Brazil have been knocked out of the ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup in the group stages in one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition.
The tournament icons were held to a 0-0 draw against Jamaica – which was not good enough to see them through to the round of 16.
The South American Champions have only won one of their group stage matches, and it is the last time that Brazilian legend Marta will play in a World Cup.
Needing a point to go through, the Reggae Girlz barely threatened to score but were tight in defence, repelling wave after wave of Brazilian attacks in a frenetic atmosphere at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Brazil Coach, Pia Sundhage, started Marta on the field for the first time in her sixth World Cup but the iconic forward bowed out in disappointment.
Her touch was missing early. She fired a shot into a defender in the fourth minute and then wasted another chance seven minutes later with a heavy touch, leaving an unmarked Ary Borges fuming at the far post.
Running towards goal, Borges finally had her chance when Luana found her with a cross but the playmaker steered her header well wide in the 24th minute.
Borges then set Tamires up with a delightful cross into the inside-left channel late in the half but she thumped a volley straight at goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
Jamaica rode their luck to halftime and Brazil’s desperation grew after the break as their attacks came to nothing.
Jamaicans hearts were in mouths in the 79th minute when defender Allyson Swaby nearly put the ball into her own net with a terrible attempted clearance that forced Spencer into a fine save at the far post.
