The Mexican National Team started with the right foot its walk through the Concacaf qualifiers towards the Qatar 2022 World Cup, after imposing 2 to 1 on Jamaica at the Azteca Stadium, thanks to goals from the Olympians Alexis Vega and Henry Martin.
ESPN presents the qualifications of the first starting eleven and substitutions presented by Gerardo Martino at the start of his World Cup path.
The goalkeeper of a thousand battles with the national team of Mexico made his uniform little dirty during most of the game, as Jamaica worried about leaving the Azteca Stadium with the fewest possible injuries.
In the play of the 1-1 draw he could do little, after facing close range with Shamar Nicholson, who was left alone in front of the door thanks to a blunder by Jorge Sánchez.
Discreet match by the right-back until minute 65, in which a brand failure on a long ball into the area portrayed him as the closest ‘culprit’ of Jamaica’s draw, due to mishandling to get rid of the ball .
The center-back showed sobriety during the 90 minutes and did not make mistakes that influenced the scoreboard and it was Mexico’s best performance within the first row.
The 30-year-old defender is shown as one of the weakest links when he appears on the field with the national jersey. On this occasion, a weak mark in the area on Shamar Nicholson at ’34, in combination with another blunder by Jesús Gallardo, ended in a dangerous shot for the goal of Guillermo Ochoa.
The left-back entered poorly on Shamar Nicholson in a play of moderate danger that culminated in a shot for the goal of Guillermo Ochoa. On the baseline, he collaborated moderately with centers, however, he highlighted an arrival in which he was knocked down inside the area and no penalty was decreed.
He gave away a yellow card in the supplementary period of the first period and allowed Jamaica to play time, a constant throughout the 90 minutes. In containment work he had little work, thanks to the little offensive of the Caribbean rival.
The midfielder, Álvarez’s partner in said third of the field, was in charge of handling the ball, dictating the times and even joining the attack or stepping on the area to connect the points.
Behind the forward center he was uncomfortable during the 75 minutes of his participation, until he left to give access to Orbelín Pineda.
Unpublished during the first period, he showed difficulties to connect with his companions; In both the left and right lanes, he generated crosses without danger and sometimes forced, except for a pass that led to the play that Rogelio Funes Mori wasted to open the scoring at 24.
In the complement he was much more active and accurate, until a ball with a clear goal label hit the post.
The play of Mexico’s first goal was generated in their boots, as a mid-distance attempt that bounced off the defense culminated in the boots of Alexis Vega, who made his way through a sea of legs and hit the cage. In contrast, Funes Mori gave him the ball only in front of the frame and burst the base of the right post. Minutes later, Jamaica tied. Goal missed, goal against. He left the exchange at 75 for Uriel Antuna.
Inaccurate from the start and eager to create danger on his flank, the left winger got unnecessarily cautioned in the 21st minute, after a strong tackle on center-back Damion Lowe.
On this occasion, his speed and mid-distance punching was scarce, however, a rebound after an intervention by Roberto Alvarado on the right gave him the opportunity to open the scoring, with a cut towards the center of the attack third that he signed with a shot low to the net.
By the way, the starting attacking center of Tri against Jamaica left his zone to look for the ball, given the slow start of the national team and the few opportunities beyond forced centers.
At minute 24 he failed one of the two clearest opportunities of the match, after sending on one side, despite not having a mark, a service on the right of the full-back Jorge Sánchez, and during the rest of the game he was deficient in his shots.
Alternates
With nine minutes on the court, the bronze medalist in Tokyo 2020 tipped the balance in favor of Mexico, as he scored 2 to 1 on the hour to award the first three points to the team led by Gerardo Martino, thanks to a right shot towards the squad.
Much more used to playing behind the center forward, Pineda was a much more destabilizing piece in the rival area. A minute after his entry he found an aerial ball that connected with the head, however, the goalkeeper covered it.
As Roberto Alvarado’s replacement at 75, the right winger had a discreet step at the start of the tie, without a dangerous play in which he has collaborated.
He entered the second half, with a few minutes ahead.
He entered the second half, with a few minutes ahead.
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