Thank you for joining me for this match! Catalina Usme’s strike was the difference and sent Colombia to their first-ever Women’s World Cup quarter-final. They will face England on Saturday in the last eight but for now you can have a read of the report from this one. We are also covering France v Morocco, so make sure you keep up to date with that!
Here is the goal from Usme, a absolutely brilliant cross from Guzman – the 18-year-old made her competitive debut for her country today! (The clip is from ITV and so some may not have access):
#COL have the breakthrough 💥
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) August 8, 2023
Catalina Usme has acres of space in behind and finishes with poise!#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/2fhhJXk1FT
A fun fact for you:
Colombia are the first South American nation in 12 years (and the first-ever not called Brazil) to reach the quarter-finals of the #FIFAWWC #COLJAM #COL pic.twitter.com/yDl3IFAdI0
— Asif Burhan (@AsifBurhan) August 8, 2023
A player everyone has wanted to see at this tournament played her first minutes yesterday. Sam Kerr came on in Australia’s 2-0 win over Denmark and here’s a great piece on it:
Colombia’s opponents in the quarter-final, England, had to dig deep to overcome a tactically perfect Nigeria yesterday. Nigeria’s players were heartbroken to go out on penalties and Onumonu highlighted the conditions they have in their camp:
So the quarter-finals decided so far are: Spain v Netherlands, Japan v Sweden and England v Colombia. Australia have also booked their last eight spot and they will play either France or Morocco – that game kicking off in less than an hour. You can keep up to date with that:
Colombia have never reached the quarter-final of a Women’s World Cup before and so it will be new territory when they take on England on Saturday. While the Lionesses may head into the game with a favourites tag, Colombia are more than capable of downing the European champions.
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Jamaica have been incredible defensively all tournament but their lack of attacking edge just let them down today, they couldn’t get the ball in for Shaw with their best chance coming in the closing stages with a Spence header.
The bench run on to embrace their teammates. Opposingly Jamaica players fall to their knees in heartbreak, this loss does not take away from their incredible tournament – they held Brazil and France to 0-0 draw which saw Brazil out of the tournament. But it is Colombia who can celebrate.
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Full time! Colombia 1-0 Jamaica
The celebrations in the stands are stunning, history is made and Colombia are through to the quarter-finals. It was a beautiful goal that saw them win – the first team to puncture Jamaica’s defence. They will play England in the last eight.
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90 + 5 min: Blackwood takes the corner it pinballs around but Perez eventually collects. Spencer was among those in the box there.
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90 + 4 min: Spencer boots the ball upfield as Jamaica try to find a late equaliser. Matthews does well to win a ball and her cross is deflected out for a corner, this feels like their last chance.
90 + 3 min: Spence wants a foul after she’s taken out by Montoya but nothing is given. D Arias revs up the crowd as Colombia make another change with Usme off for Restrepo, a huge cheer for the goalscorer.
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90 + 1 min: There will be five minutes added here. Can Jamaica find an equaliser? They don’t look likely at the moment.
90 min: Time is running out for Jamaica and D Arias defends really well to take the ball away from Shaw.
89 min: Colombia make a change with Santos off for Montoya, Santos gets a huge cheer from the crowd – she has had a really impressive match.
87 min: C Swaby heads away the corner ball, it’s pinged back into the box and Santos gets a head to it but it smacks the post! Wow, so close. I held my breath!
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86 min: A ball destined for Shaw rolls out of play and with it goes another chance for Jamaica. Colombia make a break and Caicedo is through, she manages to get it in the box but C Swaby does well to block – concedes a corner.
85 min: Perez receiving treatment now. Jamaica make changes in the break with Matthews and Simmonds on for Wiltshire and Brown. The Colombian goalkeeper is okay to continue.
83 min: Brown receives a good ball she passes to Cameron who has a great cross, Spence gets a header to it but it’s just wide. So close to an equaliser and Spence’s frustration afterwards shows she knew it.
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81 min: Santos is over the corner once more and she pings it in but Shaw has it away – the Man City player has been good defensively from set piece.
80 min: Caicedo has a spell on the ball and A Swaby concedes a corner.
79 min: Blackwood is over the ball, it’s a good delivery but it’s out for another corner. This time Blackwood takes it short but it’s deflected out for a throw in. McNamara is on for Sampson before the throw is taken, they then get it in the box but Colombia clear. So much happening!
