Jamaica forward Khadija Shaw (left) tries to dribble away from Brazil defender Kathellen Sousa Feitoza. (Photos: AFP)
August 2, 2023
IS THIS FOR REAL? YES, IT IS!
Athletes frequently devote their entire lives to achieving the summit of their careers, yet life at the top can be fleeting for many.
At the highest level, all a player gets is one minute on the court, one at bat, or one goal, but more often than not, that brief moment in the spotlight is a story in and of itself.
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Jamaica’s senior women’s football team, in another breathtaking display of grit, determination, rewrote history yet again on Wednesday when they held Brazil to a famous goalless draw in their final preliminary round of matches in Group F at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Jamaica not only secured a historic position in the competition’s knockout rounds for the first time in the tiny island’s history, but they did so without giving up a goal. The outcome also denied Brazil a place in the Round of 16 for the first time since 1995.
Jamaica defender Tiernny Wiltshire (left) celebrates with teammate Deneisha Blackwood after their team qualified for the last 16 following their draw result against Brazil.
The Reggae Girlz first made history when they held fifth-ranked France to a 0-0 tie on July 23, earning their first-ever World Cup point. The Jamaicans captured even more hearts on July 30 as they overcame Panama 1-0 in their first-ever win at the global showpiece.
Now, the Reggae Girlz’s footprints will forever stain the walkways of Caribbean football history — male or female version of the game.
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After all, it was Jamaica’s moment as Wednesday, August 2, 2023, will be a day to remember for the Reggae Girlz.
Jamaica’s accomplishment occurred a day after the country celebrated Emancipation Day and just a few days before the country celebrates its 61st year of Independence.
Jamaica midfielder Solai Washington (second right) fights for the ball with Brazil’s defender Rafaelle (right) during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup Group F match at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park, in Melbourne, on Wednesday.
Head Coach Lorne Donaldson applauded his team for their perseverance in overcoming obstacles both on and off the field.
“Right now for the female, we had never had this much fun and I think the country is awake. This is one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life,” Donaldson said in a post-game interview.
“Just to see these girls and see a country like Jamaica to able to do this, it is just unbelievable to just watch it while I am alive. I thank the girls for doing this for country and the country should be proud.
“The resilience and the fight, I know it was going to be a war and we had to be ready. And it was a war and we stayed in the battle and we won the war. We still have some more work to do but we will just enjoy tonight,” he added.
The Reggae Girlz finished second on five points behind Group F winner France, who defeated Panama 6-3 in the other match, and will meet the winner of Group H, which is likely to be Colombia, in Round of 16 action next week in Adelaide.
Brazil needed to win the game to be sure of advancing, but Jamaica merely needed to draw, so it was no surprise that the South Americans enjoyed the far superior first-half action.
In front of a crowd of 27,638, Brazil had greater possession of the ball and efforts on goal in actuality, Brazil had five shots on goal while Jamaica had none.
The South Americans struggled to put Jamaica’s number one goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer to the test, as she had no trouble stopping Brazil’s attacking unit. Brazil’s greatest chance of the half came in the 39th minute, when Ary Borges’ exquisite chip pass found Tamires, who met it on the volley with her left foot, but Spencer was equal to it.
Brazil upped the speed in the second half as they sought the necessary goal to advance, but it was not to be. Brazil’s best chances of winning were a free kick from substitute Andressa and a header from Debinha in stoppage time, but the Reggae Girlz held firm.
Jamaica had its moments as well, with Captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw breaking away from a Brazil defender but failing to get her shot off in the 49th minute. She had another chance in the 82nd minute, but she shot over the crossbar from right beyond the box.
A sentimental Spencer stated that despite the fact no one else believes in the team, the players kept together and accomplished the impossible.
“I am lost for words but I feel so emotional. For a team that goes through so much off the pitch, when no one else believes in us. The ones that are above us don’t believe in us but we always believe in ourselves. And as you can see from that performance we knew we could do it from inside our group,” Spencer said.
“It was tough to hold Brazil but we proved against France that we can do it. It’s not just one person, it’s not just the defence, it is everyone as a team. We prepared for that game, we knew it was going to be tough but we went out there and we defended so well.
“Like I said, the ones that are above us, they don’t believe in us and they always put us through things that we don’t want to go through and that just gives us more fire in our veins to go out there and do well,” Spencer added.
Teams
Jamaica — Rebecca Spencer, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby, Tiernny Wiltshire, Deneisha Blackwood, Drew Spence, Atlanta Primus, Jody Brown (Solai Washington 85th), Vyan Sampson, Cheyna Matthews (Tiffany Cameron 46th), Khadija Shaw
Subs not used: Sydney Schneider, Liya Brooks, Konya Plummer, Havana Solaun, Kalyssa Van Zanten, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Kameron Simmonds, Kayla McKenna, Peyton McNamara, Trudi Carter
Booked: Matthews (30th)
Brazil –Leticia, Antonia (Geyse 80th), Kathellen, Rafaelle, Luana (Duda Sampaio 80th), Tamires, Debinha, Marta (Andressa 80th), Adriana, Ary Borges (Bia Zaneratto 46th), Kerolin
Subs not used: Barbara, Camila, Ana Vitoria, Bruninha, Lauren, Monica, Angelina, Gabi Nunes
Booked: None
Referee: Esther Staubli (SUI)
Assistant referees: Katrin Rafalski (GER); Susanne Kueng (SUI)
Fourth official: Vincentia Amedome (TOG)
