Colombia overcame Jamaica 1-0 at AAMI Park on August 8 to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup, but neutrals among the 27,706 fans present will have been greatly disappointed by the quality of the football on display. To be perfectly blunt, this was one of the worst games of the 55 which have taken place to date in this tournament, the emphasis on physicality sad to see in a competition which has earned worldwide praise for displaying so many of the elements of the beautiful game which make it such a great spectacle when played by two teams with that objective in mind. Sadly, neither Colombia nor Jamaica came to play on this occasion, and what unfolded was a challenging, foul-laden spectacle in which stray passes were prevalent, errors were the norm and the all-round quality desired was sorely lacking. That it took 27 minutes for the first threat on goal says everything. It was akin to watching a men's match, where the emphasis is so often placed on not losing rather than on playing to win - "anti-football", as the late Johan Cruyff so aptly and accurately described it many moons ago. 'Twas Catalina Usme's cross which gave Jamaica cause for concern on this occasion, her delivery flying inches over the head of the incoming figure of Leicy Santos. Inspired by this, Usme twice more led the Colombian charge in the next three minutes, delivering a 29th minute free-kick into the goalmouth - Mayra Ramirez beat Rebecca Spencer to the ball but couldn't guide her header on target - followed by a curling cross-shot which Spencer pushed away well. Right on half-time, Jamaica nearly took the lead through friendly fire, Jorelyn Carabali hooking the ball over her own bar after Catalina Perez had hesitated to take charge of the situation in Colombia's penalty area. Dirty looks and harsh words were exchanged between the pair, but nothing came of the resulting corner. The match exploded into life in the 51st minute when "Las Cafeteras" took the lead. It hinged on a superb switch of play by fullback Ana Guzman, who pinged the ball from left to right for Usme, who was lurking behind Jamaican fullback Deneisha Blackwood. Colombia's captain promptly cut inside towards goal before curling her shot around Spencer and into the far corner of the net, to the delight of the many Colombians in the crowd. The "Reggae Girlz", having conceded their first goal of the tournament, instantly shook off their defensive-minded shackles and looked to hit back straight away - and should have done, with Jody Brown guilty of one of the misses of the tournament! Blackwood hoisted in a free-kick which Perez

flapped at. Brown was lurking behind her, but from point-blank range, headed against the upright. Colombia instantly cleared the danger, Linda Caicedo careering downfield from halfway before Spencer dashed out to block at close quarters inside the penalty area. Ramirez wasn't able to capitalise on the rebound on this occasion, while just shy of the hour mark, Perez grabbed a twenty-five yard effort from Drew Spence, who was fortunate to still be on the park after a particularly poor foul in the shadows of the half-time whistle - Australian referee Kate Jacewicz wouldn't have been out of order in issuing a red card rather than the yellow one she brandished. In the 65th minute, Santos sent Caicedo careering down the left, from where she cut inside and sent a shot sailing over the bar. This was the cue for the "Reggae Girlz" to throw everything they had at the South Americans, the kitchen sink included, in their bid to level the scores and extend their stay at these Finals. Try as they might, however, Jamaica made no headway, Colombia's defence standing firm in the face of adversity. Only once did their Caribbean opponents come close to breaching it, an 82nd minute attack which saw Spence and Brown combine for Tiffany Cameron, whose cross found Spence racing in to meet it and guide a downward header goalwards. The ball bounced narrowly past Spencer's right-hand post. Otherwise, there was more chance of a second Colombian goal on the counter-attack, to which Caicedo's talents were well-suited. She led an 85th minute raid which saw her work a one-two with Usme, only for Chantelle Swaby to slam the door shut. Seconds later, an Usme cross picked out Santos on the far post, from where she guided a header across Spencer but against the opposite upright - a real let-off for Jamaica, who threatened once more in stoppage time through their talisman, Khadija Shaw. On an occasion when she had to shine, she was well-contained, this headed chance - which was grabbed by Perez - her only opportunity to influence the outcome. That miss meant joy for Colombia, first-time FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-finalists thanks to this 1-0 win. Colombia:     Perez; C. Arias, Carabali, D. Arias (booked, 70), Guzman; Bedoya Durango, Santos (Montoya, 87), Ospina Garcia; Ramirez, Usme (Restrepo, 90), Caicedo Jamaica:     Spencer; Withshire (Matthews, 83), A. Swaby, C. Swaby (booked, 41), Blackwood; Carter (Cameron, 67), Sampson (McNamara, 79), Spence (booked, 45), Brown (Simmonds, 83); Van Zanten (Primus, 46), Shaw Referee:     Kate Jacewicz (Australia)