Los Angeles - Arab Today
Mexico opened their 2016 Copa America campaign with a 3-1 victory over South America giants Uruguay on Sunday night.
The Central American side scored two late goals thanks to former FC Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez and FC Porto midfielder Hector Herrera, seeing Mexico run out 3-1 winners.
An own goal from La Celeste defender Alvaro Pereira handed Mexico the lead in the fifth minute, but Uruguay captain Diego Godin equalised in the 74th minute, Uruguay went down to 10 men in the 45th minute, after Matias Vecino saw red for a second bookable offence, but things evened out in the 73rd minute when Andres Guardado received a second yellow card after bringing down Carlos Sanchez.
Marquez stole the show in the final minutes of the encounter when he put his side ahead in the 85th minute with a magnificent strike, with Herrera heading in a late goal in injury time to seal all three points for Mexico.
The Mexicans' victory was the first win for a CONCACAF side in this edition of the Copa America, and their opening goal was the first a CONCACAF nation has scored.
Meanwhile, a Josef Martinez goal proved the difference as Venezuela got off to the best possible start in this year’s Copa America with a 1-0 win over 10-man Jamaica at Soldier Field in Chicago.
With the Venezuelans' having scored in the 15th minute, a red card for Jamaican midfielder Rodolph Austin eight minutes later effectively ended their chances of getting anything from the match.
Venezuela will look for a second straight win on Thursday when they face Uruguay in Philadelphia, while Jamaica will continue their quest for a first Copa Am?rica victory against CONCACAF rival Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Source: QNA