Germany conqueror Colombia is in the World Cup quarterfinals. A goal against Jamaica on Tuesday (08/08/2023) was enough to advance. The “Cafeteras” now meet England in the quarter-finals.
Catalina Usme scored the goal that gave Colombia a 1-0 (0-0) win in Melbourne shortly after the start of the second half. The goal was one of the few highlights of a largely disorganized game. The team of Colombia coach Nelson Abadía is thus for the first time in the quarter-finals of a World Cup. For Jamaica around coach Lorne Donaldson the title fights end with an overall goal balance of 1:1.
Perez: “Were more compact”
“I am just happy”said Colombia’s goalkeeper Catalina Pérez after the game on ZDF. “Just happy to be part of the team.” The 28-year-old added the reasons for the win: “We were more compact and performed as a unit.” The quarter-finals against England shouldn’t be over yet: “Against England we have to be very focused and regenerate well beforehand. Then there’s something in it.”
Many fouls – little flow of the game
The duel of the world number 25. from Colombia against the ranked-43. from Jamaica was not just the duel between the two big World Cup outsiders. The game in front of 27,706 spectators was also the weakest round of 16 of the World Cup for more than a half. Both teams neutralized each other, due to a tough pace with many small or harder fouls there was hardly any flow and rhythm.
The game was repeatedly interrupted after the fouls, but referee Kate Jacewicz did not draw the first yellow card until the 41st minute. Jamaica’s Allyson Swaby was booked for a foul on Colombia attacker Mayra Ramirez. The first and so far only chance of the game was just three minutes old: Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabalí had the ball in a good position on her foot in the penalty area, but shot well over it from the turn (38′).
First half: No real chance to score
Overall, official statistics counted 7:2 shots on goal for Colombia in the first half. None of them really went on goal. Jamaica, who had gone through the group stage without conceding a goal (and a goal stats of 1-0), turned to destruction. Colombia’s superstar Linda Caicedo was completely taken out of the game in midfield.
Usme redeems Colombia
And so went the”Reggae Girlz” also in the second half. Three interruptions after fouls in the first few minutes did not bode well for half-time. But a magic ball from Colombia defender Ana Guzmán broke the defensive spell: the 18-year-old’s wide ball took it from the left wing into the penalty area Colombia’s record international Catalina Usme played perfectly in her 47th international match and deliberately hit the far corner from seven meters (51′) It was her 27th international goal for the 33-year-old.
Jamaica to the post
After 321 minutes, Jamaica’s defense was broken for the first time at this World Cup. And the game suddenly picked up speed. Jamaica could have equalized directly in return: Colombia’s goalkeeper Catalina Pérez didn’t have the best after a free kick timingat the far post Jody Brown headed under pressure and hit the post (52′).
First Jamaica goal after 157 World Cup minutes
Jamaica now acted more offensively, for Colombia there were more spaces. The game became more worth seeing, it suddenly went back and forth. Shortly after Brown headed the post, Drew Spence had the next opportunity to make it 1-1, but her attempt from 18 meters was easily defused by Pérez – for Jamaica it was the first shot on goal after 157 World Cup minutes, after the 1-0 winning goal against Panama.
Spence had the best chance to equalize again: the 30-year-old headed just wide of the goal from eight meters after good preliminary work (83′).
Also Colombia at the post
Leicy Santos could have made it 2-0 and thus the decision. Her header in the closing stages, however, landed on the post (86′).
Quarterfinals England vs Colombia on Saturday
In the quarter-finals, the Colombians will now meet England on Saturday (12.08.2023) in Sydney. The European champions of 2022 had dramatically prevailed in a penalty shoot-out against Nigeria on Monday (07.08.2023).