Copa América: Mexico salvages win over Jamaica after losing captain Edson Álvarez to injury

It wasn't always pretty. And for a while in the first half, when Edson Álvarez went down and off with his injury in tears, it was devastating.

But Mexico responded well, got a deserved goal, and hung on for three points.

Mixed emotions, assuming Edson's injury is semi-serious... but they'll take the three points.

Jamaica is pushing for an equalizer. Julio González just got down well to his left to make a save. Pressure still on, though. Into stoppage time now.

If tickets were priced reasonably, this surely would've been — and should be — a sellout.

Gerardo Arteaga catches a first-time shot as clean as one possibly can, and lashes it into the side netting from 20 yards out.

Great goal.

The fans erupt.

Celebratory beer showers all around.

It had been coming!

Gimenez the link this time. He finds Julián Quiñones bursting forward. Quiñones takes two excellent touches, into the box, but a Jamaican defender recovers to make a superb last-ditch block.

Perhaps the best chance of the game yet.

Santi Gimenez comes alive, drops a shoulder, does everything right, and blasts a right-footed shot toward the roof of the net.

But Jamaican goalkeeper Jahmali Waite reacted really well, and got two palms to it.

Mexico played some good stuff in its defensive half. Solved a bit of Jamaican pressure. Fans began to "olé."

But when they tried to go forward, into the final third, via the wing, a simple misplaced pass sank the attacking move.

0-0, 63 minutes gone.

The game has opened up a bit. Jamaica has begun to find some counterattacking outlets, unlike in the first half.

It feels like a goal is coming. Question is: At which end?

It looked like a Jamaica player might've blocked a shot at the top of the box with his trailing arm.

Referee says play on, though, and the VAR declines to intervene.

Michail Antonio scored from a free header at the back post. He was unmarked — perhaps, in part, because he was offside.

After a VAR review, the goal is disallowed.

Mexico is wobbling, though. Jamaica has started the second half better.

Jamaica with the first chance, in the first minute of the second half. Mexican goalkeeper Julio González spilled what seemed like a simple shot.

It's eerily quiet in here.

Blah.

A mixture of golf claps and some boos from the Mexico fans.

The happier of the two teams is probably ... Venezuela, which beat Ecuador 2-1 earlier this evening, and, at this very moment, might be the favorite to win the group.

has been decent so far. El Tri has been excellent in defensive transition. Jamaica (in part due to its own sloppiness) can't get out when it wins the ball.

But there's just not quite enough attacking quality at either end right now to create meaningful chances.

Almost halftime, still 0-0.

The entire Mexico bench got up to console Álvarez as he reached the sideline.

He means so much to this team — his presence, his calmness on the ball, his passing, his defensive solidity.

Really difficult to see how El Tri would make a run in this tournament without him.

Álvarez, by far the most accomplished player on this Mexico roster, pulled up and went down with a non-contact injury. He appeared to be grabbing his hamstring as he writhed on the grass.

One of the worst possible developments for Mexico in this first half. He was helped off the field by two staffers, and replaced by Luis Romo.

Impossible to know the severity, but Álvarez tournament could be over.

Shamar Nicholson just went down for Jamaica. Then walked off, and is now back on.

Seems like a good time for a reminder that Jamaica's most talented player, Leon Bailey, would be starting in Nicholson's place — if he weren't in a prolonged spat with the Jamaican Football Federation. Jamaica listed Bailey on its Copa América roster, but Bailey, who plays for Aston Villa in the English Premier League, has declined to participate.

El Tri so far has had more of the ball and a few decent chances. Players seem to have a confident zip about them. Crowd is upbeat.

Jamaica has an equally dangerous front five, though, and will be in this game as long as it stays level, even if it feels unbalanced.

This, on one hand, feels like a big occasion for Mexico. A fresh start, in a major tournament, under a manager who isn't (yet) hated.

But the atmosphere feels ... somewhat underwhelming. Or at least standard for El Tri in the States. The stadium is 2/3 full. There's no heightened buzz above and beyond what you'd get for a Nations League or Gold Cup final.

Could be because organizers have priced out fans. Could be because of the deflated expectations around this Mexico team.