Mexico Forges Ahead by Stopping Jamaica

Mexico defeated Jamaica, 1-0, in the second of two games of CONCACAF Gold Cup competition to end the first round of play in front of 45,311 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Wednesday night.

Mexico’s victory means Jamaica will play the United States in the quarterfinals Saturday in Foxboro, Mass.

Mexico finished first in Group C play after the first round with a 2-1 record, and Jamaica finished third at 1-1-1. In Sunday’s quarterfinals at Reliant Stadium, Mexico will play Colombia and South Africa will play Panama.

Coming off a 4-0 victory over Guatemala on Sunday, four-time Gold Cup champion Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute against Jamaica.

At midfield, Gerardo Galindo lobbed a perfect pass up the middle to Albert Medina, who took it 35 yards out and raced in to score from 15 yards.

Veteran striker Jared Borgetti, Mexico’s captain, received a yellow card in the 63rd minute. It was the second game he has received a yellow card, meaning he will have to sit against Colombia.

Jamaica’s Omar Daley got his second yellow card of Wednesday’s match in the 71st minute and was ejected from the game. He also will not play Sunday.

South Africa 1, Guatemala 1 -- South Africa and Guatemala battled to a tie at Houston, eliminating Guatemala.

South Africa, playing its second consecutive tie after a 3-3 stalemate against Jamaica on Sunday, finished first-round play with a 1-0-2 record. Guatemala ended the first round with an 0-2-1 record.

Guatemala took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Carlos Figueroa passed from the corner to Carlos Ruiz in the middle of the field.

Ruiz chipped it to Gonzalo Romero, who popped in the goal from 15 yards out.

South Africa tied it in the 45th minute when Solace Nkosi took a pass from Siyabanga Nomvete and kicked it in from 20 yards out to take a 1-1 tie into halftime.

Ruiz finished tied for leading scorer of the first round with three goals and an assist.