Football Women’s World Cup: Brazil Debuts With a Victory in France

By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil beat Jamaica 3-0 on Sunday in Grenoble in their Group C debut at the 2019 World Cup in France. After 15 minutes, Cristiane opened the scoring and in the second half, the striker scored twice more, including with a free kick, to complete her hat trick.

Cristiane became the oldest player to notch a hat trick in a World Cup match. Another player who also made history is a defensive midfielder, Formiga. At the age of 41, she became the only player, male or female, to play in seven World Cups.

Having accumulated nine defeats in their last nine matches, Brazil was the only team in the 24 World Cup participants that opted not to hold preparatory friendlies before their debut in France.

Marta, recovering from injury, stayed out of the match. Despite the low ebb on the Brazilian side, the Jamaicans, playing in a World Cup for the first time, offered little resistance.

With the victory, due to the brilliance of Cristiane, the Brazilian team takes the lead in Group C on goal difference. The match against Australia will take place on Thursday, June 13th, in Montpellier.