Jamaica gets first World Cup win, has a chance to advance
Defender Allyson Swaby scored in the 56th minute and Jamaica hung on to edge Panama 1-0 on Saturday for its first-ever win at the Women's World Cup.
Swaby, who grew up in West Hartford, Conn., and played for Boston College, knocked in a header off Trudi Carter's corner kick to clinch a win that moved the Reggae Girlz into a surprising share of top spot in Group F with France.
No. 43-ranked Jamaica are a step closer to advancing to the knockout round after losing all their groupstage games on World Cup debut in 2019. They need only a draw against No. 8 Brazil in their last group game to advance, although a loss would likely eliminate them from the tournament.
“If you asked me before the World Cup that we have one game to decide our fate — the last game — I would have said `Yes, give it to us,'” said Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson, looking ahead to Wednesday's game against Brazil.
Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer made four saves in the game, which was the first group-stage meeting between two CONCACAF teams.
Spencer's first save came in the 40th minute, stopping a Marta Cox shot on goal.
Las Canaleras had one final chance to equalize in the dying seconds off a Katherine Castillo corner. The kick traveled to just outside the box, but Cox's bicycle attempt wasn't enough to score.
Panama has no chance of advancing to the knockout round after consecutive losses.
“All of those tears that fell on the field, we are going to convert them into promises to return in four years and continue fighting,” Panama coach Ignacio Quintana said.
Jamaica was without captain and leading scorer Khadija Shaw, who received a red card in second-half stoppage time of the team's opening 0-0 draw against France. However, she will be back in the lineup to face Brazil.
“We wear the same colors. We have a lot of respect for Brazil. Most Jamaicans think they're Brazilians when it comes to football,” Donaldson said.
FRANCE 2, BRAZIL 1 » Eugénie Le Sommer and Wendie Renard revived France's World Cup hopes with a goal each in a win over Brazil, giving Les Bleues the lead in Group F.
Unlike a lackluster 0-0 opening draw against Jamaica, the French started with high tempo and had the better of the early exchanges.
Le Sommer scored her 90th international goal to extend her national record in the 17th minute, an emphatic header that beat Brazilian keeper Leticia little.
Debinha equalized in the 58th for Brazil.
Renard, who was a doubtful start after picking an injury in the opening game, stepped up when the French most needed it.
The veteran defender was unmarked in perfect position in the 83rd to meet a corner with a header that she nudged powerfully into the top right of the net. SWEDEN 5, ITALY 0 » After leaving it to the last minute against South Africa, Sweden left nothing to chance in a Group G win that sealed its place in the knockout round.
Amanda Ilestedt got Sweden on the scoreboard in the 39th minute, sparking a flood of four Swedish goals in 11 minutes on either side of halftime.
Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius made it 3-0 at halftime, and Ilestedt and Rebecka Blomqvist scored in the second half.