KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s chances of reaching the Brazil World Cup finals was made even more difficult after the Reggae Boyz went down 0-1 to Mexico at the National Stadium in Kingston Tuesday night.

In a crucial World Cup Qualifying playoff at home the Boyz had a fairly even first half ending nil-all with the Mexicans.

But things turned sour at the start of the second half.

Mexico striker Aldo De Nigris headed in Carlos Salcido’s left-sided cross three minutes after the break forcing the Boyz to immediately up their game but that was not enough to get them on the score sheet.

Mexico now move to the top of the six-team points standings with six points from four games, while Jamaica remain rooted at the bottom on two points from as many games.

Panama are now second with five points, followed by Costa Rica, The United States and Honduras on four points from three games each.

Jamaica will next face the United States 8:30 pm Friday also at the National Stadium. Failure to win would force the Reggae Boyz to win at least two games on the road.

On a day when Japan became the first nation to qualify for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals, hosts Jamaica conceded the kick-off to the visitors kicking towards the north in front of just under 20,000 spectators.

Within the first five minutes De Nigris hinted of his intentions when he arrived in time to place a tame header straight into the welcoming arms of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts from Pablo Barrera’s right-sided cross.

There was another scare for Jamaica when Jesus Zavala ghosted in unmarked to plant a firm header goalwards, only for the ball to strike a defender before being deflected behind for a corner, as the visitors started to assert their superior quality at ‘The Office’.

Shortly after Jamaica earned their first corner just past the mid-way point, the dangerous Javier Hernandez was allowed the luxury of peeling off his marker in front of the penalty area before unleashing a rasping grounder which Ricketts was forced to turn behind off the outside of his right hand post.

Mexican coach Jose Manuel de la Torre would have been the happier of the two coaches after the interval, and this fact was manifested shortly after when De Nigris slipped between O’Brian Woodbine and Adrian Mariappa to head home from close range after left back Carlos Salcido had got the better of Alvas Powell down the left flank to make the cross.

Jamaica immediately sparked to life into their game with Jermaine Hue being the architect. He crossed to Ryan Johnson, who went low to direct a header destined for the inside of goalkeeper Jesus Carona’s right hand post, but the goalkeeper saved brilliantly with his right leg.

From the resulting corner taken by Hue, Marvin Elliott appeared to have found the equaliser with a firm header, but Corona proved his worth with an acrobatic save, throwing himself to his left to palm the ball around the left upright for another corner.

Corona then denied substitute Jermaine Beckford with another decent save, while at the other end of the field, Ricketts was called on twice to prevent the score line from increasing.

Teams: Jamaica – Donovan Ricketts (captain), Daniel Gordon, Adrian Mariappa,  O’Brian Woodbine, Alvas Powell, Marvin Elliott, Rodolph Austin (Keammar Daley 76th), Je-Vaughn Watson (Jermaine Beckford 63rd), Garath McCleary, Jermaine Hue, Ryan Johnson (Darren Mattocks 63rd).

Booked: Powell (55th)

Subs not used: Dwayne Miller (GK), Andre Blake (GK), Adrian Reid, Montrose Phinn, Omar Daley, Evan Taylor, Damion Williams, Theo Robinson, Jermie Lynch

Mexico – Jesus Corona (GK), Javier Rodriquez (captain), Carlos Salcido, Diego Reyes, Gerardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera (Gerardo Flores 59th), Aldo De Nigris (Giovani Dos Santos 67th), Severo Meza, Javier Hernandez (Raul Jiminez 86th), Jesus Zavala, Andres Guardado

Booked: Rodriquez (85th)

Subs not used: Guillermo Ochoa (GK), Hector Herrera, Angel Reyna, Javier Aquino, Jorge Torres, Hector Moreno, Hiram Mier, Jesus Molina, Alfredo Talavera (GK)

Referee: Joel Antonio Aguilar Chicas (El Salvador)

Assistant Referee 1: William Torres Mejia (El Salvador)

Assistant Referee 2: Juan Zumba Galan (El Salvador)

Fourth Official: Elmer Bonilla Ruiz (El Salvador)

Referee Assessor: Livingston Bailey (Cayman Island)