France's hopes of a winning start to their Women's World Cup campaign have been thwarted by a hardworking Jamaican side in a 0-0 draw in the opening Group F clash at Sydney Football Stadium.
Semi-finalists at last year's European Championship, the French were unable to get their fluent passing game going, as the Jamaicans hassled and harried them to earn their first World Cup point, after three defeats in their 2019 debut.
Forward Kadidiatou Diani almost clinched the winner for France in the 90th minute, but her powerful header hit the bar, then the post, before bouncing out to the delight of the Jamaicans in the crowd of nearly 40,000.
Fifth-ranked France take on Brazil in the match that is expected to decide Group F at Brisbane on Saturday, while Jamaica will face Panama at Perth later the same day, without top striker Khadija Shaw, who was dismissed in stoppage time.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands kicked off their Group E campaign with a 1-0 win over World Cup debutants Portugal at Dunedin Stadium, thanks to a first-half goal from Stefanie Van der Gragt that was awarded on a video review.
The Dutch edged Portugal 3-2 a year ago in the European Championship group stage, but this time, the Iberian side were no match for the team in their trademark orange and did not have a shot on target until the 82nd minute.
The Dutch scored in the 13th minute from a corner, when Van der Gragt rose above the defence at the far post to head home, but the flag went up for offside, when the lineswoman deemed Jill Roord had obstructed the goalkeeper.
However, the offside decision for interfering with play was overturned on a video review by the referee, after she watched a replay on the monitor, and the goal stood, sparking a second celebration from the Dutch team.
"We celebrated the goal and then we saw the assistant referee, so we had to wait for the final decision," said Van der Gragt, she was named the Player of the Match.
"It's always difficult to celebrate a second time, but it was good. I'm really happy that we won, that was the most important thing today."
Roord nearly made it 2-0 minutes later, when she had a free header in the six-yard box, but the unmarked midfielder headed over the bar to hand Portugal a lifeline.
Portugal failed to muster a shot on goal in the first half, while thwarting waves of attacks from the Dutch at the other end.
Reuters
