Mexico runs over Jamaica in Copa Oro semifinals
This Wednesday, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas saw the best game by El Tri since the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Jamaica came up as the strongest team of the tournament, with respect to the teams and leagues they play in. Six players in their roster are currently in Premier League teams: Michail Antonio (West Ham), Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) ,Demarai Gray –who won the famed 2016 EPL with Leicester– (Everton), and their star Leon Bailey (Aston Villa). Additionally, they also have Shamar Nicholson, who plays in Spartak Moscow and youngsters such as Di’Shon Bernard, who belongs to Manchester United but is loaned out.
This is no coincidence, the Jamaican Football Federation has exhaustively tried to convince as many English-born players who are eligible to play with Jamaica as possible to do so. In some cases such as with Antonio and Gray, they were even called up by England’s national team but didn’t make their debut with the senior team.
With this in mind, many anticipated this to be the hardest match for Mexico in the Copa Oro, with some pundits even anticipating a loss for Lozano’s team. The game however was nothing further from the truth, as Mexico hit the Reggae Boyz early in the game with a great play that began with a long pass from Romo to Gallardo on the left, the left back/winger crossed the ball rather poorly, but it deflected to Henry Martin, who was right in the middle of the box, he got the ball and shot it into the net. Another early goal for Lozano’s Mexico, who from this point on would take control of the game.
After the goal, Mexico didn’t seem desperate to go on the attack, instead covering their spaces in the defence appropriately and not allowing Jamaica’s stars to get the ball in a comfortable position. At the 30’, Luis Chavez took a free kick, emulating that superb goal he scored against Saudi Arabia in the last World Cup, and once again put the ball right into the top-right corner, having previously gone past the defense wall with a curve à la Roberto Carlos against France. An incredible goal.
After the goal, Mexico was the complete master of the game. The second half was also correctly controlled by El Tri with most of Jamaica’s attempts coming in with set pieces, but without creating real troubles for Mexico. The closest attempt for the Caribbean team came in at the 74’, when Luis Romo lost the ball in the midfield and allowed Jamaica to create a play that reached Ochoa, but without major concerns.
At stoppage time and just when it seemed that Mexico bagged a comfortable 2-0 victory against the toughest rival yet, Diego Lainez clumsily dribbled past one defender and lobbed a beautiful pass to Gallardo, he skillfully dribbled past his defender and crossed the ball to Chaquito Gimenez, who couldn’t contact the ball, but since the defender went to stop Gimenez, this allowed Roberto Alvarado to come into the little box completely by himself, and with that, he could easily scored the third goal for Mexico.
With this victory Mexico is in another final of the Gold Cup, and will face an always tough Panama, who surprised and kicked the Americans out in the other semifinals. If Lozano brings the Cup back to Mexico, his case to remain as permanent coach of El Tri will be strengthened, and not only because of the victories, but because he has shown that he can bring the best out of this team. If he was able to completely turn around Cocca’s grey team in a few days, it would be interesting to see what he can achieve in the longer run.
