Mexico used a ball-control offense and a stingy defense to control the tempo and gain a 1-0 victory over Jamaica at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In front of a boisterous crowd of 45,311 mostly Mexican fans, Mexico fought off a furious second half comeback by Jamaica to gain their second win in Group C competition, securing them the first seed and a match versus Colombia this Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
Mexico began the game in a flurry, notching the deciding goal 37 minutes into the match when Alberto Medina broke free from the Jamaica defense to blow a shot past goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers for a 1-0 lead.
Despite 10 shots on goal, Jamaica failed to convert before heading into the locker room at halftime.
Eight minutes into the second half, Jamaica avoided a 2-0 deficit when Sawyers dove to deflect a Jared Borgetti crossing pass less than 10 yards in front of the goal. At the 55th minute, there was a slight scare when Hector Altamirano's free kick from 20 yards out in front of the Jamaica goal ricocheted off the head of Claude Davis, knocking him to the ground for several minutes before he returned to action.
Mexico took hold of the momentum minutes later, when the reggae boyz lost Omar Daley for the remainder of the game after receiving his second yellow card.
Jamaica, with one loss, one win and one tie in Group C play, earned the third seed and will face the United States on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in the quarterfinals of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Miller Lite Man of the Match: Alberto Medina (Mexico)
MEXICO - JAMAICA 1:0 (1:0)
MEX - Alberto Medina (Luis Perez) 19'
Mexico: 1-Moises Muñoz, 2-Francisco Rodríguez, 3-Carlos Arnaldo Salcido, 4-Ricardo Osorio, 7-Antonio Naelson (17-Rafael Marquez Lugo 69') 9-Jared Borgetti, 14-Gonzalo Pineda, 19-Alberto Medina (5-Israel Lopez 58'), 21-Gerardo Galindo, 22-Hector Altamirano, 23-Luis Ernesto Perez (10-Omar Bravo 82')
TD: Ricardo Lavolpe (ARG)
Jamaica: 1-Shawn Sawyers, 3-Damion Stewart, 4-Jermaine Taylor, 9-Andrew Williams, 16-Omar Daley, 17-Jermaine Hue, 18-Khari Stephenson, 19-Garfield Reid, 20-Damani Ralph(10-Ricardo Fuller 60'), 23-Teafore Bennett (12-Jermaine Johnson 60') 25-Claude Davis
TD: Wendell Downswell (JAM)
Booked /Amonestado:
JAM - Omar Daley 43'
MEX - Jared Borgetti 63'
JAM - Jermaine Taylor 66'
JAM - Omar Daley 71'
Sent off / Expulsado:
JAM - Omar Daley 71'
R: Walter QUESADA (CRC)
A1: Modesto HIERREZUELO (CUB)
A2: Carlos PASTRANA (HON)
FO: Oscar RUIZ (COL)
