Mexico and Jamaica play out dull, goalless draw at Gold Cup
Mexico and Jamaica played out a dull, goalless draw in their second match of Group C play at the 2017 Gold Cup in Denver.
With Juan Carlos Osorio still serving a six-match ban from the Confederations Cup, Mexico took the field with Houston Dynamo striker Erick Torres leading the line.
And El Tri came out in the mood to attack, putting solid pressure on the Jamaica defense in the game's opening 20 minutes but without finding the final ball to break down the Reggae Boyz.
Torres nearly had Mexico's opener in the 22nd minute, powering a header from a Jesus Gallardo cross off the post of the Jamaica goal.
Jermaine Taylor bailed out Jamaica keeper Andre Blake as the game approached half-time as he cleared a goalbound header from Jesus Molina off the line to keep the teams level at 0-0 before the teams headed to the dressing room.
Mexico picked up where it left off in the first half, possessing the ball in Jamaica's end but failing to find the back of the net. Elias Hernandez forced a save from Blake with a swerving drive in the 52nd minute before Gallardo headed right to the Philadelphia Union goalkeeper on the ensuing corner kick.
Jamaica were content to pack the box and Mexico simply couldn't find a way through. The point for each team keeps them level atop the group standing with Mexico having the edge on total goal scored to maintain first place.
El Tri closes out Group C play against Curacao on Sunday, with Jamaica playing El Salvador in the first match on the same day.
Game Information
Concacaf Gold Cup Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panama | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
Costa Rica | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
Martinique | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
El Salvador | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |