Jamaica make history; France pip Brazil in classic; Sweden smash Italy | OneFootball

There were three Women’s World Cup games on Saturday, here’s what happened.

Jamaica claim first ever WWC win

Scorers: Swaby 56′

Jamaica’s first ever win at a Women’s World Cup condemned Panama to an exit in Perth.

Without star striker Khadija Shaw after her late red card against France, Jamaica were impressive in the must-win match.

Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey kept the scores level in the first half, superbly denying Drew Spence, who went close twice, and Vyan Sampson, who had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes.

The Jamaican dominance told eventually, though, and Allyson Swaby gave the Reggae Girlz’  their first ever lead in a Women’s World Cup game, heading home from a corner and sparking major celebrations as she raced to the bench to join the rest of the Jamaica squad.

Spence’s threat from range was present again late on, with a penalty awarded as Wendy Natis blocked a goalbound effort, only for the decision to be overturned upon review.

The one-goal win leaves Jamaica level on points with Brazil before the sides face each other in their final group stage match next week.

France and Brazil offer end-to-end entertainment

Scorers: Le Sommer 17′, Renard 83′; Debinha 58′

France leapfrogged Brazil in Group F as the teams delivered a thrilling 90 minutes of entertaining football on Saturday.

Having drawn their opener with Jamaica, the French flew out of the blocks in Brisbane, quickly pinning Brazil back in their own half. By the time Eugénie Le Sommer’s 90th goal at international level put France ahead, the South American champions could have no complaints. The Lyon forward expertly steered a header home from close range.

France didn’t take their foot off the gas there and, though Debinha stepped up her efforts to make something happen, the next best chance of the first half fell to France’s Grace Geyoro, who couldn’t convert.

Brazil managed to play a lot higher upfield early on in the second half and have finally played through the French backline, with Debinha — their brightest spark throughout — getting on the end of a fine passing move to slide home an equaliser.

The next big chance of the game fell to Geyoro again but she was denied by a strong save from Letícia Izidoro.

The game continued in breathtaking end-to-end fashion as both sides looked to take the lead but it was ultimately a set-piece that decided things, with France finding talismanic defender Wendie Renard free at the back post to bounce a header back across goal and in.

Both teams remain on track to qualify

Dominant Sweden sail through

Scorers: Ilestedt 39′, 50′, Rolfö 44′, Blackstenius 45+1′, Blomqvist 90+5′

Italy had been the better side for much of the first half on Saturday but three goals in the space of six minutes saw Sweden catapulted into an unassailable lead.

The first two came from corners, with Amanda Ilestedt rising highest to nod home the opener minutes before the ball fell to Fridolina Rolfö at the back post, where she bundled it over the line to double the lead.

If Italy felt those goals — five minutes apart — came quickly, they were in for a shock as it took just two more minutes for the third to arrive. A fine move ended with Stina Blackstenius alone with a gaping goal and she made no mistake.

Another corner brought another Ilestedt goal shortly after the break, with the centre-back heading home again to take her tally for the tournament to three, level with Brazil’s Ary Borges as top scorer.

A fifth was added by Rebecka Blomqvist in added time as the forward superbly controlled a long ball forward and beat her marker before running through on goal from the halfway line and finishing cooly one-on-one.

Sweden have now all but won the group, holding a three-point advantage over Italy and a goal difference eight better. But the Azzurre still sit second and in control of their own destiny with a game against South Africa remaining.