MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Four months in the past, Jamaica’s gamers felt unprepared for the Women’s World Cup, blaming insufficient help from their soccer federation for leaving them with out correct apply time or pay.

They turned to crowdfunding, which has raised practically $100,000 to assist cowl their journey bills to Australia.

Now, they’re a win or draw away from advancing to the knockout spherical for the primary time. Ranked forty third, Jamaica takes on No. 8 Brazil in a group-stage finale Wednesday.

“We always look forward to say, ‘We need to try any way possible to get to the second round,’” Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson stated. “I think the players are liking Australia. They like it here. They see some kangaroos. So we want to stay a little bit longer.”

Helping their trigger towards Brazil, a crew that has superior previous each group stage since 1999, is the return of prime scorer Khadija “Bunny” Shaw. The all-time main scorer for the Reggae Girlz sat out the 1-0 win over Panama after being red-carded late within the opening 0-0 draw towards France.

“She sets the standard in training and in games,” midfielder Peyton McNamara stated of Shaw. “And she’s someone we can all look up to when we’re playing with her.”

Without Shaw, the Reggae Girlz earned their first Women’s World Cup victory towards Panama. The win was the primary for a Caribbean crew within the historical past of the event.

Defense has given Jamaica the higher hand towards its first two opponents. Becky Spencer is the primary goalkeeper to file two clear sheets for Jamaica in a World Cup. Defender Deneisha Blackwood earned participant of the match towards France.

“All along, we know we’re going to come into the World Cup as being the underdogs,” Donaldson stated. “It’s nothing new to us.”

In their second Women’s World Cup event, Jamaica’s underdogs have the possibility to oust one of many perennial prime groups. Brazil, coming off a 2-1 loss to France, wants a win to make sure it advances to the knockout spherical for the seventh consecutive time.

“Brazil is a powerhouse,” Donaldson stated. “We just have to come out and match them step for step. They’re very skillful. And we know they’re going to come after us with everything that they have. So we have to be ready.”

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Emily Dozier is a scholar on the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

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