August 2 – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz have knocked out one of many pre-tournament favourites Brazil with a goalless draw to progress to the spherical of 16 for the primary time of their historical past. The match additionally introduced an finish to Marta’s World Cup profession.
It was maybe the final word fairytale – the Jamaicans, who relied on crowdfunding and donations to make their strategy to Australia for the match – held the quantity eight facet on this planet 0-0 after an evening of defending with an distinctive Rebecca Spencer in aim to assert second place behind France in Group F.
The Reggae Girlz didn’t have a single shot on track, although Bunny Shaw and Solai Washington had alternatives to attain a winner on the finish, and but, a draw and ensuing qualification had been deserved for a staff that had already proven its mettle in a goalless draw towards France, the world’s quantity 5, earlier within the match.
The draw condemned Brazil to their earliest exit since 1995 and is a serious indictment of supervisor Pia Sundhage, who had include the promise of constructing Brazil true title contenders. The South American champions have by no means gained the Ladies’s World Cup and never even Marta, a starter, may assist Brazil into the final sixteen. Substituted within the 81st minute, she watched on from the bench as her staff stormed ahead however did not breach the Jamaican protection.
In a flash interview, Marta stated: ”Not even in my worst nightmare had I imagined such a World Cup, however that is just the start. Brazilians have requested for a regeneration. I’m the one previous girl right here. The bulk are ladies with a whole lot of expertise and an important path forward.”
Whereas Brazil lamented their exit, the Jamaicans had been ecstatic. In 2019, they misplaced all three group matches, together with towards Brazil, on their Ladies’s World Cup debut, however in Australia, they’ve stored three clear sheets, stay unbeaten, and can play the winner of Group H within the second spherical. The triumph compelled Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson to do a cartwheel.
He stated: “I let you know what, this is without doubt one of the greatest emotions I’ve ever had in my life! To see these ladies, to see a rustic like Jamaica, to have the ability to do that, is unbelievable to simply watch it whereas I’m alive, proper right here, standing. I thank the women to do that for his or her nation, and the nation must be proud. The resilience! The struggle! We all know it’s a struggle and we’ve to be prepared. We stayed within the battle and we gained the struggle.”
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1691029102labto1691029102ofdlr1691029102owedi1691029102sni@i1691029102tnuk.1691029102ardni1691029102mas1691029102