Izuchukwu Okosi
South America emerging women’s football force, Colombia, set up a Women’s World Cup quarter-final against England with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Jamaica on Tuesday.
Catalina Usme, who captained Colombia in Melbourne, curled home the decisive strike in the 51st minute.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt was the first goal Jamaica had conceded at the tournament after 321 minutes of play, but they could not find a response.
This is the first time Colombia have reached the last eight of the Women’s World Cup.
They will face European champions England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Saturday, kick-off at 11.30am.
England were fortunate against a resolute Nigeria side and won 4-2 on penalties 24 hours earlier.
This was the final match to be played in Melbourne at this World Cup, and the Rectangular Stadium has claimed many traditional names of women’s football as victims.
Olympic champions Canada who drew 0-0 with Nigeria and were ultimately eliminated by hosts Australia, Brazil icon Marta saw her World Cup dreams dashed, and the once unbeatable four-time world champions the United States were humbled.
The game was also about the new generation, two sides re-writing their football history.
Both seemed weighed down by the opportunity early on, with a first half more about fouls than shots.
The clearest first-half chance came on 38 minutes, as Linda Caicedo shot over on the turn from six yards.
But this young, vibrant Colombia side is near impossible to contain. And, while Caicedo has made the headlines this tournament, it was another 18-year-old who set the winner in motion.
Ana Maria Guzman was making her first World Cup start in place of suspended full-back Manuela Vanegas.
The absence of Vanegas, who scored the winner in the victory over Germany, was the cause of much pre-match worry among Colombian media.
But they need not have worried as Guzman produced a moment of magic, a brilliant deep cross from the left which Usme brought down and buried in the far corner.
Colombia should have made the game safe but Caicedo was denied by Jamaica keeper Becky Spencer following a counter-attack before Leicy Santos hit the post late on.
But they saw the job thro ugh – and face the Lionesses next.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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