The Mexican and Jamaican teams tied without goals at the end of the second day of Group C of the fourteenth edition of the Gold Cup, a result that guarantees them the lead with the same four points.
The duel at Denver’s Sports Authority Field between the two finalists of the previous edition of the Gold Cup showed offensive game during the 94 minutes but lack of aim to materialize in front of both goals.
From the stands, most of the 50,000 supporters fired boos at the Tri players, whose lineup showed four changes from the one they won in their 3-1 debut at El Salvador.
The positive notes for Mexico the debut in the selection of the young César Montes, of 20 years, and Martín Barragán, that left in the second part.
Mexico dominated the ball from the start but the first clear goal did not arrive until the 23rd minute when Houston Dynamo striker Erick Torres headed a cross from the left that sent the defender Jesús Gallardo but the ball hit The base of the right post of the Jamaican frame.
In the 39th minute the second chance of Mexico was given with a header from the corner, Jesús Molina, who beat Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake, who came out false, and when the ball sneaked, the defender’s head emerged Jermaine Taylor to send him off the field again.
That was all that gave the first part, with a Mexico, which presented four changes in relation to the previous game against El Salvador, determined to get the victory, while Jamaica clearly bet the tie and gave up the attack.
But the Reggae Boys showed a great physical power, which made them always exceed the players of Mexico, who had the last opportunity to open the scoring in the first part with the powerful shot that went outside the right defender Edson Álvarez.
The second half was simply to forget, without Mexico, who also had less possession of the ball, could do a shot that would put some danger for goalkeeper Blake.
Mexico lost in the complete lack of football ideas without having a reference player in the middle of the field that could direct their attack, while Elías Hernández, who in the first half had been the best also lost in the mediocrity of the Rest of his companions.
Torres, beyond the head shot to the post, went completely unnoticed the rest of the game and was never the referent that Mexico needed in the attack to break the defensive barrier of Jamaica.
Before the revenge duel between Mexico and Jamaica, El Salvador easily beat Curacao 2-0 to get their first three points and continue with chances of being in the quarterfinals.
Mexico will play their last Group C game against Curacao, who is still unbeaten, and is eliminated, while Jamaica will face El Salvador. Both matches will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
– Data sheet:
0. Mexico: Moisés Muñoz; Edson Álvarez, Hedgardo Marín, Hugo Ayala, Edgardo Marín, Jesús Gallardo; Jesús Dueñas (m.67, Martín Barragan), Jesus Molina, Rodolfo Pizarro (m.46, César Montes); Elías Hernández (m.76, Erick Gutiérrez), Erick Torres and Orbelín Pineda.
Selector: Luis Paez.
0. Jamaica: Andre Blake; Powell Alvas, Damion Lowe, Jermaine Taylor, Kemar Lawrence; Oniel Fisher, Kevon Lambert, Je Vaughn Watson, Michael Binns (m.75, Ewan Grandison); Darren Mattocks (m.94, Jermaine Johnson) and Cory Burke (m.88, Owayne Gordon).
Selector: Theodore Whitmore.
Referee: Costa Rican Ricardo Montero admonished Kevon Lambert, Andre Blake and Michael Binns.
Incidents: Matchday two of Group C played at Sports Authority Field, Denver (Colorado) before 50,000 spectators.
