Job well done
Reggae Girlz coach proud of history-making team but now turns focus to Colombia
Published:Thursday | August 3, 2023 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
JAMAICA’S REGGAE Girlz created history and one of the nation’s proudest sporting moments after holding the mighty Brazil to a 0-0 draw in the final Group F World Cup game at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium yesterday to book a place in the knockout stages for the first time.
Coach Lorne Donaldson praised his team for a job well done, noting that nothing was impossible for this team.
The Girlz, who came into the game as huge underdogs, put on another masterful defensive display against the Marta-led Brazil to get the crucial point needed to secure their place in the round of 16, and in the process, sent the South Americans packing.
Donaldson admitted that they knew that they would have limited time with the ball and that keeping the Brazilians from scoring was the main objective.
“Brazil had to score a goal, and in typical Brazilian style, they are going to attack, and we had to control that.
“We tried to score, too, but we knew we had to play without the ball and just control the game without the ball. We know we have a fantastic custodian (Rebecca Spencer) in goal. We trust her, and that was the game plan – to take away certain areas from Brazil and then try to get one – and we ended up 0-0, so it is job well done.
“So our plan was not to give up a goal and take away the strength of Brazil. So even though they had the ball, we took away their strengths,” he said.
He said the team was firmly focused on getting out of the group, and even though only few believed in their chances of advancing, they never doubted themselves.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
“From day one we said we need to get out of the group, and everybody said it was impossible. But the mentality of us is nothing is impossible, and that is why we have just stuck together.”
The Brazilians, as expected, started very lively, and Marta had two great chances in the opening 10 minutes.
As the South Americans continued to dominate possession, Tamires tested Spencer with a low shot and Borges headed their best chance of the half over the bar from six yards.
The Jamaicans got a few breaks going forward but nothing to really trouble the Brazillians. Then just before half-time, Spencer had to be well positioned to deny Tamaris’ volley.
The Brazilians kept pouring forward in the second half and gave the Reggae Girlz a few scares.
However, striker Khadija Shaw, who had been feeding off scraps all day, had a glorious chance to put Jamaica ahead in the 82nd minute, but she skied her effort after coming under pressure from two defenders.
Despite a nervy final few minutes, the Reggae Girlz, like they did against France, held Brazil to their first goalless result at the tournament, and in the process, secured their own piece of history.
The Reggae Girlz will face Colombia in the next round, and Donaldson insists that that is where their focus will be now.
“I don’t know how far we can go, but we are just going to take it one game at a time. That is our approach.
“When we started our preparation, we did not look at Brazil. We looked at Brazil three days ago. We looked at Panama a few days before the game, and we looked at France before we played them. We never skip. So whoever we play next, that is what we are going to focus on.”