- The Mexican team created chances and controlled the possession in the second half.
- Reggae Boyz fought to the end in a hard-fought duel.
Highlights
- El Tri lost captain Edson Álvarez to injury during the first half at NRG Stadium.
- Michail Antonio would have scored Jamaica's first goal in a CONMEBOL Copa América™, but VAR corrected the play for offside.
- Gerardo Arteaga managed to beat goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who put in a great performance on the night in Houston.
Match summary
The ball rolled at nightfall in Houston, Texas, partially mitigating the intense heat of the American summer. On the pitch, the teams showed a football of intensity, pressing under pressure and quick exchanges of passes. On one side, Mexico found spaces to enter the opponent's area, on the other, Jamaica tried to arrive at speed, betting on the physical power of Michail Antonio.
On the pitch, scoring chances were scarce, with both teams shooting mainly from outside the box. When they stepped closer to the goal, El Tri was dangerous: Chávez had a shot saved by Waite in the 4th minute and, with one of the best of opportunities, Santi Giménez missed a free header in the 15th minute. The Reggae Boyz responded with Nicholson, deflecting a header wide from a free-kick.
In the final third of the first half, the Mexicans had some unwelcome news: captain Edson Álvarez asked to be substituted with an injury, a considerable loss that could extend into the rest of the tournament. In response, Mexico improved their marking and finished the first half with good chances: first, Romo shot from the edge of the area, to the right of the goal; then, Montes rose highest from a corner and headed the ball past Waite.
With their energy levels restored, the Jamaican team picked up the pace on the way back from the break and came close to making history: after Palmer shot at González's first save, Michail Antonio appeared in the 50th minute to finish the cross to score the country's first goal in their tournament appearances. Or rather, he would score, since the review of the play by VAR pointed out an offside in the play.
The opponent's action put Mexico back in control of the game, forcing goalkeeper Waite to keep the score at zero on at least two dangerous shots, from Giménez and Chávez. It was only won in the 69th minute, when Romo recovered the ball on the edge of the opponent's area and passed to Arteaga to shoot hard and rock the Jamaican net.
From then on, El Tri began to manage the result in their favor against a fierce but worn out Jamaica. Hallgrímsson's team fought until the end and tried to find the equalizer on the basis of insistence, but without results.
What's next?
Mexico travels to Inglewood, CA, where it faces Venezuela on June 26 in the second round of Group B at Sofi Stadium. El Tri has the same 3 points as Vinotinto at the end of this first matchday.
Jamaica, on the other hand, visits Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, for its fixture against Ecuador on the same day. Both teams will go in search of a positive result for the dream of qualifying for the final stages of the nations tournament.
Lineups & Info
- Mexico: Júlio González; Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Gerardo Arteaga; Edson Álvarez, Luis Chávez, Uriel Antuna, Orbelín Pineda, Julián Quiñones; Santiago Giménez.
- Substitutes used: Luis Romo, Carlos Rodríguez, Guillermo Martínez, Roberto Alvarado, Erick Sánchez.
- Cards: none.
- Head Coach: Jaime Lozano.
- Jamaica: Jahmali Waite; Di’Shon Bernard, Joel Latibeaudiere, Ethan Pinnock; Dexter Lembikisa, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Kasey Palmer, Greg Leigh; Shamar Nicholson, Demarai Gray, Michail Antonio.
- Substitutes used: Damion Lowe, Michael Hector, Renaldo Cephas, Kaheim Dixon.
- Cards: none.
- Head Coach: Heimir Hallgrímsson.
- Superior Player of the Match Michelob ULTRA: Gerardo Arteaga (Mexico).
- Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States).