78 min: Ramirez is on the deck now and Wiltshire is taking on some instructions. She is okay to continue and we are back underway. A lot of frantic play from Jamaica and D Arias has some good defending – thwarting Cameron but she concedes a corner.
76 min: Shaw nutmegs Durango in the box but she can’t get back into her own ball. She gets on the edge of the area and should have taken a shot first time, she takes too many touches and she is swarmed.
74 min: Carabali and Ramirez concede throw ins as Jamaica continue their pursuit for an equaliser. It comes to Blackwood but it’s overhit.
72 min: Blackwood is over the set piece ball but she takes it too early and so we come back to take it again. It’s a good delivery, Perez collects. The keeper spills the ball but smothers it, a good opportunity gone.
71 min: Shaw is fouled by D Arias, she gets a yellow card and gives away a free kick.
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70 min: Scrappy forward play from Jamaica, they are having time on the ball but they are being forced into poor touches by high Colombian press. Shaw gets the ball on the edge of the box but her resulting shot doesn’t have enough on it to trouble Perez, who collects.
68 min: C Arias tries to cross and Blackwood sees it out but she is offside. Jamaica make a change with Carter off for Cameron.
66 min: Wiltshire gets a good ball to Sampson but her touch is too heavy and she gifts it back to Colombia. Possession is exchanged quickly but Colombia come away with it, Caicedo has stunning footwork and tries to replicate her stunner against Germany but this time it is just over the bar.
64 min: Shaw makes a great cross, it’s over the head of Brown and Spence loses out to C Arias. A reminder that Jamaica have only scored once in the tournament, that came in their match against Panama.
62 min: This is the first time in this competition where Jamaica have been losing, having not conceded until today. It will be interesting to see how they respond, so far Colombia have put a lot of pressure on them as they try and double their lead. Garcia pings it in but it’s headed away before Caicedo can get to it.
60 min: Santos takes the corner but it’s headed clear by Shaw. C Swaby gets pushed by Ramirez and Jamaica can clear their lines.
58 min: Connor has got in touch and wants a shout out to his daughter Louise who is in Melbourne watching! There you go Connor. Back to the game and Spence has a long range effort which is easily saved by Perez. Colombia come right back and C Swaby sees it out for a corner.
57 min: The goal from Usme has unlocked this game now, Jamaica cannot afford to just be defensive – they need a goal to keep themselves in this World Cup. Jamaica come again, this time Perez collects before Brown can get to it.
55 min: Jamaica win a free kick in a good spot, Blackwood will take it. The referee is having to have a word with players in the box before it’s taken. Blackwood pings in a lovely delivery, Brown is on the far post but she can’t convert. Colombia immediately counter and oh my word Caicedo could be in here! She makes a good run but Spencer does well to pressure her off the ball. WOW!
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53 min: Guzman – who is on her competitive debut - pings a massive ball to Usme, she takes a touch and blasts it past Spencer. A great goal and Jamaica concede their first goal.
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GOAL! Colombia 1-0 Jamaica (Usme, 51')
HUGE! What a hit, it all comes from Guzman too.
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51 min: Shaw make a good run but she is crowded off the ball. Primus has a great pass to Brown but Guzman clears – the tale of this game.
49 min: Ramirez has a good ball to C Arias but her cross is straight out of play. It’s pinballing around the pitch with each team having a few passes but it’s just as fragmented as the first half so far.
47 min: Guzman does well to draw a foul from Carter with Jamaica on the front foot.
Back underway! Colombia 0-0 Jamaica
Jamaica have made a change, Van Zanten is off for Primus. So can someone find a winner? Or will we be heading to extra time? We will soon find out …
Another thing to keep up to date with is the Golden Boot race. Japan’s Miyazawa is currently at the top, you can follow it live here:
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Half time! Colombia 0-0 Jamaica
It has been a cagey, tense and foul-frenzied half but it was expected with the two different types of football on display in this clash. All to play for in the second half!
45 + 3 min: Carter sees it in and it does come to Shaw but the effort is way off target. Jamaica’s best chance of the half.
45 + 3 min: Carabali sees it over the bar of her own goal for a corner, a miscommunication between her and Perez.
45 + 2 min: There will be four minutes added – this half deserved more than that! Spence gets a yellow card with a foul on Caicedo, the Tottenham player gets a bit frustrated after being shown the card.
