Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera. (Photo : Getty Images)
Group C powerhouse Mexico (1-0-0, 3 points) will try to win their second straight game in the 2016 Copa América Centenario as they clash with heartbroken squad Jamaica (0-1-0, 0 points) on June 9, Thursday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Mexico thrashed a Luis Suárez-less Uruguay eleven, 3-1, in their opening game on Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale after the two squads ended the game with only ten men each, as per Goal.
El Tri was given a huge endowment at the fourth minute when Uruguayan defender Alvaro Pereira converted an own goal, putting the Mexicans up by a point early in the match.
Head coach Juan Carlos Osorio's men had control of the ball in majority of the time and had successfully pressured La Celeste's backline, but they were unable to add to their lead. Increasing their advantage was the halftime red card received by Uruguay's Matias Vecino.
Things slightly evened up when El Tri midfielder Andres Guardado was sent off at the 73rd following a second yellow card booking, resulting in an equalizing goal by Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin for Uruguay a minute later.
The game then looked headed to a 1-1 draw, but team captain Rafael Marquez and Hector Herrera netted a goal each at the 85th and in injury time to spell doom for Los Charrúas and snatch the three points way from them.
Meanwhile, Jamaica dropped a sorry 0-1 game to underdogs Venezuela also on Sunday at the Soldier Field in Chicago, Daily Mail Online reported.
Venezuelan forward Josef Martinez netted the lone goal of the match at the 15th minute to deny the Reggae Boyz an anticipated opening day win in the tourney.
Head coach Winfried Schäfer's squad is expected to perform better against the Mexicans in this match, although they do not have enough firepower to match El Tri especially in the offensive end.
Strikers Javier Hernandez of Bayer Leverkusen and Oribe Peralta of Club America are yet to find their form and it these two scorers explode, then the Jamaicans will be in for a lot of trouble.
The predicted result is another 3-1 rout for Mexico.
Mexico starting lineup (3-1-2-2-2 formation): Talavera; Araujo, Marquez, Moreno; Reyes; Layun, Corona; Herrera, Pena; Peralta, Hernandez
Jamaica starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Blake; Watson, Mariappa, Taylor, Lawrence; McCleary, Grant, Hector, McAnuff; Barnes, Donaldson
