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Argentina national football team
Copa America | Group Stage
Jun 20, 2015 at 10.30pm UK
 
Jamaica national football team

1-0

Higuain (11')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Argentina 1-0 Jamaica - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Group B clash between Argentina and Jamaica in the Copa America.
2

Argentina are through to the Copa America quarter-finals as group winners thanks to a 1-0 win over Jamaica.

Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the game early on when he found the bottom corner from inside the area, following a pass from Angel di Maria.

However, the Napoli striker missed several golden chances to extend their lead, while Di Maria hit the crossbar and had an effort cleared off the line.

Jamaica almost made them pay late in the game with a couple of good opportunities, but Gerardo Martino's side held on to win.

Relive Sports Mole's coverage below.


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Hello, good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of Argentina vs. Jamaica in the Copa America. The tournament favourites are yet to hit their stride in this competition, but stand a good chance of recording a handsome victory tonight.

With all the attacking talent Argentina have at their disposal, you could be forgiven for fearing a little bit for Jamaica. Gerardo Martino's men have a statement to make, and it could be quite emphatic.

Uruguay's draw with Paraguay earlier this evening, means that a win take Argentina to the top of the group ahead of the quarter-finals. Paraguay are currently top by a point, while Uruguay sit just behind Argentina as they have scored a goal less.

TEAM NEWS: Gerardo Martino has made two changes to his team, as Sergio Aguero drops to the bench behind Gonzalo Higuain and Martin Demichelis comes into defence. Jamaica have several familiar names in their side, including Leicester City's Wes Morgan.

ARGENTINA: Romero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Rojo, Biglia, Mascherano, Pastore, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain.

JAMAICA: Miller, Hector, Morgan, Laing, Brown, McAnuf, Austin, Mariappa, Lawrence, Watson, McCleary.

Many of the eagle-eyed among you will recognise several of the Jamaican players in their squad, including Giles Barnes, Simon Dawkins, Adrian Mariappa and captain Rudolph Austin.

But how can they stop Lionel Messi? The Barcelona maestro was in fine form against Paraguay, and was at his brilliant best throughout the 2014-15 season. He had a blip against Uruguay, but I wouldn't back him to have another tonight.

Messi may have a point to prove to Martino tonight, as he is currently caught in a bit of a storm back home. The forward was seen laughing with Angel di Maria as they rejoined the pitch after half time against Paraguay, and the suggestion is that were laughing at their coach.

However, Martino has put their indifferent start to the competition down to fatigue, and insists that there is not a rift in the camp.

Both teams are now on the pitch and we're ready for the national anthems.

As per usual, Argentina's fans have generated a wonderful atmosphere. Jamaican flags are very sparse and you would be forgiven for thinking this was being played in Buenos Aires.

Referee Julio Bascunan has cleared the pitch of camera men, ball boys and officials, which means it's time to get underway!

KICKOFF! Jamaica start the match!

Argentina, who are back in their familiar blue and white stripes, have started high up the pitch, pressuring Jamaica into mistakes.

CHANCE! Gonzalo Higuian needs to impress tonight if he is going to keep Sergio Aguero out of the team, but he needs to take chances like these! Messi slides the ball into him in the box, and his cuts inside his defender. However, he slips at the vital moment and the keeper makes an easy save.

CLOSE! Argentina have made a great start and should be ahead! Di Maria picks the ball up from deep and drives at the Jamaican defence and into the box. The ball runs loose to Higuain, but his first-time shot is deflected marginally over the bar.

CHANCE! Higuain misses another chance, although this one isn't easy! He breaks the offside trap, beats the goalkeeper to a Messi cross, but heads it over the bar. It only seems like a matter of time before the first goal already.

Jamaica haven't had a sniff so far, and have spent the opening 10 minutes chasing shadows. It could be a long, long night.

GOAL! ARGENTINA 1-0 JAMAICA (HIGUAIN)

GOAL: The first of many? Argentina finally hit the front through Higuain, but he has Di Maria to thank. Another electric run from the winger forces Jamaica to retreat, and he slides a perfect pass into the box for Higuain, who has his back to goal. The striker turns neatly, and buries it into the bottom corner.

Jamaica are hanging on here, as Argentina's offensive players swarm around them in the box. Messi wants a penalty as he falls over a dangled leg, but Di Maria has a stronger claim 30 seconds later. The referee waves them away, but replays suggest the Manchester United man had a strong shout.

