Jamaica went into Azteca Stadium and earned a valuable point with a 0-0 draw against Mexico in the first game of the CONCACAF hexagonal Wednesday night in Mexico City.
It was a historic point for Jamaica, the first the team has ever earned in Mexico.
The Jamaicans had the better chances, despite Mexico controlling possession for the majority of the game.
Two Mexican giveaways in the back end nearly resulted in Jamaica goals.
Jorge Torres-Nilo gave the ball away on a throw-in to Rudolph Austin in the 27th minute, and the Jamaican forward whipped a shot that Mexican goalkeeper Jesus Corona punched over the goal with one hand.
Midway through the second half, Ryan Johnson stole the ball cutting through the Mexican defense, but he shot right into Corona.
Jamaica also had the first great chance, as Jobi McAnuff‘s volley hit the left post in the seventh minute. Incredibly, the ball rebounded back to him, but his right-footed shot was angled to the left, and Corona raced across the goal mouth to make the save.
Mexico’s best chance came in the 64th minute, when Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez took a pass right in front of Jamaica goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, but Ricketts was able to get a foot on the ball.
In the 91st minute, Oribe Peralta set “Chicharito” up for another chance with only Ricketts in front of him, but the goalkeeper again made the save.
Mexico only had two other solid chances, as Giovani dos Santos‘ hard shot was saved by Ricketts in the 13th minute, and Torres-Nilo blasted a shot in the 30th minute that was just wide of the goal.
At the start of the second half, Chepo de la Torre substituted Javier Aquino for an ineffective dos Santos.
Jamaica had another good chance in the 77th minute, as winger Theo Robinson came racing down the left side, cut inside a Mexican defender, but was stopped by a sliding Corona.
Mexico has not lost a World Cup qualifier at home since 2001, a 24-match unbeaten streak.
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