MIAMI, Florida – The Jamaican Women’s National Team made their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup debut on Sunday afternoon at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia with a 0-0 draw against France to kick off things in Group F.
With this scoreless draw, Jamaica made history by earning their first ever Women’s World Cup point. This is the second Women’s World Cup for the Reggae Girlz, with Jamaica being the first Caribbean country to qualify to the biggest tournament in women’s football and also the first one to play in two consecutive tournaments.
Jamaica's first attempt on goal came from DF Chantelle Swaby, who tried a header in the 14’, but the ball went wide past the post.
GK Rebecca Spencer stopped an effort on goal from France FW Kadidiatou Diani in the 36’ when Diani received a ball from MF Clara Mateo, Diaini shooting low and Spencer sending the ball to the corner with her leg.
Before the first half ended, in the 41’, captain Khadija Shaw tried to surprise France’s defense shooting an extremely powerful free kick, the ball going wide of the post by just a little, leaving the game locked at 0-0.
Chances kept coming in the second half. Jamaica MF Cheyna Matthews got past the France defense in the 65’, trying to find the back of the net with a header, but France GK Pauline Peyraud-Magnin stopped her efforts.
The last minutes of the game were marked by Shaw getting a red card after she received her second yellow of the match in the 90+2’ due to a foul on French captain Wendie Renard. Shaw will miss the next game against Panama.
In the end, a combination of Shaw’s strong attacking play and a firm defense allowed Jamaica to keep the European side in check to secure the result.
Jamaica will now be looking to get their first Women’s World Cup win when they face fellow Concacaf side Panama on Saturday in Perth, Australia.