45 min: Usme and Santos over the corner ball but it’s Santos who takes it. It’s Shaw who heads it though and Spencer collects.
44 min: Van Zanten does well to find Shaw but the Manchester City star doesn’t get a good touch. Colombia have another corner as they attack but Blackwood sees it out.
43 min: C Swaby has been shown a yellow card for a foul on Ramirez, she hit her in the face but it wasn’t intentional. The free kick is taken by Durango but Brown clears away, Guzman picks up the ball for a shot but it is way over the bar.
41 min: A Swaby pops it upfield to try and find Shaw but Perez is the first to the ball – the Colombian goalkeeper has not been troubled much at all so far. Spence with a great pass to keep a play alive but C Swaby has a poor pass and it’s out.
39 min: Santos again over the corner ball, this time she pings it into the box. It’s initially blocked but it comes to Carabali whose shot is over the bar.
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38 min: Santos takes the corner short, it comes back to Santos but Blackwood sees it out for another corner.
37 min: Ramirez has an unbelievable run, making her way through three Jamaican defenders but eventually she is tackled by Wiltshire – really well timed to only see it out for a corner.
36 min: Blackwood with a controlled intercept there but she can’t keep a hold of it. John has got in touch and wants to know some details from this one so here you go: the referee is Kate Jacewisz and the match is being played at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
34 min: Santos is down again, Shaw can’t believe it but she did get her studs on her foot. Santos all good to continue though and Jamaica have the ball, Brown tries to unlock an attack but she loses out.
32 min: It is all Colombia at the moment as Usme boots it upfield, Santos tries a shot but C Swaby blocks.
30 min: WHAT A SAVE! Usme sends it into the box after a short corner but Spencer has a great punch away. My word.
30 min: Ramirez was having a great run but Blackwood got a tackle in and we have a free kick. Usme has a pinpoint delivery but D Arias can’t quite get to it but it’s out for a corner.
28 min: C Arias is okay to continue, she doesn’t look comfortable as she runs into position but she is still on. Santos has an unbelievable cross in but Spencer watches it all the way and she collects.
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26 min: Blackwood pumps a ball to Shaw but Carabali again outpaces her to see it out. C Swaby with a throw in once more but this time they opt to see it short, Carter then fouls C Arias and the chance is gone. She is now receiving treatment – I expect a lot of injury time added on at the end of this half.
24 min: Carter is okay to continue and we are back underway.
23 min: Carter is down injured here, so many stoppages so far, she took a ball to the face and so the referee stops the match for her to get some treatment. Both teams having a chat with their coaches in the break of play.
22 min: Wiltshire looks in a bit of pain after a tackle but she is continuing on. A good battle between her and Santos so far.
20 min: Jamaica have a good spell on the ball but then they have a heavy touch and gift it back to Colombia. I think Colombia have started better as a team, Jamaica having more individual moments. Santos looks to break but Van Santen cuts out the chance. Ramirez quickly gets the chance back underway but Van Santen again clears.
18 min: This atmosphere is one of the best I’ve seen at this tournament so far, it looks like a party in the stands. Possession exchanging hands at the moment, a bit cagey in the early stages of this game.
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16 min: Spence using her position really well in the midfield, she really is the key to Jamaica’s play. Colombia building from deep now and Usme passes to Garcia whose shot is too weak to trouble Spencer.
14 min: Ramirez with stunning footwork to pass to Caicedo but Jamaica know the 18-year-old’s threat and crowd her off the ball.
12 min: Shaw is down, she is rolling around in pain – not what Jamaica want to see at all. She bumped into a defender after passing the ball, she is back up and okay though. We don’t want to lose any players in this contest, it’s been a thriller already!
10 min: Ospina is down injured, she went down after tackling Shaw, she has received treatment but I think she is okay to continue. Guzman takes the free kick after the offside but it’s straight out of play and Jamaica are back on the ball.
8 min: Dean has got in touch and said: “Sometimes its hard to tell the difference between a shock and a surprise. ‘Surprise’ just didn’t cover the feeling I had when I went to the kitchen this morning and discovered my 20 yr old son had emptied the dishwasher!” I’m jealous, I live alone so I have to do all the washing up myself! Back to the match and Shaw is showing what she can do, her footwork sees her swarmed – she lays it off to Van Zanten but she is offside.
