Mexico v Jamaica Bet Builder Stats & Predictions
Mexico v Jamaica
Kick Off: Sunday 23th June, 02:00
Competition: Copa America
Watch Live: Premier Sports 1
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The Copa America begins for Mexico and Jamaica in Houston on Saturday evening local time, and promises to be a fanfare event. The US is playing host to the expanded event for the second time, with Mexico aiming to justify their status as the top seeds in Group B while their opponents are seeking to prove they are not in this competition simply to make up the numbers. In their two previous participations, they have failed to win a match.
Jaime Lozano’s side, twice runners-up and three times finalists in the Copa America since being invited to compete in 1993, will take nothing for granted, but this is a fixture they are expected to win.
Match stats: Mexico to get off to a winning start
This fixture might appear to be a mismatch, but Jamaica caused Mexico problems in the most recent edition of the CONCACAF Nations League. After drawing 1-1 at home in June 2022, they backed that up with a 2-2 draw on the road nine months later.
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The last fixture between these nations was rather more one-sided. In last year’s Gold Cup semi-finals, Mexico routed Jamaica 3-0, with Henry Martin’s goal after two minutes setting the tone for an easy win. This was also a match played in the US. It was a fixture that was not as one-sided as the scoreline made it look. Jamaica managed 45% of the ball and eight shots, but they were unable to make this count.
Odds of 1.6 on Mexico getting the win, therefore, look attractive. Although they have lost three of their last four, they have played Uruguay and Brazil in this sequence. Equally, this is a rivalry that has produced goals. Four of the last five have yielded at least three, which is priced at 2.2.
The Mexicans have, however, been struggling in front of goal lately. They have been shutout in two of their last four, but netted twice against Brazil in their last match, which was played on June 9.
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They will be heartened, though, to have seen Jamaica concede twice to lowly Dominica on that same day in a World Cup qualifier. The Reggae Boyz, meanwhile, have not scored in their previous six Copa America games, which is ominous ahead of this one.
Prediction:
Mexico to win @ 1.6
Goal stats: Gimenez’s international career to take flight
When it comes to goals, it’s hard to look beyond Feyenoord ace Santiago Gimenez heading into this match. The 23-year-old is only coming off a campaign in which he scored 23 Eredivisie goals and was at one stage being touted for a €100 million transfer to one of Europe’s biggest clubs. He may only have four international goals to his name, but he is ready to explode.
Gimenez was not a starter when Mexico last played Jamaica. In the Gold Cup, he operated off the bench in all but one game yet still managed six shots on target (2.62 per 90) and two goals (0.87 per 90). He, therefore, has the capacity to cause real trouble in this game.
Jamaica’s defence is largely drawn from MLS or the Championship, so the forward has the capacity to have a field day. Another man to watch out for is winger Julian Quinones of Club America. He only has five international caps but has scored two goals, including against Brazil last time out. He has never completed 90 minutes for the national team, so his price of 2.7 looks a little thin.
For Jamaica, the news that Leon Bailey will not play is a major blow, although they still have players with Premier League experience in Demarai Gray and Michail Antonio to lead the line. Nevertheless, Clermont striker Shamar Nicholson is expected to start upfront here. He has 19 international goals, which accounts for nearly half the international goal tally of the whole squad.
Antonio at 6.5 to score anytime, though, looks interesting value given his top-level experience and a record of three goals in 15 games for the national team.
Predictions:
Santiago Gimenez to score anytime @ 2.4
By: @AndysBetClubUK
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Soccrates Images – Getty Images