Christopher Benítez Cuartas

The Mexican national team overcame their Jamaican counterparts 1–0 in a drawn-out technical match in Houston on Saturday night to start their campaign in Copa América 2024’s Group B. Unusual for a Mexico game in Texas, the crowd numbered at 50,663 in a stadium that could fit 72,220.

Mexico started with its signature air play and long passes. When these came to long shots or crosses by forward Julián Quiñones in the opening minutes, they were easily deflected by the Jamaican defense. This also meant two other things: 1. It took Mexico longer than usual to score, given how much Jamaica adhered to shapeshifting on the field and 2. Mexico’s strategy laid wide open: Orbelín Pineda advanced by the left and Quiñones by he right backed by Luis Chávez.

Jamaica’s teamwork and slow, even spreading as needed could easily predict the moves. If there were to be leaders in the early stage of the game for The Reggae Boyz they were Shamar Nicholson and Dexter Lembikisa, who remained at opposite ends of the formation. By minute 15, however, Jamaica was contained as the defense closed in on them and temporarily abandoned air play.

Jamaica’s offense consisted of Nicholson and Michael Antonio of West Ham taking it exclusively on the right, almost as if mimicking Quiñones and the Mexicans. This ensured Mexico’s keeper Julio José González stayed sharp. This arrangement came under threat when Nicholson was knocked down in a clash with defender Cesar Montés at minute 20.

Likewise, Antonio’s Mexican club teammate and national team captain Edson Álvarez tripped and fell seven minutes later, forcing him off the field, throwing off any plan of experience coach Jaime Lozano had in mind. From minute 30 onwards, El Tri played it safe with its defense and midfield in charge, while Jamaica, mostly through Antonio, was able to snatch possession occasionally and shoot from far in the right. These were blocked constantly by González; not bad considering the absence of usual big-tournament keeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa.

During the last five minutes of regulation, Mexico looked unsure, with plenty of individual work by Pineda, Montés. Regardless, Jamaica was once again contained by the same strategy as before. At minute 48, Quiñones hit Lembikisa on the neck, getting him close to leaving the field. Halftime came around scoreless

By now, Chavez, Quinones and Luís Romo (Álvarez’s replacement) had a good understanding of how to press forward, but so did Nicholson, Antonio, and Demarai Grey. Antonio scored at minute 49 through a header after Lembikisa crossed one of his ealier deflected attempts. It eventually got annulled by the Video Assisted Referee (VAR), who declared it to be offsides. Afterwards the Jamaican offense pushed on for some minutes afterwards, taking advantage Mexican clustering. It was around here — at around minute 55 — that Jamaican individual defense was now starting to show, with Ethan Pinnock, Di’Shon Bernard, and Joel Latibeaudiere all tackling and taking the ball back.

Mexico soon alternated the sides their shots were coming from, leaving it the hands of Quiñones, Romo, and Chavez (again). It seemed as if neither teams wanted to switch their offense around. Surprisingly, Santi Gimenez was not very visible despite his record with Mexico and the fact he was designated the lead forward in the initial roster. He would be subbed out for Guillermo Martínez in minute 68.

That same minute, Gerardo Arteaga scored with a volley from the center left assisted by Romo from a right cross.

And this being Texas… the crowd went wild.

The last twenty minutes of the game were largely uneventful. Moderate advances from both sides dominated, with the occasional Quiñones long shot, which he wouldn’t give up on despite everyone else’s plans. By the last ten, there were efforts from the Jamaican subs, Damien Lowe and Kaheim Dixon to push on the sides by minute 85 and later on the front, backed by Renaldo Cephas and Lembikisa. However, that wasn’t able to stop El Tri as as the match drew to a 1–0 close.

Mexico will seek to cinch first place against Venezuela on Wednesday, June 26 in Inglewood, Calif. at 6 p.m. local time. Jamaica’s next match will be against Ecuador in Las Vegas that same day at 3 p.m.