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6 min: Usme is thankfully back to her feet, she is running the injury as she grimaces – she didn’t need any treatment.
6 min: A belter of a ball sets Colombia on a good attacking spell, whenever Colombia are on the ball the cheers are deafening – I coulnd’t even hear the whistle when Caicedo was fouled! Colombia play on but Usme then goes down injured following a foul from Wiltshire, she looks in a lot of pain here.
4 min: A link up almost finds Shaw but she doesn’t have the pace to get to it and it’s Carabali who clears. C Swaby takes a throw in, and what a long throw she has, and it’s in the box – Brown gets a shot but it’s over the bar. A good start for Jamaica.
2 min: So many boos and whistles while Jamaica are on the ball, the Colombia fans making themselves heard early on.
Kick-off! Colombia 0-0 Jamaica
Here we go then! Can Jamaica maintain their perfect record? Or will Colombia run away with the win? A reminder if we are 0-0 after 90 minutes we head to extra time and penalties.
The atmosphere is electric! The Colombian anthem was so loud, they definitely have more fans present in the Melbourne stadium.
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Before kick-off Simon has got in touch to tell me about a shock he’s had. He emailed: “I recently discovered, upon making a delicious Raymond Blanc pea soup, that my wife of 25 years ‘wasn’t all that keen on peas’. It’s like I never even knew her. We’re still together, but something changed that day. Looking forward to today’s games, no idea who’s going through, which is as it should be in knockout tournament football.” Does that mean you never noticed she never ate peas? Or did she just eat them anyway? So many questions! And yes I do love a match which is difficult to call.
The players are out on the pitch and the anthems will soon follow. Get ready for a tense clash in the last 16.
Fans are gearing up for this clash!
🇨🇴 Colombia fans bringing the vibes to Melbourne 🇨🇴#COLJAM | #FIFAWWC | #GOTBLive pic.twitter.com/FuMzsf3pB1
— Girls on the Ball (@GirlsontheBall) August 8, 2023
Megan Rapinoe’s time on a World Cup stage is over and there has been some debate around the US player this week. Here’s a piece on the icon:
England almost faced an early exit yesterday but if they had been knocked out they would not have been the only shock of the tournament. Defending champions the US were knocked out by Sweden on Sunday, here’s a great feature on why:
Lauren James will be at least banned for the quarter-final, it will be up to a committee to determine whether it is longer, after her red card against Nigeria. See how people reacted:
A good read on England’s performance yesterday:
There has been so many shocks in this tournament and it got me thinking about the biggest shocks in other areas of life. The ending of the Sixth Sense, the Colleen Rooney tweet, to name a few. Get in touch and let me know what your biggest shock has been.
Let’s take a look at the stars who could determine the outcome of this game:
Manuela Vanegas, who scored the winner for Colombia against Germany, is not involved today because of accumulated yellow cards. This sees 18-year-old Ana Marie Guzman make her World Cup debut.
Jamaica have made two changes with Matthews and Primus out for Carter and Van Santen.
Starting XI: Spencer; C Swaby, Blackwood, A Swaby, Wiltshire; Sampson, Spence, Brown, Carter; Shaw, Van Santen.
The team news is here! We will start with Colombia make three changes from their loss to Morocco with Carabali, Guzman and Garcia coming in.
Starting XI: Perez; C Arias, Carabali, D Arias, Guzman; Durango, Garcia; L Caicedo, Santos, Ramirez; Usme.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Colombia v Jamaica in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup. Both nations have had impressive tournaments so far. Colombia’s highlight has been beating Germany with Jamaica holding Brazil and France to 0-0 draws.
It is knock-out football today though and so only a win will suffice. Whoever claims the victory will be facing European champions England in the quarter-final after they squeaked through on penalties yesterday.
Usually there is a favourite going into a match but this one is such a tricky one to call. Jamaica remain the only team not to concede yet at this World Cup but Colombia’s defence has been good too.
However, it is the forwards are the ones who could be the difference in this clash. 18-year-old Linda Caicedo has had a phenomenal World Cup with her goal against Germany among one of the best scored at the tournament so far. Bunny Shaw, meanwhile, causes headaches for any defence and so it will interesting to see who gets the upper hand.
Shall we see if they are both starting for their teams? The team news for both countries should be out shortly, stay tuned for updates!
