Colombia 1-0 Jamaica: Usme sets up date with England

Colombia set up a World Cup quarter-final clash with England as they edged past Jamaica 1-0 in Melbourne thanks to Catalina Usme’s effort early in the second half.

The decisive moment in the battle between two of the tournament’s surprise packages came when Usme beat Rebecca Spencer with a composed finish in the 51st minute.

Jamaica, making their maiden appearance in the knockout rounds, hit the post seconds later through Jody Brown, with Colombia’s Leicy Santos then doing the same late on as the South Americans moved into the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history.

Nelson Abadia’s Colombia, who memorably defeated Germany 2-1 en route to finishing top of Group H, will now take on England in Sydney on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.

Lorne Donaldson’s world number 43-ranked Jamaica bow out with the Usme goal being the first they had conceded during their historic campaign at the showpiece in Australia and New Zealand, which also featured 0-0 draws with France and Brazil and a 1-0 win over Panama – the Reggae Girlz’s first victory at this level.

A first half full of physicality, but lacking in clear chances, saw Colombia show the greater attacking threat.

An Usme free-kick around the half-hour mark yielded a corner after Daniela Arias and Spencer went for it before another Usme’s curling delivery from a similar position was punched away by the goalkeeper moments later, and Jorelyn Carabali then turning and firing over.

At the other end, a corner was sent to Khadija Shaw at the back post in first-half stoppage time but the Manchester City striker could not get her header on target.

Colombia then broke the deadlock shortly after the break when Ana Maria Guzman delivered a fine cross from the left to Usme, who took one excellent touch to control the ball before stroking it past Spencer.

Jamaica were inches away from equalising within seconds as Brown sent a header against the post, before a counter-attack from Colombia saw Linda Caicedo thwarted by Spencer, although the flag was up for offside.

Caicedo, Guzman’s fellow 18-year-old, tried her luck again in the 65th minute, firing off-target, before Shaw hit a shot that rolled harmlessly through to Catalina Perez.

Jamaica had a good chance in the 82nd minute but Drew Spence sent her header wide. Four minutes later, Santos saw her header come back off the post – but she was soon celebrating as the final whistle confirmed Colombia’s showdown against England.