Australia defeated Jamaica 4-1 in the final Group C fixture, and ensured its entry to the round of 16. Sam Kerr struck as many as four girls as the Matildas finished second in its Group, and will be up against Norway. Here's how the action unfolded:
- That is all from my side, this is Manasi Pathak signing off. Thanks for joining us, see you later!
Group C standings: 1) Italy 2) Australia 3) Brazil 4) Jamaica
- On the other hand, although Jamaica couldn't pull off a result and won't make it to the next round, Solaun's strike will be cherished for a long, long time. History was made for Jamaica tonight. Well done, Reggae Girlz!
- Sam Kerr was undoubtedly Australia's saviour of the day- as she scored four goals - as if registering Australia's first-ever hat-trick at the World Cup Finals wasn't enough! With this, Australia will face Norway in round of 16.
FULL TIME: JAMAICA 1-4 AUSTRALIA. That's it. There goes the whistle. Australia pull off a win, and also ensure that the four goals are enough to send them up to the second spot in Group C, above Brazil.
85' GOOD CHANCE FOR SHAW! She finally gets her first shot on target in the game as she curls her effort on goal from the edge of the area. It's dipping, but it's straight at Williams who holds onto it well.
83' GOAL! JAMAICA 1-4 AUSTRALIA. SAM KERR MAKES IT FOUR. A goof-up from McClure sees Kerr pounce on the loose ball and find the fourth of the night. This brings Australia back in the second spot in Group C! THE DRAMA IS UNREAL.
76' News incoming from the other match in Group C is that Brazil has the lead as Marta scores from the spot. As things stand- Brazil is second owing to a better goal difference (+3) than Australia (+2).
69' GOAL! JAMAICA 1-3 AUSTRALIA. Oh no, the crowd's hopes are (almost) crushed as Australia nets its third. Sam Kerr is on the scoresheet again, and it's a hat-trick for Kerr!
67' CHANCE! Jamaica's confidence has increased multifold since Solaun's goal. Jamaica has a free-kick and Campbell swings a good cross into the box. Australia don't get it clear and the ball bounces into Grey's path off Kennedy. The forward wants too many touches though and ends up tripping over the ball before she can get a shot away. The crowd is roaring for a Jamaican equaliser! It's all happening here.
62' CHANCE! SHAW COMES CLOSE AGAIN! She times her run perfectly to stay onside and get in behind the Australian defence. She takes a touch before hitting her shot low, aiming for the far bottom corner, but her effort is just wide of the post.
55' It's end-to-end at the minute as Australia goes up the other end now. Roestbakken switches play to De Vanna on the edge of the box and she tries to curl an effort towards goal, but Al Swaby makes a good block.
51' MATTHEWS COMES CLOSE! Jamaica want another goal now and they almost get one as Matthews picks up the ball and hit her shot on target on the turn. Williams makes a good save to deny her and put it behind.
49' GOAL! JAMAICA 1-2 AUSTRALIA. Jamaica has registered its first World Cup goal! What a moment for the Reggae Girlz, who have tackled obstacles to even make it to this big stage in France. Havana Solaun is the name on every Jamaican fan's lips, for she has added her name on the scoresheet, and also carved her name into the history books!
46' Second half kicks off.
- Twelve teams have already booked their places in the Women's World Cup Round of 16. As the tournament heads into the last leg of the group stage, here's what the knockout qualification game looks like. READ - Rule of thirds: which are the best-placed third teams in the Women's World Cup?
- While Australia is enjoying a two-goal lead, there has happened so far to break the deadlock in Brazil's match against Italy. So, as things stand, Australia is above Brazil in the table standings.
HALF TIME: JAMAICA 0-2 AUSTRALIA- Sam Kerr's double headers (11' and 42') ensures that the Aussies walk off at the break with happy faces. The skipper, with the two goals, has taken her tally of international goals to 34.
42' GOAL! JAMAICA 0-2 AUSTRALIA. Kerr adds another as she yet again does what she does best- send it into the net with a textbook header. The Australian skipper was left unmarked in the box, and the Reggae Girlz pay for it.
39' WIDE! Shaw wins the first corner for Jamaica. Grey stands up for it and plays it for Shaw, who heads it just wide of the post. That was good!
37' Carpenter nearly fails to clear the ball as Shaw is ready to pounce on it. To Carpenter's relief, the danger is avoided as she plays it back to the Australian custodian. Australia still leads 1-0, thanks to Kerr's header.
32' Cameron keeps her calm and makes her way through the opposition's half- she tries to play the ball back for a teammate but with no one around, the Matildas win possession of the ball.
30' Matthews makes her way into the attacking half with a run through the left wing. The Australian defence tracks back to keep an eye on the onrushing Matthews, but the Jamaican unfortunately slips just as she enters the box.
26' Kerr fires a header from inside the box after Australian midfielders combine well. Her header is just kept out by McClure, who rises high and gets her fingers to it. Australia gets a corner, but nothing comes off it.
22' De Vanna gets the ball on the edge of the box, towards the left-side. As she controls the ball and aims to enter the box, Grey clears it the ball.
19' GOOD CHANCE FOR KERR! Gielnik gets ahead of her defender and puts a good cross into the box from the right wing. Kerr once again rises highest in the middle to get on the end of it, but this time, her header is just wide of the far post.
18' Gielnik finds Carpenter on the right wing who rushes her way into the box but is marked by the Jamaican defenders who clear the ball.
16' Shaw sprints through the right flank before she sends the ball into the box, but sees it being cleared by an alert Kennedy.
11' GOAL! JAMAICA 0-1 AUSTRALIA. Sam Kerr puts the Matildas ahead as she heads home a cross from Gielnik. Kerr beat C Swaby at the near post to connect with the cross, and powerfully put it into the back of the net.
9' Another good throughball is played up to Grey in the box and she keeps it well under pressure from Roestbakken. She takes it to the byline before putting a cross into the six-yard box, but it's straight into Williams' gloves.
8' Jamaican midfield does well to win the ball back from the Matildas and trigger attack. The ball is played for Grey on the right channel, whose long ball is mistimed and an onrushing Shaw can't get to it.
6' A Jamaican defender delivers a poor clearance of the ball, which allows Australia to attack. Sam Kerr is fed with the ball and she pulls off an attempt, but it is safely collected by McClure between the sticks.
4' Logarzo fires a cross from the right wing which forces the Jamaican goalkeeper McClure come off her line to avert the danger.
1' KICK OFF. Here we go.
- Mathematically, a point will be enough for the Australian team to proceed, but third-place would mean being put against a tougher opposition. Thus, a win, which would grant three points and make it the table topper, would be Sam Kerr and co's aim today.
- A win for Jamaica will change the picture in Group C, however Australia cannot afford losing as that will raise doubts over its progress to the knockout. Action awaits! Kick off in 20 minutes.
- As things stand, Italy leads Group C with two wins in as many matches. Brazil is placed second with three points in its kitty, while Australia sits third. The Matildas are third on account of a lower goal difference (0) as compared to Brazil's (+2).
- Jamaica comes into this fixture on the back of a 0-5 loss against Italy, who has qualified for the round of 16. On the other hand, Australia will be in high spirits in this match, coming on the back of a 3-2 win against Brazil in its last outing.
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