In short, Mexico defeated Jamaica 3-1 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on January 27, 2022. Mexico came into the match at the top of the CONCACAF qualifying table, while Jamaica was towards the bottom. A brace from Raul Jimenez and a penalty goal from Rodolfo Pizarro gave Mexico the win, with Jamaica’s lone goal coming from Daniel Johnson.
What was the final score between Mexico and Jamaica?
The final score was 3-1 in favor of Mexico. Mexico got goals from Raul Jimenez in the 49th and 52nd minutes, Rodolfo Pizarro in the 87th minute on a penalty kick, while Jamaica’s only goal came from Daniel Johnson in the 82nd minute.
How did Mexico beat Jamaica 3-1?
Mexico was clearly the dominant team, controlling possession and outshooting Jamaica 23 to 4. Jamaica’s goalkeeper Andre Blake made some tremendous saves to keep the match close in the first half. In the second half, Mexico broke through with two quick goals from Raul Jimenez to take control of the match. Jamaica got a late goal to make it 2-1 before Mexico sealed the win with a late penalty kick.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the goals happened:
- 49th minute: Raul Jimenez heads in a cross from Jesus Corona to make it 1-0 Mexico
- 52nd minute: Jimenez gets his second, finishing off a nice team move
- 82nd minute: Daniel Johnson pulls one back for Jamaica, slotting home from close range
- 87th minute: Rodolfo Pizarro converts a penalty kick to make it 3-1 Mexico
Mexico was able to control possession through their skilled midfielders like Edson Alvarez and Erick Gutierrez. When Jamaica did get forward, Mexico’s center backs Cesar Montes and Nestor Araujo protected the lead. Mexico was clinical in finishing their chances, while Jamaica’s goal came against the run of play.
Why was this match important?
This match was very important in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Both Mexico and Jamaica are vying for one of the three automatic World Cup spots allocated to CONCACAF.
Entering this match:
- Mexico was in 1st place in the standings with 14 points from 6 matches
- Jamaica was in 6th place with 7 points from 7 matches
A win would help Mexico stay on top of the table, while Jamaica desperately needed points to keep their World Cup hopes alive. With the win, Mexico maintained their hold on one of the coveted automatic qualification spots. The loss dealt a big blow to Jamaica’s chances of making the World Cup.
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Standings before match:
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 6 | 14 |
| 2 | USA | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Canada | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Panama | 7 | 8 |
| 5 | Costa Rica | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Jamaica | 7 | 7 |
As you can see, Jamaica was just above the elimination places prior to the match. The loss to Mexico was a big setback for their qualification hopes.
Who scored for each team?
For Mexico, Raul Jimenez scored two goals and Rodolfo Pizarro scored one goal on a penalty kick.
For Jamaica, Daniel Johnson scored their only goal.
Goalscorers:
| Mexico | Jamaica |
|---|---|
| Raul Jimenez (49′, 52′) | Daniel Johnson (82′) |
| Rodolfo Pizarro (87′ PK) |
How did the goals happen?
Here is a detailed breakdown of how each goal occurred in the match:
Mexico Goals:
49th minute: Mexico won the ball in midfield and quickly countered upfield. Lozano got to the endline and cut the ball back for a wide open Jimenez, who headed the ball into the far corner.
52nd minute: Lozano’s shot was blocked by a Jamaica defender but the ball spilled to Jimenez, who took a touch around the defender and slotted a low shot past the goalkeeper at the near post.
87th minute: Jamaica’s Damion Lowe was called for a handball in the box on a Mexico corner kick. Pizarro stepped up and converted the penalty kick to make it 3-1.
Jamaica Goal:
82nd minute: Jamaica finally broke through when Junior Flemmings got free down the left and cut a pass back to Johnson, who had an open shot on goal about 10 yards out. His low shot found the corner to make it 2-1.
What was the attendance for the match?
The match was played at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica. There were approximately 15,100 fans in attendance.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, capacity for World Cup qualifying matches has been limited in CONCACAF. Costa Rica has hosted several matches with reduced capacity crowds.
When was the last time these teams met?
The last meeting between Mexico and Jamaica prior to this match came in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on July 24, 2021.
Mexico won that match 1-0 on a second half goal from Henry Martin. That win advanced El Tri to the semifinals of the regional tournament.
Last 5 Meetings:
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| January 27, 2022 | World Cup Qualifying | Mexico 3-1 Jamaica |
| July 24, 2021 | CONCACAF Gold Cup | Mexico 1-0 Jamaica |
| July 18, 2019 | CONCACAF Gold Cup | Mexico 1-0 Jamaica |
| February 3, 2018 | Friendly | Mexico 0-0 Jamaica |
| July 13, 2015 | CONCACAF Gold Cup | Mexico 2-1 Jamaica |
As you can see, Mexico had not lost to Jamaica in recent years entering this World Cup qualifier.
What does the win mean for Mexico?
This was a big win for Mexico in World Cup qualifying. Some key takeaways for El Tri:
- They maintain first place in the CONCACAF standings, 3 points clear of USA/Canada.
- Their undefeated record in qualifying stays intact at 4 wins, 2 draws.
- Raul Jimenez regained form with 2 goals after some injury issues.
- They bounced back from a disappointing away draw at Canada last match.
- Goal difference is now +7, best in the standings.
Overall, this win keeps Mexico on track for automatic qualification to the World Cup as they now approach the halfway point of CONCACAF’s 14 match round robin.
What does the loss mean for Jamaica?
This loss deals a major blow to Jamaica’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup:
- They remain stuck on 7 points, now in 6th place in the standings.
- Jamaica is now 5 points behind Panama/Costa Rica for the final automatic qualification spot.
- Their record drops to 1-4-3, having won just once in eight matches.
- Goal difference drops to -3.
- They were unable to take advantage of Mexico missing some key players.
While Jamaica’s World Cup hopes are still mathematically alive, their margin for error is now slim. They’ll need an exceptionally strong second half of qualifying to finish in the top three in CONCACAF.
What were some key takeaways from the match?
Takeaways for Mexico:
- Raul Jimenez is returning to form – His two goals were a great sign after recovering from a skull fracture.
- Defense remains solid – Mexico has conceded just 3 goals in 8 qualifying matches.
- Deep squad – Mexico succeeded despite missing stars like Chucky Lozano.
Takeaways for Jamaica:
- Lack of scoring depth – Jamaica has scored just 8 goals in 8 matches.
- Andre Blake excelled in goal – The Philadelphia Union keeper made 8 saves to keep Jamaica in the match.
- Daniel Johnson provides a spark off the bench – His 4th goal of qualifying.
General Takeaways:
- Mexico remains firmly in control of the standings while Jamaica is fading.
- Mexico was able to grind out the win despite missing key players like Lozano and Guardado.
- Jamaica needs to develop scoring options beyond West Ham’s Antonio if they want to qualify.
Conclusion
In this important CONCACAF World Cup qualifier, Mexico took care of business with a 3-1 home win over Jamaica. Raul Jimenez broke out of his scoring slump with two goals as El Tri stayed undefeated and atop the qualifying standings. Jamaica got a late consolation goal from Daniel Johnson but the loss badly damages their World Cup qualification hopes. Mexico is in excellent shape to qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 at the halfway mark of CONCACAF’s round robin, while Jamaica faces a very difficult path to climb from 6th into the top 3.
