Mexico's Giovanni Dos Santos (left) fights for the ball with Jamaica's Joel Senior during their CONCACAF Under-20 qualification match at the Banorte Stadium in Culiacan on Friday night. Mexico won 2-0. - ReutersJAMAICA'S HOPES of advancing to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada were snuffed out by hosts Mexico at the Banorte Stadium in Culiacan, Sinaloa on Friday night.
Needing a victory to stay in the hunt for one of the two berths from four-team Group B after losing 2-0 to Costa Rica in their opening fixture on Wednesday night, the Young Reggae Boyz fell by the same margin to Mexico in a scoreline which was flattering to the visitors.
Livewire forward Cesar Osvaldo Villaluz opened the scoring for Mexico in the 31st minute and fellow forward Giovanni Dos Santos delivered the coup de grace in the 56th minute as the hosts wrapped up their place in Canada.
Dominated play
The Mexicans dominated from the first whistle to the last and only poor finishing denied them a greater margin of victory against a foe found lacking in pace, skill and strength.
The final statistics showed Mexico had 22 shots with 13 on target while the young Jamaicans could muster a mere three with only two troubling goalkeeper Alfonso Blanco.
Such was the Mexicans dominance that they were able to "rest" stars Carlos Alberto Vela, Dos Santos and Villaluz from the halfway mark of the second half. The tricolores will be joined in Canada for the June 30-July 12 tournament by Costa Rica, who survived a torrid test against surprising St. Kitts and Nevis 3-2.
Jose Luis Cordero (fifth), Pablo Herrera (55th) and Jean Carlos Solorzano (43rd) scored for Costa Rica while Matthew Berkeley (second) and Tiran Hanley (14th) were on target for the Caribbean team which held a 2-1 lead until just before the break.
Group B play will be completed this evening when St. Kitts and Nevis playJamaica at 6:00 p.m. (Ja time) and Mexico do battle with Costa Rica in games of only pride value.
