Group C: ITALY 0-1 BRAZIL
Brazilian Marta became the World Cup’s record goal scorer when she converted a 73rd minute penalty against Italy. It takes her tally to 17 goals over 5 tournaments.
Seleção held on to win a feisty encounter, but Italy take top spot in Group C on goal difference from Australia who thrashed Jamaica. Brazil go through to the round of sixteen as the best third place side.
Both sides had opportunities to score in the first period. For Brazil, Debinha cleverly flicked Marta’s corner goal bound but Laura Giuliani made a fine reaction stop. Barbara Bonansea responded with a fine volley at close range that Barbara was perfectly positioned to parry.
As the game unfolded le Azzurre seemed content to sit behind the ball and grind out a draw. This enabled Brazil to push on and apply more pressure. Andressinha’s swirling free kick hit the bar with Guiliana beaten. Kathellen then headed wide from a set piece.
But the key moment arrived after Debinha burst into the box and was bundled over by Elena Linari. It looked like a pretty straightforward shoulder barge but the referee awarded a spot kick and Marta stepped up to make World Cup History.
JAMAICA 1-4 AUSTRALIA
Sam Kerr emphatically put herself forward in the race for the Golden Boot scoring four times against Jamaica to join USA striker Alex Morgan on five goals for the tournament.
The Reggae Girlz made a terrific battle of a match that on paper looked incredibly tough for them. They were founding wanting defensively, but Havana Solaun got the goal that their endeavour deserved rounding Lydia Williams after a great through ball from Khadija Shaw.
The Matildas went ahead on 11 minutes when Kerr headed in Emily Gielnik’s cross from the left. Australia had clearly set out to benefit tactically from crosses into the box and Kerr scored again just before the break, heading in right midfielder Katrina Gorry’s centre.
Jamaica’s moment came on 49 minutes. Shaw was tenacious in midfield, played in Solaun and she kept her cool to slot for a little bit of Caribbean sporting history. It prompted the Reggae Girlz’ best spell of the match and Shaw seemed to be waging a one-woman war on the Australian defence, creating and then spurning three chances in as many minutes to equalize.
Kerr showed everyone how it was done on 69 minutes, wrapping up her hat-trick after substitute Hayley Raso threaded a path through the Jamaican defence and crossed from the by-line.
And with Jamaica’s resistance finally broken, Kerr added insult to injury robbing keeper Nicole McClure after she mis-controlled in the six-yard box.
The Matildas progress to the round of sixteen behind Italy on goal difference, but ahead of Brazil by virtue of goals scored.
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