JamaicaDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2023 | 11:00 am | Women's World Cup | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Jamaica Make History In Group F Stalemate
Jamaica hold on to draw 0-0 with France in the opening game of Group F to pick up their first-ever points at the Women's World Cup in Sydney.
Chances by Kadidiatou Diani and Wendie Renard in both halves caused some scares for Jamaica as they hold on to a draw against the world’s fifth-ranked team.
If you were to go into this game with no idea about the standings of these sides you would have guessed Jamaica were the higher-ranked side as they dominated the opening proceedings of this game.
Although Jamaica didn’t create many chances in the first half, the general play from the Reggae Girlz was very impressive and relied on their energy and intensity in the press.
Khadija Shaw, also known as Bunny Shaw, was the standout player in the opening half dominating the French defence and was an integral part of how Jamaica kept the ball.
The best chance of the first half came for Diani when her low-driven shot was scooped away from the near post by Jamaica's goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
From the resulting corner, Spencer was called into action when Wendie Renard headed the ball just inside the six-yard box with the Tottenham keeper doing just enough to put off the French captain.
Shaw came so close to opening the scoring when her long-range strike from a free kick was dealt with by French keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, getting fingertips to the powerful effort.
The second half started with a lot of pressure from France but they failed to turn that pressure into a goal.
Diani looked dangerous again in the second half, this time from a header, but the ball was just out of her reach and skimmed off her head and wide.
Renard looked dangerous as usual from crosses into the box and when she was found midway through the second half she could only head over the bar.
France thought they won it in the ninetieth minute when Diani headed past Spencer only to be denied by the bar and then the post before the ball made its way back into the keeper's arms.
There would be enough time for an unfortunate stain on this historic result in Sydney when star player Bunny Shaw’s lunging tackle on Renard resulted in her second yellow of the game, meaning Jamaica finished the game with 10 women.
Timeline
| 10. Clara Mateo | 13' | |
| 23' | 20. Atlanta Primus | |
| 37' | 21. Khadija Shaw | |
| Clara Mateo Kenza Dali | 65' | |
| Amel Majri Vicki Becho | 65' | |
| 70' | Cheyna Lee Matthews Solai Washington | |
| 70' | Atlanta Primus Havana Solaun | |
| 90+1' | 21. Khadija Shaw |
Ground
| Sydney Football Stadium |
|---|
| Allianz Stadium, Moore Park Road, Five Ways, Paddington, Sydney, Council of the City of Sydney, New South Wales, 2021, Australia |
Conor Cantwell
Conor Cantwell is a freelance sports journalist based in Co. Meath. Conor has been covering club football in Ireland and England since 2022. Conor has a keen interest in soccer, Gaelic games, rugby, tennis and basketball and has been writing blogs about the Premier League and the NBA since 2022.
Dali strike straight at Spencer. Jamaica are holding on for dear life.
Shaw gets a second yellow for a lunging tackle on Renard. Four minutes of added time left.
OFF THE BAR AND POST! Diani's header has Spencer beaten all ends up but comes down off the bar and then off the post into the path of the Jamaican goalkeeper. Was that the chance for France?
Lakrar heads the ball onto her shoulder in the six-yard box and loops the ball onto the roof of the net
The ball falls to Shaw in the box after a Blackwood corner but her strike flies high over the bar.
Diani finds Le Sommer in the box but the all time top goalscorer from France is dragged too far wide and cannot get enough power in her strike to cause any issues for Spencer
Shaw down again after a hefty header from Renard. A well needed breather for the Jamaican star player.
Solaun and Washington come on.
Primus and Matthews come off for Jamaica.
Dali and Becho come on for Les Bleues.
Majri and Mateo come off for France.
Jamaica go straight up the other end and get what seems to be their first real attempt on goal from Matthews' header. France go down the other end through Karchaoui who whips the ball in before an offside is given. A hectic game.
