Group F behind the French whereas advancing courtesy of a single aim.
“I really feel like we’ve been massively underestimated,” stated goalkeeper Becky Spencer, who gained the participant of the match award after her third clear sheet of the match. “I don’t assume anybody took us critically. “We’re resilient and we had some extent to show.”
Brazil, who wanted three factors, had been left to lament a slew of missed possibilities in a dismal finish to Marta’s sixth and ultimate World Cup. “They (Jamaica) did job and we weren’t capable of make many possibilities,” stone-faced coach Pia Sundhage informed reporters. “After we couldn’t break the defence, you get a bit bit confused. And for those who get confused, it was a bit bit sluggish and also you lose a bit little bit of the braveness.”
Sundhage began 37-year-old Marta on the sphere for the primary time within the match however the iconic ahead was unable to encourage her workforce and her contact abandoned her twice in entrance of aim early. She fired a shot right into a defender within the fourth minute after which blew one other good alternative seven minutes later with a heavy contact, leaving unmarked workforce mate Ary Borges fuming on the far publish.
Charging in direction of aim, Borges lastly had her probability when Luana discovered her with a cross however the playmaker steered her header properly vast within the 24th minute. Borges then set Tamires up with a pleasant cross into the inside-left channel late within the half however she thumped a volley straight at Spencer.
Jamaica rode their luck to halftime and Brazil’s desperation grew after the break as their assaults got here to nothing. Jamaicans hearts had been in mouths within the 79th minute when defender Allyson Swaby practically put the ball into her personal web with a horrible tried clearance that pressured Spencer right into a fantastic save on the far publish.
In quest of a aim, the Brazilians uncovered themselves to the counter-attack and Khadija Shaw all however made them pay. Needing solely the keeper to beat, she blazed simply over the bar within the 82nd minute. Brazil had one final probability in a final-minute goal-mouth scramble however Debinha headed straight to the keeper, permitting the Jamaicans to have a good time arguably their best second in worldwide soccer.
“The mentality of us is nothing is inconceivable,” stated Lorne Donaldson. “Proper now, with the females, we have now by no means had this a lot enjoyable.”