09 August,2023 07:14 AM IST | Melbourne | AFP
Colombia’s Catalina Usme celebrates scoring against Jamaica in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Nelson Abadia said his Colombia team were "playing for all the Americas" after a 1-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday set up a Women's World Cup quarter-final clash with European champions England.
Colombia failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup but topped their group in Australia, stunning Germany along the way and are now into the last eight for the first time.
In front of a raucous crowd in Melbourne, the 25th-ranked South Americans ground down a resolute and physical Jamaica side who had not conceded a goal all tournament. Colombia's intense, attacking ethos under Abadia finally paid dividends in the 51st minute when captain Catalina Usme got the breakthrough with a composed finish inside the box to unlock a previously impenetrable defence.
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It set a cagey game alight and sent the pumping pro-Colombian crowd into deafening delirium. Colombia will now play England in Sydney on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals. "Our defence was brilliant, they have been evolving over the games, and of course, we also had brilliant attackers," said the coach Abadia. "We analysed how this game would be and thank God we had a good performance."
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With all other teams from North and South America now out, Abadia added: "There is immense pride. Home pride and a regional pride because we know we are worthy representatives of not just Colombia, but South America. Now we are playing for all of the Americas because our national team is representing the whole continent."
In front of riotous fans who booed whenever Jamaica touched the ball, both sides pressed early in a stop-start opening that saw several players go down under heavy challenges.
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