Two late goals Sunday night preserved Mexico’s image as a team to beat in Copa America. Before Rafa Marquez and Hector Herrera scored to give their team a 3-1 victory, the only offense Mexico could muster was an own-goal by Uruguay’s Alvaro Pereira four minutes into the match.
That ignominious moment came just after the Chilean anthem was, embarrassingly, played instead of the Uruguay anthem in the pre-game ceremonies. Copa America2016 blamed the mistake on “a human error.”
“It was a lack of respect, nothing more than that,” Pereira said.
After some tense moments, the late scoring surge finally gave the loud, rowdy, vastly pro-Mexico crowd of 60,025 the victory it expected in the Copa America opener between teams considered best in Group C.
Venezuela edge 10-man Jamaica
Venezuela defeated Jamaica 1-0 in a physical Copa America Centenario clash here Sunday that saw the Reggae Boyz reduced to 10 men while coach Winfried Schaefer was expelled from the dugout.
Jamaica, riding high after a shock friendly victory over Copa America champions Chile in a warm-up last week, were left ruing a string of missed chances against their South American Group C rivals. In blazing hot sunshine at Chicago’s Soldier Field Stadium, Jamaica made life difficult for themselves with Rodolph Austin sent off midway through the first half for a challenge on Tomas Rincon.