Defender Allyson Swaby scored in the 56th minute, and Jamaica hung on to edge Panama 1-0 on Saturday for its first-ever win at the Women's World Cup.
Swaby, who grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and played for Boston College, knocked in a header off Trudi Carter's corner kick to clinch a win that moved the Jamaicans into a surprising share of top spot in Group F with France.
The Reggae Girlz were without captain and leading scorer Khadija Shaw, who received a red card in second-half stoppage time of the team's opening 0-0 draw against France.
Born to a Jamaican father, Swaby and her younger sister Chantelle are both starting in their second Women's World Cup.
Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer made four saves in the game, which was the first group-stage meeting between two CONCACAF teams.
Panama’s Las Canaleras had one final chance to equalize in the dying seconds off a Katherine Castillo corner. The kick traveled to just outside the box, but Cox's bicycle attempt wasn't enough to score.
With its historic win, No. 43-ranked Jamaica now sits atop the Group F standings with No. 5 France. They need only a draw against No. 8 Brazil in their last group game to advance, although a loss would likely eliminate them from the tournament.
As remarkable as Jamaica's appearance in the knockout round would be, Brazil's absence would be even more shocking. The Brazilians opened with a 4-0 win over Panama but lost 2-1 earlier Saturday to France.
"If you asked me before the World Cup that we have one game to decide our fate — the last game — I would have said 'Yes, give it to us,'" Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson said, looking ahead to a game against Brazil.
