MELBOURNE, Australia — Colombia‘s players danced and sang on the field long after the team secured its historic first-ever trip to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals.
Catalina Usme’s second-half purpose gave Colombia a 1-0 win over Jamaica. Both groups have been aiming for a primary victory within the knockout stage, with the winner transferring on to the final eight at soccer’s largest match.
“After the goal went into the net, I had all sorts of emotions,” Usme mentioned. “During all the years in women’s football, it’s such a beautiful moment, giving us the possibility to make history for our country. But we can go beyond. We came here to play seven finals. And we need to go step by step.”
Colombia, a group that didn’t even qualify for the 2019 match, performed a bodily, scrappy match. Linda Caicedo, the group’s 18-year-old sensation who performs for Real Madrid, created alternatives and examined a Jamaica protection that didn’t concede a purpose within the group stage.
Colombia strikes to Sydney for a Saturday knockout match in opposition to European champion England, which superior on penalties after a scoreless draw with Nigeria.
“The game against England, we came here to play seven finals,” Usme mentioned. “We’re certain in our preparations. We’re dreaming big. We know we can pull it off. We can do it.”
Usme yelled in celebration after trapping an extended go from Ana Guzman and calmly ending within the 52nd minute. When she was subbed off late within the recreation, the Colombia followers chanted her identify and she or he bowed to the gang.
Even when talking to reporters afterward, Guzman and teammate Jorelyn Carabali broke into music.
The match in Melbourne was an anticipated showdown between Caicedo and Jamaican Khadija “Bunny” Shaw. In the tip, although, it was Usme‘s emphatic purpose that made the distinction.
“We are three games away, but each time we get closer to the beautiful trophy that we really dream of. It’s difficult but not impossible,” Caicedo mentioned. “I know we can do it, the team really dreams of it, we want it. There is no obstacle that we can’t overcome.”
Shaw was an attacking power with Manchester City final season, scoring 20 targets in 22 league video games, however she went scoreless on the World Cup.
“Right now we’re a bit low, because didn’t want to end the tournament. But I’m proud of all my teammates,” Shaw mentioned. “Lots of people didn’t assume we’d make it this far.
“We just have to be proud of our performance and lift our heads up. The gap is closing.”
The Reggae Girlz had only one purpose within the competitors, Allyson Swaby’s header in a 1-0 victory over Panama, whereas Shaw sat out of that match due to a crimson card within the opener in opposition to France.
Caicedo, who was identified with ovarian most cancers when she was 15, had a pair of targets within the opening spherical amid questions on her health. She was seen dropping to the bottom throughout a apply session earlier within the match however performed everything of Colombia’s 1-0 loss in opposition to Morocco in its group ultimate on Thursday.
After defeating South Korea in its World Cup opener, Colombia upset Germany 2-1 earlier than falling to upstart Morocco in its group finale. Colombia grew to become simply the second South American group to prime its group, becoming a member of Brazil.
Jamaica‘s protection held title contenders France and Brazil scoreless within the opening spherical, serving to to push the Reggae Girlz by to the knockout stage. The Jamaicans misplaced each recreation on the 2019 match, their solely different look.
Colombia had extra probabilities within the first half however Jamaica’s stout protection held and the match was scoreless on the break.
There was a scary second when Jamaica‘s Trudi Carter was hit arduous within the face by the ball within the twenty first minute however she returned.
Jamaica goalkeeper Becky Spencer was in a position to punch away Usme‘s cross within the twenty ninth. Caicedo despatched the ball over the purpose with an opportunity within the thirty eighth.
Jamaica‘s Drew Spence was proven a yellow late within the half with a deal with on Caicedo, after Chantelle Swaby was additionally booked.
Spence practically scored on a header within the 82nd nevertheless it went simply extensive. She raised her fingers to her face in disbelief over the missed probability to even the sport.
Colombia was with out Manuela Vanegas due to yellow card accumulation. Guzman, who like Caicedo is eighteen, changed her and gave the group some spark – in addition to the essential ball to Usme for the profitable purpose.
Las Cafeteras, making their third World Cup look, additionally reached the Round of 16 in 2015 however have been stopped in a 2-0 loss to the United States.
Now, they’re solely group from the Americas nonetheless in rivalry.
“This is an immense pride. It’s a home pride, a regional pride. We know we’re worthy representatives of Colombia and South America,” Colombia coach Nelson Abadia mentioned. “Now we’re representing the whole continent. We’re representing the whole of the Americas.”
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