JAMAICA squeezed past Brazil into the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw in Melbourne, Australia today.
The Reggae Girlz have now qualified for the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup for the first time, with favourites Brazil getting eliminated after a disappointing campaign saw them finish third in their group.
It was a scrappy encounter at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and Jamaica defended sturdily to earn the point they needed to finish second in Group F.
Brazil, who recalled veteran striker Marta to the starting line-up, could not find the goal they needed and failed to progress for the first time since 1995.
Marta, 37, is the all-time leading scorer in men’s or women’s World Cups but has played in the competition for the last time, with her sixth tournament in Australia coming to an end having made three group-stage appearances.
Jamaica could face Colombia or Germany in the round of 16, while France won Group F following their 6-3 victory over Panama in the other match in Sydney.
Panama took a shock lead with Marta Cox scoring their first-ever World Cup goal with a stunning free-kick in only the second minute.
But France responded swiftly, with Kadidiatou Diani netting twice as they took a 4-1 lead into half-time.
Diani completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot to make it 5-1 in the 52nd minute, but Panama were not going down without a fight.
The World Cup debutants pulled it back to 5-3 through a Yomira Pinzon penalty and a late Lineth Cedeno strike, before France’s Vicki Becho had the last say in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
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