MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – Jamaica’s quest to create even more history at the FIFA Women’s World Cup ended here yesterday when they bowed out of the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the round-of-16.
Captain Catalina Usme’s 51st minute strike settled the cagey contest at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, as Jamaica battled hard but failed to find a way back, despite a couple of half-chances in the second half.
“It’s definitely a very disappointing result but if you look back at it in the bigger picture, it’s a major achievement for us as a team and for the country,” said Reggae Girls centre back, Chantelle Swaby. “I’m so gutted for the result but I could not be more proud of the girls and just the direction we’re going from here.”
She continued: “I think going into it we knew it would’ve been a great match-up for us. “I think we would’ve matched up probably the best out of the teams we’ve played [especially with] the type of style – they have quick players, we have quick players and it was just trying to make sure we matched that.
“Unfortunately I don’t think we were as efficient as we usually are at the top, and that’s what really sucked for us but … I’m just really happy about how we handled the tournament.” The clearest chances in the first half fell to the South Americans, Reggae Girls goalkeeper Rebecca Spence forced to take quick action to haul in Usme’s dangerous cross with Leicy Santos about to pounce inside the six-yard box in the 27th minute. In the 38th minute, Jamaica’s defence failed to clear a loose ball following a corner and it fell nicely for Jorelyn Carabali from close range, who narrowly put it over the top. With the scores locked nil-all at half-time, the decisive goal arrived soon after the resumption. Ana Guzman drilled a pin-point cross over the right side to find Usme, who easily beat her marker Deneisha Blackwood, to curl an exquisite finish around Spence from inside the 18-yard box.
Jamaica came close to the equaliser in the 54th minute when Jody Brown’s header was cleared off the line and came close again when Tottenham Hotspur’s Drew Spence sent her header wide from the middle of the box, following substitute Tiffany Cameron’s right-sided cross in the 82nd minute.
With time ticking away in the 86th, Santos hit the far post with a diving header as Jamaica rode their luck.