Toletti fires a ball into Diani who deftly touches the ball off to Geyoro before a foul is called against the French player. A nice passage of play.
France again looking slightly ragged at the back, Karchaoui dealing the with danger this time.
Lakrar is getting more joy down the right now as France are gather momentum in the second half.
Shaw heads the ball away from a France corner only as far as Toletti who swipes at her shot which sails well over the bar.
The corner is dealt with but from the next passage of play Diani rises at the back post but just headed wide under pressure from Wiltshire
Lakrar gets down the right and wins a corner off Blackwood. Majri to deliver.
Lakrar rises to win a header comfortably over Brown and the Jamaican has come off the worst in that aerial dual.
A poor delivery but the bounce has to be dealt with by Blackwood who concedes the corner.
A swift counter by France ends in a free kick after Matthews chased back and fouls Majri. Dangerous area for a dead ball
And we're back underway in Sydney!
HALF TIME: 0-0 at half-time between France and Jamaica. The Reggae Girlz certainly gave as good as they got in that first half with Bunny Shaw looking the pick of the players on show. France threatened in the second quarter of the game with efforts from Renard and a couple from Diani the closest we have come to a goal. A very entertaining affair so far in Sydney.
Majri whips another ball in and it is palmed out for a corner by Spencer who wasn't to know the ball was going wide. The corner is dealt with but ends up with Diani whose deflected shot just spins wide of the post. So close.
Majri whips a ball in but it is dealt with well by Wiltshire.
Le Sommer wins a free kick after being grappled by Blackwood. Dangerous position.
Five minutes of added time.
Cascarino gets the best of Shaw for the first time this game shepherding her loose touch out of play.
SO CLOSE! Shaw takes a rocket of a shot from the free kick which fizzes past the far post. Great effort from Shaw.
Shaw earns yet another free-kick on Cascarino and is clearly targeting her over Renard. Dangerous area for the dead ball.
Yellow card for Shaw as she follows through on Karchaoui. Could be considered a harsh one.
The corner produces another chance with Renard heading over under pressure from Spencer.
Diani get the best chance of the game, receiving the ball on the right of the box with her shot scooped wide by Spencer.
Great hold-up play and tidy feet from Shaw yet again in winning a free kick. The Manchester City striker looks like the best player on the pitch.
Lakrar gives possession back to Jamaica with a foul throw. Pretty much sums up the first half for France.
The first effort from France comes from a deep free-kick which is headed high up in the air by Renard and comfortably gathered by Spencer in the Jamaica goal.
Shaw runs powerfully down the left wing but nothing comes of this enterprising run. If you knew nothing about these teams you would assume Jamaica were the heavy favourites. France look rattled.
Atlanta Primus booked for a professional foul on Geyoro.
France plays the ball around the back but Shaw's pressure gives Jamaica a chance to attack again but the French side scrambles to get the ball clear. They have possession again but for what seems to be the fifth or sixth time a loose pass from France misses its target and goes out for a Jamaica throw.
Shaw earns another free-kick in the French half. The delivery is poor and leads to nothing. Jamaica are certainly performing in the early stages of this game.
The free-kick is whipped in and lands on the head of Chantelle Swaby but the header is tame and French keeper gathers comfortably.
Clara Mateo booked for a cynical foul on Shaw.
Jamaica's Jody Brown looks to be in a bit of pain on the ground and the game is stopped again.
Both players are back on their feet and look likely to play on as Jamaica receives the drop ball.
A nasty collision of heads between France's Wendie Renard and Jamaica's Bunny Shaw. Both look very shaken up but Shaw looks to have come off the worst.
And we're underway in Sydney, France get things started in their customary blue and red kit while Jamaica are kitted out in all black.
Hello everyone and welcome to coverage of Group F of the Women's World Cup. The opening fixture in this group involves France and Jamaica at the Sydney Football Stadium. Conor Cantwell here ready to report on today's matchup.