Copa America: Mexico qualify for quarter-finals after 1-1 draw with Venezuela, Uruguay win dead rubber 3-0 against Jamaica

Houston: Porto midfielder Jesus Manuel “Tecatito” Corona scored a superb individual goal as Mexico snatched a 1-1 draw with Venezuela to qualify for the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals as group winners in Houston on Monday. Mexico appeared to be heading for an embarrassing defeat against the lightly regarded Venezuelans, who led through a 10th minute overhead kick by defender Jose Manuel Velazquez at Houston’s NRG Stadium. [caption id=“attachment_2833452” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Mexico snatched a 1-1 draw and qualified for the Copa America quarter-finals. AFP[/caption] A risky gamble by Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio looked to have backfired disastrously after he decided to bench most of his first-choice side for a game his team only needed to draw to top Group C. However with time running out substitute Corona picked up the ball from around 40 yards from goal and embarked on a mazy dribble that took him past five Venezuela players before he blasted his shot past goalkeeper Dani Hernandez. The goal gave Mexico a draw which was enough to see them take top spot in Group C on goal difference from Venezuela, who were already assured of a place in the last eight after a shock win over Uruguay in their second match. More importantly, Mexico’s first place finish means they will likely avoid tournament favorites Argentina, who are expected to clinch top spot in Group D when they play Bolivia on Tuesday. For long periods, however, it looked as if Mexico were heading for a quarter-final date with the Argentinians as a well organized Venezuela side frustrated ‘El Tri’. Mexico could have few complaints after a fired-up Venezuela took the lead early on through a well-worked goal. Alejandro Guerra swung a curling free-kick into the box and Christian Santos rose at the far post to head back across the face of goal. Velazquez was falling away but twisted his body acrobatically to hook in a wonderful volley that flew into the roof of the net past Mexico goalkeeper Jesus Corona. Mexico dominated for the remainder of the half but were unable to find a breakthrough as their makeshift starting line-up struggled to generate any fluidity in attack. Venezuela were lucky to avoid a penalty decision late in the first half when Wilker Angel looked to have handled in the area after Hector Moreno’s header. Mexico made a spirited start to the second half, with Corona shooting well wide of the post early on. Jesus Molina screwed a shot wide on 65 minutes for Mexico and a minute later Venezuela squandered a golden chance to go 2-0 up when substitute Josef Martinez went clean through only to shoot tamely at Corona. Venezuela looked to have fate on their side after an incredible double save from Dani Hernandez in the 74th minute. But six minutes later “Tecatito” produced his sublime run to save Mexico’s blushes. Meanwhile, Abel Hernandez scored in the first half, Mathias Corujo added a late breakaway goal as Uruguay beat Jamaica 3-0 on Monday night to snap a five-game Copa America winless streak. Both teams were ruled out of contention for the knockout stages after loses in their first two games. Uruguay took its first lead of the 2016 tournament in the 21st minute. Nicolas Lodeiro slid a through ball between two defenders and Hernandez powered a shot into the top of the goal. It was just Uruguay’s second goal of the tournament. Uruguay went ahead 2-0 in the 66th minute on Je-Vaughn Watson’s own goal. Hernandez’s errant one-touch in front of the goal ricocheted off Watson’s right hand into the goal. In the 88th, Corujo raced to win a glancing header of a long goal kick and he beat Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake in a one-on-one battle. Jamaica was the only team to not score a goal in the tournament.