Catalina Usme’s 51st minute winner fired Colombia into the Quarter-Finals of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with 1-0 win over Jamaica in Melbourne.
Usme curled in unmarked from Ana Maria Guzman’s cross to settle a tense yet physical tie which secured a first Quarter-Final appearance for Colombia at a Women’s World Cup.
Jamaica’s best-ever run in only their second Women’s World Cup meanwhile came to an end, having conceded their only goal of the tournament in this Round of 16 tie.
Colombia/Jamaica will now face England in the Quarter-Finals, at Stadium Australia, Sydney, with kick-off at 11:30am UK Time on Saturday 12 August.
Eugenie Le Sommer meanwhile netted twice as France defeated Morcco 4-0 to set up a Quarter-Final tie against Australia, at 8am UK Time on 12 August.
Having eliminated Germany and Brazil in the Group Stage respectively, Colombia and Jamaica certainly underlined their underdog credentials with an aggressive start which saw both teams exchange attacks with no clear-cut chances.
Fluidity however proved tricky with Usme and Khadija Shaw amongst various Colombia and Jamaica players to go down with knocks in a stop-go first half, whilst Alysson Swaby halted play briefly in the 35th minute with a boot issue.
Jamaica’s Rebecca Spencer though was the more busy goalkeeper whenever chances arose, as she saved Usme’s crosses and Diana Ospina’s lacklustre 15th minute shot such was the fractious nature of the opening half which yielded no goals before half-time as Jamaica finished on top.
Referee, Kate Jacewicz even displayed restraint as she grappled with the physicality of the first half, although Jamaica’s Chantelle Swaby and Drew Spent eventually were booked just before the break following fouls on Mayra Ramirez and Linda Caicedo respectively.
Jamaiaca manager, Lorne Donaldson opted at half-time to substitute Kiki van Zanten for Atlanta Primus to provide more attacking intent.
That change however suffered an early setback six minutes into the second-half as an unmarked Usme met Guzman’s cross and calmly curled across into the bottom-left corner, which put Colombia ahead and marked the first time that Jamaica have conceded at this tournament.
Caicedo almost doubled Colombia’s lead just moments later as she broke forward on a counter-attack from a cleared 53rd minute corner, only for her shot to be deflected by Rebecca Spencer and flicked wide on the rebound.
Caicedo then met a 65th minute diagonal cross and cut in from the left but curled her shot just over the top right corner, which sparked Jamaica’s attack into life in the closing 25 minutes.
Colombia’s defence however proved resilient with Catalina Perez making crucial saves, whilst Spence’s header Tiffany Cameron’s 82nd minute cross bounced wide of the left corner.
Jamaica eventually weren’t able to find a late equaliser and Colombia progressed to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history, where England await in Sydney, Australia on 12 August.
That clash will also mark only the second meeting between England and Colombia at a Women’s World Cup, with the Lionesses having won their only previous clash by a 2-1 result in 2015 during the Group Stages.
Teams
Colombia: Catalina Perez, Carolina Arias, Jorelyn Carabali, Daniela Arias, Ana Maria Guzman, Diana Ospina, Lorena Bedoya, Mayra Ramirez, Leicy Santos (Montoya 87′), Linda Caicedo, Catalina Usme (Restrepo 90+3′)
Substitutes: Daniela Montoya, Maria Camila Reyes, Marcela Restrepo, Sandra Sepulveda, Natalia Giraldo, Angela Baron, Lady Andrade, Monica Ramos, Ivonne Chacon, Daniela Caracas, Elexa Bahr
Jamaica: Rebecca Spencer, Tiernny Wiltshire (Matthews 84′), Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Deneisha Blackwood, Vyan Sampson (McNamara 79′), Kiki van Zanten (Primus 45′), Drew Spence, Jody Brown (Simmons 84′), Trudi Carter (Cameron 67′), Khadija Shaw,
Substitutes: Sydney Schneider, Solai Washington, Konya Plummer, Havana Solaun, Peyton McNamara, Kameron Simmons, Tiffany Cameron, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Atlanta Primus, Cheyna Matthews, Kayla McKenna, Liya Brooks
Referee: Kate Jacewicz (Australia)
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