ALDO De Nigris headed in a designed Carlos Salcido left-sided cross from six yards for a minute 48 clincher, as the CONCACAF kingpins assumed the pride of place.

They returned to the top of the Hexagonal table with a critical victory to be sitting pretty on six points, albeit from an additional fourth game played.

Jamaica slumped further behind at the bottom of the group with only two points, from four games after again failing to score.

MEXICO ADVANTAGE

A game that was always going to be about which team handled transition best, the superior teamwork of Mexico proved the more organised. Their intent to couple a series of slick interplays, through their four-man midfield with regular kickbacks to involve the defensive unit pulling attackers out of positions before going forward on the ground into the areas just opened, encouraged possession born out of movement into spaces, beside, behind and between the Reggae Boyz midfield and defensive lines.

The Jamaicans, who were holding wide zones similar to those occupied in Mexico in February, not seeming to realise the disguise of the constant rotation and interchanges replaced to manoeuvre across the pitch, back and then eventually go wide particularly on the left, where initially Andres Guardado battled with the 18-year-old debutant Alvas Powell constantly in the first half.

Powell started well, but as the half wore on he was caught a few times sliding inside the centre of the field, as well as high upfield as a series of six of the seven corners resulted on that right side. The initial two-man short corners followed by a square were mostly won by the lanky captain, Javier Rodriques, heading back across goal, but none really troubled his counterpart, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

Javier Hernandez kept dropping off into space away from his defenders, but behind the two defensive midfielders Marvin Elliott and Rodolph Austin, to collect balls, develop combination with De Nigris and attacked the goal. His best effort, a 25-yard grounder on minute 33 forced Ricketts into a fingertip save unto his right upright and behind.

Jamaica’s defensive organisation was doing its job to prevent clear-cut chances directly on goal by sitting back a bit too deep, while giving up corners. Midfield co-ordination was again missing with flank players Garath McClearly and Je-Vaughn Watson too wide and not going inside to aid on defence, hence encouraging the Mexicans to possess easily.

Meanwhile, midfield distributor Jermaine Hue was stymied of viable forward options, though he slipped through a few creative passes and indirect free-kicks, to Johnson. Then there were the occasional searching dribbles by Austin, McCleary and Watson. None was effective, resulting in balls being played back to goalkeeper Ricketts, who appeared the most prominent forward passer, as it is whacked long and high into speculative attacks to the hardworking lone striker Johnson.

SECOND HALF PLOYS?

The experienced 33-year-old Salcido was asked to test the nerve of young Powell, who was lured into a three-man trick, some three minutes later. Eventually, the ball was played behind him as Salcido had all the time in the world to cross accurately on to the head of De Nigris, who slipped inside his marker, O’Brian Woodbine from around the penalty spot to score. 1-0.

Faced with defeat, the Reggae Boyz were as potent an attacking force as they have ever been — immediately launching offences to earn three consecutive Hue-taken corners. Johnson and Elliott had close quarters efforts on goal scrambled off the goal line until the period of domination was broken by one of the too many unnecessary offensive infringements caused by pushing inside the penalty box.

Genuine opportunities came as Powell’s classic cross fell perfectly onto the head of Elliott seven yards from goal at the back post, but he makes a mess of it, to remonstrate instead of celebrate. Then a three against two once in a game breakaway, fell to midfield-maestro Hue as he advanced menacingly towards the penalty box for the first time with two streaking teammates ahead of him and free in space. He delivered to Watson at the edge of the box, free, but the attacker failed to control the through pass by employing the wrong foot and the chance was lost forever.

An open game developed as Jamaica chased the leaders, who reinforced midfield and defensive areas before introducing Giovanni Do Santos, who, along with Hernandez, created more goalscoring opportunities, but Ricketts thwarted at point-blank range.