Reggae Boys downed by Mexico

2005-07-14 07:18

Houston - Mexico defeated Jamaica 1-0 in the second of two games of Concacaf Gold Cup competition to end the first round of play in front of 45 311 people at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday night.

The victory means Jamaica will play the United States in the quarter-finals Saturday in Foxboro, Mass.

Mexico finished first in Group C play after the first round with a 2-1 record while Jamaica finished third at 1-1-1.

In Sunday's quarter-finals at Reliant Stadium, Mexico will play Colombia and South Africa will play Panama.

Coming off a 4-0 win over Guatemala on Sunday, four-time Gold Cup champion Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute.

At midfield, Gerardo Galindo lobbed a perfect pass up the middle to Albert Medina who took it 35 yards out and raced in to score from 15 yards.

Veteran striker Jared Borgetti, Mexico's captain, received a yellow card in the 63rd minute. It was the second game he has received a yellow card and will have to sit out the match against Colombia.

Jamaica's Omar Daley got his second yellow card of Wednesday's match in the 71st minute and was ejected from the game. He also will sit out Sunday.

South Africa and Guatemala drew 1-1 in the first game Wednesday to eliminate Guatemala from the tournament.

South Africa ended Group C first-round play with a 1-0-2 record to qualify to advance as the second-place team. Guatemala ended with an 0-2-1 record.

- AP