Jamaica can breath a bit here as they get the ball in Argentina's half, but Demichelis wins it back easily. The Reggae Boyz are holding a higher line, but that's asking for trouble.

TV replays of Higuain's goal don't show Jamaica's defenders in a good light. Di Maria's pass should have been intercepted, while Morgan just sat off Higuain. Currently, Argentina are contently passing the ball amongst themselves in midfield. It's like a training session.

CHANCE! Lucas Biglia is kicking himself, after his misses a decent chance to score his side's second. A high ball from Rojo drops for him on the edge of the box, but he mis-hits his volley and it dribbles wide.

OFF THE BAR! Higuain should have a hat-trick already, but he is desperately unlucky here! A ball over the top from Messi finds his run in behind and he lofts the ball over the on-rushing keeper. Unfortunately for him it drops on the bar and bounces over!

Jamaica do commit men forward when they have the ball long enough to get into Argentina's half. They're yet to cause any problems, but Argentina have a high line and there is space for them to get in behind their defence.

SHOT! It's more desperate stuff from the Reggae Boyz, as they stop Messi adding a certain second. Rojo's low cross picked out the 27-year-old in the heart of the box, and Morgan's block stopped his shot from finding the corner.

Di Maria really is on it today! Another mazy run creates havoc, and he eventually finds Messi on the right of the box. Jamaica put the ball behind for a corner, and it's eventually cleared.

CHANCE! Jamaica earn their first corner of the game after Garay's backpass goes straight out of play! McCleary's ball is flicked to the backpost, but Morgan heads it over the bar. It wasn't easy, but he will feel that he should have done better.

YELLOW CARD! Je-Vaughn Watson is the first man to be cautioned for a late tackle.

CLOSE! Don't let Leo Messi cut inside onto his left foot!! He's too dangerous. Jamaica almost pay for that exact mistake as the Barca man bends an effort marginally wide from the right of the box. It missed by a hair's width.

CLOSE! Another chance goes begging for Higuain, who must be frustrated out there! A neat passing move sees Pastore jink past a couple of tackles in the box. Eventually, he's stopped but Higuain picks up the loose ball and hits it into the side netting from a tight angle.

Jamaica have another corner....but they waste the chance as Romero catches it.

OFF THE LINE! Argentina immediately break through Di Maria, who shows frightening pace to dash from his own half upfield against virtually no defenders. He's through on goal and lifts the ball over the keeper, but Hector hacks it off the line! That was almost the goal Di Maria deserves.

SAVE! Brilliant save from Miller!! Rojo's low cross is blocked by Hector, but it falls to the edge of the box where Di Maria is lurking. He lashes the shot towards goal, but Miller twists in mid-air and touches it over the top.

YELLOW CARD! Argentina collect their first booking as Pastore gets a yellow for a cyncial foul on the half-way line.

HALF TIME: ARGENTINA 1-0 JAMAICA

Utterly, utterly dominant. This has the air of a Premier League vs. Conference side in the FA Cup, such is the gulf between the two sides. Martino won't be happy that they only have one goal though, and will be particularly frustrated with Higuain.

The Napoli striker should have had a hat-trick right now, and although he scored the goal he hasn't done enough to persuade Martino that he should start ahead of Sergio Aguero.

Will we see the Manchester City striker after the break? In truth, it's unlikely. Martino has rested him for tonight and has able firepower to replace Higuain later in the game. Carlos Tevez, who is keen to make an impact in international football, is a more likely substitute.

Jamaica may also look to bring on a few more options up front, and they have some pretty decent ones too! Giles Barnes, who has been in fine form in the MLS this season, is on the bench, along with former Tottenham Hotspur winger Simon Dawkins.

However, the star of the first half has undoubtedly been Angel di Maria. He's been direct, pacey, intelligent and dangerous. Things look likely to happen when he's on the ball and Martino will want him on it as much as possible.

Both sets of players are slowly making their way back out for the second half and we'll be underway shortly!

KICKOFF! Argentina re-start the match.

CHANCE! More excellence from Di Maria, who plays a perfect cross into the box between defenders and goalkeeper. Unfortunately for him, Higuain didn't read it and wasn't there to tap it in.

SHOT! Argentina have picked up where they left off, as they continue to dominate proceedings and create chances. This time, Messi is the architect as he slips a ball into Higuain, but his goalbound shot is blocked for a corner.

