Mexico vs Jamaica Player Ratings; Mexico Struggle To Get The Win Against A 10 Man Reggae Boyz
Mexico faced Jamaica during Matchday 9 of the CONCACAF 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Even though Mexico struggled and went down in the score against the 10-man Reggae Boyz, El Tri made a frantic comeback during the last 10 minutes of the game to earn the 3 points.
To clarify how the ratings in this article work, the rating scale is out of 10. A rating of 1 means a straight red early in the game, a 6 means an average game, and 10 means a hat trick or out-of-this-world performance.
As always, these are my opinions but you can let me know your feelings on Twitter at @NachitoChavez10.
Now let’s review how Mexico’s players and coach fared on the pitch:
Starting 11:
GK – Guillermo Ochoa – With Mexico controlling 75% of possession and with Jamaica only having 1 shot on target, Memo had a relatively quiet night. He could’ve done more on Jamaica’s goal but that fell mostly on the defense. This makes 5 straight games that Mexico has failed to keep a clean sheet. Rating: 6
RB – Jorge Sánchez – Non contact injuries are never good. Sanchez started limping around after chasing a long cross from Gallardo and had to be subbed out. Bad luck for a player who has a lot to prove to continue starting for El Tri. Rating: N/A
CB – Héctor Moreno – The most solid of the 2 center backs. Moreno brought composure, discipline onto the pitch but not much else. Not that he really needed to for this game. Rating: 6
CB – Néstor Araujo – Although Araujo continues to be a consistent player in Spain for Celta De Vigo, his performances for El Tri come up short. Against Jamaica, he failed to properly clear a corner kick that resulted in Jamaica’s goal. We shouldn’t be surprised if Johan Vasquez fills in for him against Costa Rica on Sunday. Rating: 5
LB – Jesús Gallardo – Gallardo is the most capped player during Martino’s tenure with 37 games played. Yet, he has failed to impress many with the amount of time given to him on the pitch for La Seleccion. Imprecise crosses, lack of shot accuracy, and okay defense leave many wondering why Martino won’t give others in his position a chance. Rating: 5.5
CM – Héctor Herrera – El HH was in his element during the first half providing over-the-top passes to Antuna to break down the Jamaican backline. His play gradually faded over the course of the game but he showed he still has what it takes to start in qualifiers for Mexico. Rating: 7.5
CM – Andrés Guardado – El Capi only played 54 minutes due to a terrible tackle from Damion Lowe in the first half. Nonetheless, the Real Betis player was active in ball recovery with 5 ground duels won and provided a great ball to Chaka Rodriguez on the right flank that was ultimately fumbled. Has Guardado lost a step? Definitely. But he still possesses the quality that few Mexican players have. Rating: 6
CM – Carlos Rodríguez – After a torrid start where he has scored 2 goals in 3 games for Cruz Azul, I expected a lot more from El Charly. Not that he had a bad game but we all know he can provide more offensively especially with HH manning the typical-Edson Alvarez role for most of the game. He did provide the assist to Vega for Mexico’s second goal but Tecatito did most of the leg work. Rating: 6
RW – Uriel Antuna – Antuna has a knack for coming in clutch against CONCACAF opponents, and he had a relatively decent game. He had 3 successful dribbles past his defenders but failed to finish plays. Out of the 3 crosses he provided he was successful in 0. This was a game where El Magito needed to get deep into the box and either finish the play himself or connect with someone in the box. Seems like this will always be an issue for the former Manchester City player. Rating: 6
LW – Alexis Vega – Arguably Mexico’s best player during the game, Alexis Vega showed that his great start with Chivas is no fluke. Vega scored the game-winning goal and although not credited, provided the assist for Martin to get Mexico on the scoreboard. If he can continue to stay healthy, Martino will have to find a spot for him in the starting 11. Rating: 8
ST – Rogelio Funes Mori – Not sure how many more chances Martino will continue to give Funes Mori. The Monterrey striker seems to be isolated and lost in the box when he plays for El Tri, and although he has 5 goals in 14 games for them, it seems like he could do a lot more. Funes Mori also could’ve done better in clearing the ball during Jamaica’s lone goal. What we do know is that if Raul Jimenez’s form does not return to pre-injury levels, El Mellizo is not the answer. Rating: 5
Substitutes:
6’ – Luis Rodríguez – El Chaka is the big question mark for the Mexican backline. If he is not clicking offensively, which against Jamaica he was not, what else can he provide? Granted, he wasn’t asked to do much defensively but when he did, he committed dangerous fouls near the box and was caught out of position a couple of times. With Jorge Sanchez injured, Julian Araujo must be given a chance. Rating: 5
54’ – Diego Lainez – Lainez seems to turn it on when he plays for Mexico. The game was begging for a player that could take on defenders and either get fouled by the opposition or provide an accurate cross to a teammate. Although not reflected in the box score, Lainez had the Jamaicans on their back heels. Will he start the next game? Probably not, but the former Club America winger should continue to get chances. Rating: 7.5
71’ – Henry Martín – In an eerily similar game to the one in September in the Azteca against Jamaica, Henry Martin, and Alexis Vegas both scored and gave Mexico the victory. Martin didn’t do too much to influence the game besides the goal but he did a lot more in less than 30 minutes than Funes Mori did in 60. Not sure Martin is the answer at striker, especially since he hasn’t played well for Club America but if Funes Mori isn’t up to par and Jimenez is out, Martin will be Tata’s go-to striker.
71’ – Tecatito Corona – Sevilla’s newest player continues to show the level of play that has caused him to be lauded by the Spanish press. He took on defenders, helped collapse the defense, and gave Mexico’s offense the jolt it needed. If healthy, expect him to start the next game. Rating: 8
71’ – Gerardo Arteaga – He wasn’t asked to do too much during the game but he was accurate in his passes and should be given more time on the pitch. Having provided 4 assists this season in Belgium and with rumors that Newcastle United could be interested in the former Santos Laguna player, Arteaga is destined for a larger role with El Tri. Rating: 6
Coaching:
Manager – Tata Martino – Not having Johan Vasquez starting or even on the bench was a head scratcher but he did what he could with Jimenez, Lozano, and Edson Alvarez all out. Looked worried at times during a game Mexico should’ve dominated and should’ve pushed his team forward as Jamaica looked overwhelmed and were happy to sit back. The press and fans will not be happy with Martino until he can consistently provide results and a great style of play. Rating: 5
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