Khadija Shaw was despatched off late on as Jamaica held a wasteful France to a 0-0 draw of their Ladies’s World Cup Group F opener.
The Jamaica captain had been her nation’s focus up entrance, however rash challenges on Sakina Karchaoui and Wendie Renard in both half noticed her despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards within the 92nd minute.
Shaw will now miss Jamaica’s second group recreation towards Panama subsequent weekend.
Regardless of the late blow, the Reggae Girlz celebrated their first-ever World Cup level at full-time, having held fifth-ranked France to their first goalless draw on the match.
On the steadiness of probabilities, Les Bleues ought to have gained the sport, losing quite a few alternatives. Kadidiatou Diani was the important thing offender, her recreation epitomised when a Ninetieth-minute header pinged off the highest of the crossbar.
The absence of some key gamers was additionally clear for France, with loads for brand new supervisor Herve Renard to work on forward of their second group recreation towards Brazil.
How Jamaica held France in Sydney
It was a disjointed opening, with neither facet capable of have a sustained interval on the ball amid a lot of set-pieces.
However France ultimately noticed three enormous openings within the ultimate 10 minutes of the half. Diani was slotted in down the suitable of the realm, however her half volley was pushed away by Becky Spencer. Renard then nodded over from shut vary from the nook. Simply earlier than half-time, Diani lashed an effort vast from the highest of the realm, mere inches away from the opener.
In between France’s probabilities, Shaw might have discovered the online when she thumped a free-kick by the wall, however it simply wriggled vast of the far put up as the primary half ended goalless.
Les Bleues have been improved after the break, however once more have been responsible of lacking huge probabilities – particularly from Diani. She went shut inside 10 minutes, assembly a beautiful cross in from Eugenie Le Sommer. Nevertheless, regardless of rising above Tiernny Wiltshire, she couldn’t direct her header on the right track.
Diani went nearer within the 67th minute, after an instantaneous affect from substitute Kenza Dali. The Aston Villa midfielder floated a beautiful ball throughout the field for her team-mate, however, as soon as once more, Diani despatched her header vast of the goal.
It was a bodily recreation in Sydney, punctuated with free-kicks and set-pieces
Le Sommer and Maelle Lakrar additionally went shut with their probabilities. However France’s efficiency was epitomised as Diani flashed a header onto the highest of the crossbar on the stroke of 90 minutes, with Le Sommer unable to smuggle house the rebound.
There was extra drama to return in a frenetic finish to the sport in Sydney as Shaw was proven a second yellow card two minutes later. She caught Renard clumsily and after her early foul on Karchaoui, the referee had no selection however to ship her off, taking the shine off a typically Positive match for the Reggae Girlz.
There have been gleeful celebrations at full-time from Jamaica, whereas Euro 2022 semi-finalists France now have work to do to succeed in the knockout rounds.
Why Jamaica’s first World Cup level will imply a lot
Jamaica celebrated their first Ladies’s World Cup level at full-time
Sky Sports activities’ Charlotte Marsh:
“A goalless attract a Ladies’s World Cup wouldn’t excite many – however for Jamaica, it’s a enormous second for a lot of causes.
“Firstly, it’s the first level they’ve ever earned at a World Cup. That may be a watershed second for a creating staff like Jamaica and may very well be the spark to propel them on to better success at this match and past.
“Managing to take action towards the world’s fifth-ranked staff in France provides one other dimension too. This level was not towards one other rising staff, of which there are various on the first 32-team version of the World Cup, however towards a ‘huge’ staff who’re aiming for the latter phases.
“Jamaica held their very own and this could additionally give them enormous encouragement going ahead.
“It’s much more spectacular given their off-field points heading into the World Cup. Havana Solaun’s mom arrange a GoFundMe web page to assist Jamaica merely get to the match. The gamers have described the assist from the Jamaican Soccer Federation as “sub-par” heading into the World Cup.
“Bob Marley’s daughter, Cedella, can be a long-time supporter and monetary contributor to assist the Reggae Girlz succeed on the worldwide stage. It needs to be a highly-unusual apply to have non-public assist for a nationwide staff, however it’s merely indicative of the struggles girls’s soccer continues to face.
“There was tragedy too. Jedine Carr was killed in a capturing as she made her approach to coaching simply days earlier than Jamaica certified for the World Cup. Shaw proudly displayed a shirt with Carr’s title on it after they beat Haiti to succeed in their second successive version of the match.
“Having confronted adversity again and again, it’s no marvel the Jamaica staff celebrated the goalless draw as they did. Right here is hoping extra success follows for this proficient group of gamers.”
What’s next?
Group F returns on Saturday July 29. France tackle Brazil, whereas Jamaica face Panama.
The ultimate group video games will happen on Wednesday August 2. France will play Panama, whereas Jamaica end the group with a match towards Brazil.
What is the schedule?
The group stage has begun and runs over a two-week interval ending on August 3. Group winners and runners-up progress to the spherical of 16, which takes place from August 5 to August 8.
The quarter-finals, which will likely be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, are scheduled for August 11 and 12.
The primary semi-final will then be performed on August 15 in Auckland, with the opposite semi-final happening on August 16 on the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which can then host the ultimate on August 20.
A 3rd-place play-off will likely be performed the day earlier than the ultimate on August 19 in Brisbane.