Brazil players in tears as crowdfunded Jamaica pull off Women’s World Cup shock
Jamaica has achieved a remarkable feat in the Women’s World Cup by eliminating previous finalists Brazil. Despite being ranked 43rd in the world, Jamaica secured a spot in the last 16 with a 0-0 draw against Brazil, finishing second in Group F behind France.
The Brazilian team, including the renowned player Marta, was left devastated by the result. Marta, considered one of the all-time greats in women’s football, was substituted with nine minutes remaining and appeared completely stunned. Many of her teammates were in tears, highlighting the emotional impact of the loss.
In contrast, the Jamaican players burst into tears of joy, while their coach rolled onto the pitch in shock. It is worth noting that Jamaica had to rely on a crowdfunding campaign to participate in the Women’s World Cup due to ongoing payment disputes with the Jamaican Football Federation. The mother of forward Havana Solaun initiated the campaign to cover the costs of travel and accommodation for the team. Although their initial target of $100,000 was not met, they received a surge of donations amounting to £15,000, which will likely continue to grow as their heartwarming story unfolds.
Jamaica’s manager, Lorne Donaldson, expressed his shock and described it as “one of the best feelings of my life” as he celebrated on the pitch. However, the victory for Jamaica was accompanied by tears of sadness from Brazil, a team that has never won the tournament despite often being considered a favorite.
Marta, who had already announced that the 2023 tournament would be her last, could not have anticipated such an early exit in the group stage. At the age of 37, she was featuring in her sixth World Cup. As she bid farewell to her adoring fans, she was visibly emotional on the bench, eventually breaking down in tears while being consoled by an opponent. Meanwhile, Jamaica savored their moment in the sun.
It is truly a remarkable story of triumph for Jamaica, a team that defied the odds and eliminated a football giant.
With all the pre-tournament positive press that surrounded the Brazilian Women’s Soccer Team going into 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, few expected them to fall in their very first match.
But that’s exactly what happened when crowdfunded Jamaica pulled off an inspiring World Cup shock, beating the mighty Brazil. The Reggae Girlz stunned the Brazilians 1-0 in Grenoble, making it the first ever victory for the Jamaican team in the World Cup. It was a gripping and hard-fought contest that was won with a second-half header from Cuba’s Havana Solaun.
The shock defeat clearly unnerved the Brazilians, with many of the players in tears at the full-time whistle. Jamaica had managed to shut their formidable opponents out completely, with Brazil’s star striker, Marta, unable to find the target. However, the performance of the Jamaican team was such that it was impossible not to sympathise with them in their sorrow.
The victory was particularly remarkable given that until recently the Reggae Girlz had not even had a professional team. The squad was only put together in 2014 and its players had never been given proper wages, conditioning, or nutrition programs until a generous crowdfunding effort earlier this year.
As a result, Jamaica will no doubt be seen as heroes by other sides who have faced similar inequalities and financial obstacles. The Reggae Girlz have provided hope to those who would otherwise not be able to compete for the Women’s World Cup title.
For Brazil, this defeat will be a harsh lesson. They will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to overcome the determined Jamaica team when they face them again in the second Group C match.