A first-half goal by Hirving Lozano was all defending champion Mexico needed Monday to knock off Canada 2-0 in the teams’ second outing of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
A stoppage-time strike by Diego Ivan Pineda Juarez put the icing on the cake as Mexico took control of Group B with six points and 11 goals from their two games following a dominating 9-1 win Saturday over Cuba.
Canada’s loss comes following their opening 3-1 win Saturday over Haiti.
A largely dominating first half by Mexico paid off in the 30th minute when Lozano took a long ball from midfield to the right corner of the penalty area, fought off one defender to corral the pass, maneuvered around another Canadian in the box before firing left-footed past goalkeeper Nolan Wirth.
Mexico nearly struck again three minutes later when Alejandro Diaz Liceaga got his head on a cross right in front of goal that forced Wirth to parry over the bar.
Mexico fired off nine shots in the first half to Canada’s four. Mexico and FC Dallas goalkeeper Jose Gonzalez was rarely threatened.
But Canada, who featured six MLS players in their starting XI, increased pressure offensively as the game progressed.
Canada’s best chance of the first half came in the 43rd minute when a nice build up led to a right-footed blast by Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Kianz Froese from just outside the box that sailed just wide to the right.
In the 64th minute, Michael Petrasso took a through ball on a counter attack for a clean look on goal, but his shot rolled just wide.
Mexico nearly doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Jose David Ramirez found open space on the right corner and sent a right-footed shot whistling toward goal, but Wirth was able to nick if over the bar for a corner kick.
With Canada throwing numbers forward, Mexico put the game away in stoppage time on a counter attack when Juarez took a short cross in front of goal for an easy finish.
Mexico finished with 17 shots to Canada’s six.
Canada return to action Thursday against El Salvador, whole Mexico face Honduras on the same day.