OFF THE BAR! Di Maria hits the woodwork from distance with a stunning strike. The keeper was beaten again, and the United man looks up the skies in frustration.

YELLOW CARDS! Jamaica's Michael Hector is booked for a poor tackle, and then Rudolph Austin follows him for dissent.

SAVE! Almost brilliant from Messi, whose intricate chip almost fools Miller in the Jamaican goal! A one-two between Di Maria and Higuain doesn't go to plan, but Miller, who anticipated the striker running free, dashed out of his net and is stranded in the middle of the box. Messi tries to lift it over him from 20 yards, but he leaps into the air and clings on the ball.

SUBSTITUTE! Martino makes his first change of the night as Pastore goes off to be replaced by Roberto Pereyra.

CHANCE! This is getting silly now! Higuain misses another golden chance, and doesn't even threaten the goal. Di Maria lays the ball off to him inside the box with just the keeper to beat, but he scuffs his toe-poke and it rolls harmlessly wide from 10 yards.

SHOT! Wow...what an effort from Jamaica! They earn a free kick 35 yards out but Laing blazes it wildly over the bar. Quite how he got that height on it is a mystery. Not even fly-halfs reach that height in rugby! It must have been a good 15 yards over the top. Someone warn the space station.

The match is in a bit of a lull. Argentina are struggling to inject any urgency into their play, while Jamaica have no ambition to venture out of their own half.

So what will Tata Martino do? Will we see Tevez, Lamela or Lavezzi? Some more pace and direct aggression would be welcome.

CHANCE! I'm starting to feel sorry for Higuain! Another low cross from Rojo is crying out to be buried, but his shot from four yards is blocked. He may have already scored, but he looks like he's given up.

SUBSTITUTE! Jamaica roll the dice and send on Winfried Schafer and Jermaine Taylor on to the field. Meanwhile, Martino has called time on Higuain's night as Tevez goes on to replace him.

SHOT! Di Maria is certainly keen to find the net from 25 yards as he has a go for the fourth time. Unfortunately for him, this one flies well wide of the post.

CHANCE! Jamaica create their best chance of the match as Gareth McCleary gets to the byline down the right. His cross causes panic, but it's eventually cleared for a corner...It comes to nothing, but as there is just one goal in it, Jamaica could snatch something! Stranger things have happened!

SUBSTITUTE! Giles Barnes comes on for the final 10 minutes in place of Deshorn Brown!

CLOSE! All of a sudden Jamaica have come alive!! Barnes creates chaos this time as he runs down the left and into the box. His cross takes a deflection, and has Romero scrambling at the near post!

SUBSTITUTE! Di Maria's excellent's night work is done as Martino replaces him with Eric Lamela.

CLOSE! Argentina again come close to wrapping up the points as Tevez clips a shot marginally wide of the near post from a right-wing cross.

CHANCE! If only Simon Dawkins can sort out his feet!! McCleary gets to the byline and picks Dawkins out 10 yards from goal. However, it bounces off him and runs for a goal kick.

We have three minutes added on here. Can Jamaica do it??

CHANCE! Jamaica have a corner in the last minute....And Mascherano puts it behind for another one...

However, it's cleared at the back post.

FULL TIME: ARGENTINA 1-0 JAMAICA

Jamaica's late pressure comes to nothing as the referee blows for full time. It was a valiant late push, but ultimately they lacked the necessary quality in the final third.

Jamaica go home with their heads held high, although quite how they only conceded three goals in this tournament is anyone's guess. Argentina march into the quarter-finals, but they didn't answer too many questions today.

Anyway, that's all from me tonight. Thank you for joining Sports Mole and make sure to come back tomorrow when Group C reaches its fascinating conclusion, where all four teams have a chance of progressing. Until then, good night.

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Lionel Messi celebrates with Argentina teammates Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo after opening the scoring against Nigeria in their World Cup Group F match on June 25, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina33009
Q Canada Canada31114
3 Chile Chile30212
4 Peru flag Peru30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Venezuela Venezuela33009
Q Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Jamaica Jamaica30030

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Uruguay flag Uruguay33009
Q Panama flag Panama32016
3 United States USA31023
4 Bolivia flag Bolivia30030

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Colombia Colombia32107
Q Brazil Brazil31205
3 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31114
4 Paraguay flag Paraguay30030


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