Colombia keeps fighting
DFB fright prevents Jamaica’s next sensation
08/08/2023, 12:05 p.m
The Jamaicans write one of the most beautiful stories at the World Cup, and Colombia effectively prevents a sequel. In a game that was not very impressive, especially in the first half, the DFB scare just got the upper hand. Colombia reach a World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.
Colombia’s footballers have reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time. The Cafeteras won 1-0 (0-0) against surprise team Jamaica on Tuesday in front of 27,706 spectators in Melbourne. A goal by captain Catalina Usme in the 51st minute sealed the round of 16 elimination for the energetic Reggae Girlz. In the round of the last eight teams, Colombia will play against England in Sydney on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals (12:30 p.m. CEST/ live ticker on ntv.de).
Only after the change of sides did the fans see a football game that deserved the name. After a very confused first half marked by many fouls, Usme benefited from a positional error in the Jamaican defense to make it 1-0. Deneisha Blackwood had slipped under Ana Guzman’s cross, allowing the striker to complete from a completely free position.
Jody Brown then missed Jamaica’s best chance to equalize, heading the ball from a yard wide against the post. Drew Spence missed another good chance with a header (82′). Coach Lorne Donaldson’s team couldn’t think of much more offensively. Just reaching the round of 16 was a sensation for Jamaica’s women’s team, which had to overcome a lot of difficulties in the run-up to the World Cup, especially with their own association. With a 0-0 draw in the last preliminary round they had sent the big favorites Brazil home early.
In Colombia, who had defeated Germany 2-1 in the preliminary round, top player Linda Caicedo barely managed to play against hard defending Jamaicans. Instead, it was Leicy Santos who missed the preliminary decision in the 86th minute. Her diving header landed on the post.