Jamaica held on to earn a hard-fought point despite a late red card for Khadija Shaw.
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France struggle to break down a resolute Jamaican backline
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Khadija Shaw shown late red card for two bookable offences
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Reggae Girlz earn first-ever Women’s World Cup point
France 0 – 0 Jamaica | Group F
History has been made at Sydney Football Stadium after Jamaica took home a first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cupâ„¢ point following a hard-fought 0-0 draw with France.
Despite pressing for much of the contest, Herve Renard’s side could not breakthrough a Jamaican backline which left very little to chance.
An evenly-contested first half sprung into life after the half-hour mark, with Kadidiatou Diani forcing Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer into a smart stop at her near post, before she had an effort deflected narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time.
The Reggae Girlz held firm and unsurprisingly saw their best chance of the opening period fall to star player Khadija Shaw, but her long-range free-kick flashed just the wrong side of the left-hand post.
France continued to probe in the second period but failed to create anything clear-cut until the game entered its final knockings. A wicked Kenza Dali cross found Maelle Lakrar unmarked six-yards out, but it was more shoulder than head and the ball spun up on to the roof of the next.
Diani did, however, make contact with her head as the game ticked into added time only for her flicked effort to come off the underside of the bar, then the post, before being scrambled to safety.
Jamaica’s battle to hold on was made all the harder when Shaw was sent off for her second bookable offence in added time. But Lorne Donaldson’s team held on to make history.
Key stat
After debuting at France 2019 with three-straight defeats, Jamaica have now earned their first-ever World Cup point at the fourth time of asking.
VISA Player of the Match
Deneisha Blackwood (Jamaica)
