PERTH, Australia (AP) - Defender Allyson Swaby scored within the 56th minute and Jamaica held on to edge Panama 1-0 on Saturday for its first-ever win on the Women’s World Cup.

Swaby, who grew up in West Hartford, Conn., and performed for Boston College, knocked in a header off Trudi Carter’s nook kick to clinch the win that moved the Jamaicans right into a stunning share of prime spot in Group F with France.

The Reggae Girlz had been with out captain and main scorer Khadija Shaw, who acquired a pink card in second-half stoppage time of the group’s opening 0-0 draw in opposition to France.

Born to a Jamaican father, Allyson and her youthful sister, Chantelle, a former Rutgers participant, each are beginning of their second Women’s World Cup.

KEY MOMENTS

Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer made 4 saves within the sport, which was the primary group-stage assembly between two CONCACAF groups.

Spencer’s first save got here within the fortieth minute, stopping a Marta Cox shot on aim.

Las Canaleras had one ultimate likelihood to equalize within the dying seconds off a Katherine Castillo nook. The kick traveled to simply outdoors the field, however Cox’s bicycle try wasn’t sufficient to attain.

WHY IT MATTERS

With its historic win, No. 43-ranked Jamaica now sits atop the Group F standings with No. 5 France. The Reggae Girlz are a step nearer to advancing to the knockout spherical after shedding all their group-stage video games on World Cup debut in 2019. They want solely a draw in opposition to No. 8 Brazil of their final group sport to advance, though a loss would seemingly eradicate them from the match. As outstanding as Jamaica’s look within the knockout spherical could be, Brazil’s absence could be much more stunning. The Brazilians opened with a 4-0 win over Panama however misplaced 2-1 earlier Saturday to France.

WHAT’S NEXT

Jamaica may have Shaw again within the lineup to face Brazil on Wednesday. Panama performs France in Sydney the identical day.

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Emily Dozier contributed to this report from Melbourne, Australia. Dozier is a scholar on the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute

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AP Women’s World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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