Mexico wins qualifier, 1-0 at Jamaica

Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos, left, is challenged by Jamaica's Adrian Mariappa during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Kingston, Jamaicaon June 4, 2013. Mexico won 1-0. AP

The Mexicans had drawn all three previous games, but the win lifted them atop the six-team group while having played one more game than four other teams.

After a sloppy first half in which Mexico threatened a few times, but Jamaica did little offensively, de Nigris scored in the 48th minute, heading in a perfect cross from the left wing by Carlos Salcido.

We are happy with the result,” said Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre, who was under pressure after the three draws. “It has kick-started our campaign. We knew Jamaica is a fast, counter-attacking team, so we started cautiously.

Jamaica slipped to 0-2-2 and is last in the six-team group qualifying. The top three teams advance to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place team faces a playoff with New Zealand.

“We are disappointed, this has set us back,” Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore said. “We allowed the Mexicans to set the pace, they got comfortable on the ball and suffered the consequences.”

The match was moved to Tuesday because, as regional champions, Mexico will play in the Confederations Cup this month in Brazil. The Mexicans visit Panama on Friday and also host Costa Rica on June 11, a busy schedule.

On Friday, Jamaica hosts the United States.