Women’s World Cup 2023: Jamaica knocks out Brazil, reaches last 16

A brave Jamaica held Brazil to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday to achieve the knockout section for the primary time in solely its second Women’s World Cup whereas condemning the South Americans to their earliest exit since 1995.

Needing some extent to undergo, the Reggae Girlz barely threatened to attain however have been tight in defence, repelling wave after wave of Brazilian assaults in a frenetic ambiance at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

At the ultimate whistle, the overwhelmed Jamaicans slumped to their knees and roared in pleasure earlier than forming a circle to bop 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, holding France 0-0 and beating Panama 1-0 in its Group F clashes.

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It was a troublesome evening for Brazil.

Their coach Pia Sundhage began Marta on the sector for the primary time in her sixth and remaining World Cup, however the iconic ahead bowed out in disappointment, coming off within the eightieth minute.

Her contact was lacking early. She fired a shot right into a defender within the fourth minute after which wasted one other probability seven minutes later with a heavy contact, leaving an unmarked Ary Borges fuming on the far publish.

Running in the direction of objective, Borges lastly had her probability when Luana discovered her with a cross however the playmaker steered her header nicely huge within the twenty fourth 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 goalkeeper Becky Spencer.

Jamaica rode their luck to halftime and Brazil’s desperation grew after the break as their assaults got here to nothing.

Jamaican hearts have been in mouths within the 79th minute when defender Allyson Swaby almost put the ball into her personal internet with a horrible tried clearance that pressured Spencer right into a wonderful save on the far publish.

In search of a objective, 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 fun arguably their best second in worldwide soccer.