<\/p>\n
Catalina Usme scored the only goal as Colombia kept their Women\u2019s World Cup charge on track Tuesday by beating Jamaica 1-0 to secure a maiden quarter-final against European champions England.<\/p>\n
Now the Matildas will be watching anxiously as they discover their next opponents, with France facing Morocco at 9pm AEST.<\/p>\n
The South Americans failed to qualify for the 2019 tournament, but have taken huge strides since, topping their group in Australia and stunning world number two Germany along the way.<\/p>\n
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now ><\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n The 25th-ranked Colombians carried the form into a sold-out Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, grinding down a resolute and physical Jamaica side who had not conceded a goal all tournament.<\/p>\n Colombia\u2019s intense, attacking ethos under coach Nelson Abadia finally paid dividends in the 51st minute when the dangerous Usme got the breakthrough with a composed finish inside the box to unlock a previously impenetrable defence.<\/p>\n It set a cagey game alight and sent the pumping pro-Colombian crowd into deafening delirium, with the Reggae Girlz unable to find a way back.<\/p>\n Colombia will now play England in Sydney on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals after the Lionesses came through a gripping penalty shootout against Nigeria.<\/p>\n Four years after crashing out of the 2019 tournament with three heavy defeats, 43rd-ranked Jamaica, like Colombia, also came to Australia with low expectations.<\/p>\n And despite the crushing defeat, they will leave with their heads held high after clean sheets against France, Panama and Brazil.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes with Colombia\u2019s Diana Ospina having the best — and only — shot on target, but it didn\u2019t have enough power to trouble the keeper.<\/p>\n But the South Americans began to find some rhythm as their supporters urged them on and the opportunities started flowing, with Leicy Santos and Usme both going close.<\/p>\n With Colombia assuming control, Jamaica resorted to some clumsy challenges and Chantelle Swaby and Drew Spence both picked up yellow cards in a tough-tackling half.<\/p>\n The breakthrough came six minutes after the restart with teenage World Cup debutant Ana Guzman pinging a beautiful ball to Usme who took one touch before side-footing home.<\/p>\n Fired up, Jamaica almost had an immediate reply with Jody Brown\u2019s shot cleared off the line in a frantic goalmouth scramble that then saw Colombia break on a counter-attack which nearly led to Real Madrid sensation Linda Caicedo doubling the score.<\/p>\n Behind for the first time at the World Cup and facing the exit door, Jamaica abandoned their defensive posture and threw players forward frantically looking for the equaliser.<\/p>\n Spence almost grabbed it with a header that spun just wide.<\/p>\n But despite giving everything, Colombia hung on to keep their World Cup dream alive and almost scored a second at the death when Santos\u2019s header hit the post.<\/p>\n France coach Herve Renard has warned his team not to take Morocco lightly as they face one of the surprise packages of the Women\u2019s World Cup in the last 16 on Tuesday.<\/p>\n While France\u2019s objective is to win a major women\u2019s title for the first time, Morocco qualified for the last 16 at their debut World Cup against the odds and at the expense of Germany.<\/p>\n There are 67 places between the nations in the FIFA rankings as they clash in Adelaide with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.<\/p>\n The match is also a special occasion for Renard, who managed the Moroccan men\u2019s team for three years and took them to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.<\/p>\n \u201cI have marvellous memories of my time in Morocco, but let\u2019s focus on the football,\u201d Renard told reporters on the eve of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when we have a kickabout with friends we want to win, and we are here to win and qualify for the next round.<\/p>\n \u201cThe important thing is that we respect our opponents and the fact that this is a last-16 tie at a World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cMorocco are not here by chance. This is a match of the same calibre as our game against Brazil.\u201d<\/p>\n France beat Brazil 2-1 on the way to topping their group, also defeating Panama after being held by Jamaica in their opening game.<\/p>\n Morocco, meanwhile, bounced back from a 6-0 hammering by Germany to beat both South Korea and Colombia and qualify in second place in Group H behind the South Americans.<\/p>\n \u201cWe respect them but we are focused on ourselves,\u201d added Renard.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a lot of experience in this France team. I am here to guide them as well as I possibly can but I get the feeling that they would do just fine on their own if I were not here.\u201d<\/p>\n The match sees Renard pit his wits against fellow Frenchman Reynald Pedros, a former France international as a player who has been in charge of Morocco since 2020.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be just one French coach left in the quarter-finals,\u201d Renard said.<\/p>\n The winner of Tuesday evening\u2019s contest will face Australia in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n The match kicks off at 9pm AEST.<\/p>\n TEAM NEWS<\/b><\/p>\n Morocco (4-4-2): <\/b>Er-Rmichi; Redouani, Benzina, El Chad, Ait El Haj; Tagnaout, Chebbak, Nakkach, Ouzraoui; Lahmari, Jraidi<\/p>\n Follow all the action from France vs Morocco in our LIVE BLOG below! <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Can\u2019t see the blog? CLICK HERE<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n