Jamaica and Mexico meet at the Los Angeles Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium in midweek as both nations aim to reach the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Key Takeaways
- Jamaica booked their place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Guatemala
- Mexico defeated Costa Rica 2-0 to reach a ninth successive Gold Cup semi-final
- El Tri have won eight Gold Cups, while the Reggae Boyz were runners-up in 2015 and 2017
After losing the 2021 Gold Cup final at the expense of the United States, Mexico will be eager to make amends this year. However, Jamaica will fancy their chances of reaching a third final in five attempts, having lost the 2015 showpiece against El Tri.
Jamaica Form
Luton Town’s Amari'i Bell scored the winning goal as Jamaica edged out Guatemala to punch their ticket to the semi-finals. Los Chapines gave the Reggae Boyz a run for their money in Cincinnati, but Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men eventually came out on top.
After beginning their campaign with a 1-1 draw against the United States, Jamaica claimed a comfortable 4-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago before thrashing Saint Kitts and Nevis 5-0.
Not only have the Reggae Boyz scored 11 goals in four Gold Cup matches, but they have also conceded just twice. As a result, the Caribbean outfit head into the semi-finals as the tournament’s second-highest scorers – and they also boast the joint-best defensive record.
Mexico Form
Meanwhile, Mexico made light work of Costa Rica last time out, racking up 14 shots while limiting their opponents to a solitary attempt on target, with Orbelin Pineda and Erick Sanchez grabbing the goals.
El Tri kicked off their campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Honduras before defeating Haiti 3-1, but they ended up suffering a 1-0 defeat to Qatar in their third and final group game, despite racking up 77% possession and 25 shots.
Since the tournament’s inception in 1991, Mexico have won eight of the 16 Gold Cup titles on offer, finishing as runners-up on two occasions. Having reached six of the previous eight finals, the perennial champions will be confident of reaching the showpiece once again.
Head-to-Head
Jamaica have managed to win just five of their 31 previous meetings with Mexico. By contrast, El Tri have secured 21 victories against the Reggae Boyz over the years.
That said, the two nations produced a couple of draws in the latest edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, playing out a 1-1 stalemate in June 2022 before drawing 2-2 in March of this year.
Team News
Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock has not featured for Jamaica so far, meaning Di'Shon Bernard and Damion Lowe will likely continue at centre-back.
As for Mexico, Orbelin Pineda and Luis Romo have both scored twice in this year’s tournament, while Henry Martin has chipped in with a goal and two assists.
Key Players
Jamaica’s squad contains several Premier League regulars, including Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey, Everton’s Demarai Gray, Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid and West Ham United’s Michail Antonio.
On the flip side, Mexico can call upon Barcelona new boy Julian Araujo, Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez and the Ajax duo of Jorge Sanchez and Edson Alvarez.
How to Watch on TV or Online
Fans in the UK can watch the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final showdown between Jamaica and Mexico on Viaplay Sports 1.
Final Thoughts
This is destined to be a close-fought battle between two of the strongest teams in the CONCACAF region. Given that both sides have remained defensively strong throughout the tournament, Jamaica and Mexico may require more than 90 minutes to settle the tie.
Gold Cup