Gerardo Arteaga found the back of the net from the periphery of the penalty area in the 69th minute, leading Mexico to a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in their Copa America opener on Saturday night.
Participating as a guest in South America’s prestigious tournament for the eleventh time, Mexico controlled the game and capitalized on their seventeenth shot.
A feeble headed clearance by Joel Latibeaudiere fell to Luis Romo, who deftly controlled the ball with his thigh and delivered a pass to Arteaga. With his left foot, Arteaga unleashed a shot that eluded goalkeeper Jahmali Waite and nestled inside the far post, marking his second goal in 25 international appearances.
“Our intention was to give an opportunity to some players who were previously called up but didn’t have much playing time,” stated Mexico coach Jaime Lozano through an interpreter. “Today was Arteaga’s moment, but we have a group of other players who are gaining valuable experience at the highest level. That was our objective when we selected the squad.”
In the 50th minute, Michail Antonio seemed to give Jamaica the lead with a close-range header, but the goal was disallowed after a video review determined he was offside.
“It was a marginal offside,” remarked Jamaica coach Heimir Hallgrímsson. “I’ve reviewed it, and it was the correct decision.”
Mexico’s captain, Edson Álvarez, had to leave the game in the 30th minute due to a left hamstring injury. He was replaced by Romo.
According to Lozano, they will wait for Edson’s assessment and take some images to determine the extent of the injury. They don’t want to take any risks as he felt something in his leg.
Lozano mentioned that it would take a couple of days before they have a clear understanding of how severe the injury is.
He also expressed his admiration for the team’s unity and resilience, despite the setback of losing their captain. Although they suffered more than necessary, they responded quickly.
Lozano stated that the turf did not contribute to the outcome of the game.
In the other Group B match, Venezuela defeated Ecuador 2-1. Mexico will play against Venezuela in Inglewood, California on Wednesday, while Jamaica will face Ecuador in Las Vegas. The group stage will conclude on June 30, with Mexico playing against Ecuador in Glendale, Arizona, and Jamaica facing Venezuela in Austin, Texas.
El Tri reached the semifinals in 1997, 1999, and 2007. The Reggae Boyz have had a tough time in the tournament, with two consecutive group-stage eliminations in 2015 and 2016.
Hallgrímsson expressed his pride in the players’ determination and perseverance, stating that they fought until the very end.
