Khadija Shaw was sent off late on as Jamaica held a wasteful France to a 0-0 draw in their Women’s World Cup Group F opener.
The Jamaica captain had been her country’s focal point up front, but rash challenges on Sakina Karchaoui and Wendie Renard in either half saw her sent off for two yellow cards in the 92nd minute.
Shaw will now miss Jamaica’s second group game against Panama next weekend.
Despite the late blow, the Reggae Girlz celebrated their first-ever World Cup point at full-time, having held fifth-ranked France to their first goalless draw at the tournament.
On the balance of chances, Les Bleues should have won the game, wasting numerous opportunities. Kadidiatou Diani was the key culprit, her game epitomised when a 90th-minute header pinged off the top of the crossbar.
The absence of some key players was also clear for France, with plenty for new manager Herve Renard to work on ahead of their second group game against Brazil.
How Jamaica held France in Sydney
It was a disjointed opening, with neither side able to have a sustained period on the ball amid a number of set-pieces.
But France eventually saw three huge openings in the final 10 minutes of the half. Diani was slotted in down the right of the area, but her half volley was pushed away by Becky Spencer. Renard then nodded over from close range from the corner. Just before half-time, Diani lashed an effort wide from the top of the area, mere inches away from the opener.
In between France’s chances, Shaw could have found the net when she thumped a free-kick through the wall, but it just wriggled wide of the far post as the first half ended goalless.
Les Bleues were improved after the break, but again were guilty of missing big chances – especially from Diani. She went close inside 10 minutes, meeting a lovely cross in from Eugenie Le Sommer. However, despite rising above Tiernny Wiltshire, she could not direct her header on target.
Diani went closer in the 67th minute, after an immediate impact from substitute Kenza Dali. The Aston Villa midfielder floated a lovely ball across the box for her team-mate, but, once again, Diani sent her header wide of the target.
It was a physical game in Sydney, punctuated with free-kicks and set-pieces
Le Sommer and Maelle Lakrar also went close with their chances. But France’s performance was epitomised as Diani flashed a header onto the top of the crossbar on the stroke of 90 minutes, with Le Sommer unable to smuggle home the rebound.
There was more drama to come in a frenetic end to the game in Sydney as Shaw was shown a second yellow card two minutes later. She caught Renard clumsily and after her early foul on Karchaoui, the referee had no choice but to send her off, taking the shine off a generally positive match for the Reggae Girlz.
There were gleeful celebrations at full-time from Jamaica, while Euro 2022 semi-finalists France now have work to do to reach the knockout rounds.
Why Jamaica’s first World Cup point will mean so much
Jamaica celebrated their first Women’s World Cup point at full-time
Sky Sports’ Charlotte Marsh:
“A goalless draw in a Women’s World Cup would not excite many – but for Jamaica, it is a huge moment for many reasons.
“Firstly, it is the first point they have ever earned at a World Cup. That is a watershed moment for a developing team like Jamaica and could be the spark to propel them on to greater success at this tournament and beyond.
“Managing to do so against the world’s fifth-ranked team in France adds another dimension too. This point was not against another emerging team, of which there are many at the first 32-team edition of the World Cup, but against a ‘big’ team who are aiming for the latter stages.
“Jamaica held their own and this can also give them huge encouragement going forward.
“It is even more impressive given their off-field issues heading into the World Cup. Havana Solaun’s mother set up a GoFundMe page to help Jamaica simply get to the tournament. The players have described the support from the Jamaican Football Federation as “sub-par” heading into the World Cup.
“Bob Marley’s daughter, Cedella, is also a long-time supporter and financial contributor to help the Reggae Girlz succeed on the international stage. It should be a highly-unusual practice to have private support for a national team, but it is simply indicative of the struggles women’s football continues to face.
“There has been tragedy too. Jedine Carr was killed in a shooting as she made her way to training just days before Jamaica qualified for the World Cup. Shaw proudly displayed a shirt with Carr’s name on it after they beat Haiti to reach their second successive edition of the tournament.
“Having faced adversity time and again, it is no wonder the Jamaica team celebrated the goalless draw as they did. Here is hoping more success follows for this talented group of players.”
What’s next?
Group F returns on Saturday July 29. France take on Brazil, while Jamaica face Panama.
The final group games will take place on Wednesday August 2. France will play Panama, while Jamaica finish the group with a match against Brazil.
What is the schedule?
The group stage has begun and runs over a two-week period finishing on August 3. Group winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16, which takes place from August 5 to August 8.
The quarter-finals, which will be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, are scheduled for August 11 and 12.
The first semi-final will then be played on August 15 in Auckland, with the other semi-final taking place on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will then host the final on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
