Mexico captain Edson Alvarez' potentially tournament-ending injury is a huge blow for the national team, coach Jaime Lozano said after their 1-0 win over Jamaica in the Copa America.
Alvarez, who plays for West Ham United in England and is one the most experienced players on the Mexican team, collapsed clutching his hamstring in the 30th minute and limped off the pitch in tears in their Group B opener against Jamaica in Houston.
“We’re going to wait a couple of days to do some testing on him and to know well what he’s got going on,” Lozano said after the match. “He’s extremely important. He’s a leader, he understands the game well. He’s important on the pitch and in the locker room as well.
“You listen to him talk, he has a way with words and when he speaks you listen. This was a tough blow for all of us.” Defender Cesar Montes told reporters: "It was extremely important to start on the right foot, always focussed, together, and (now) the only bad news is that our team mate suffered an injury that we hope is not serious and can return with us.
“(But) these situations are not simple, the doctor will have to evaluate to see if he can continue with us (for the rest of the tournament). For the group he is the leader, a very important piece and it will be good to know his diagnosis in view of what is coming."
AFP Add
Goals from substitutes Jhonder Cadiz and Eduard Bello gave Venezuela a 2-1 win over ten-man Ecuador in their Copa America Group B match on Saturday.
Ecuador were forced to play with 10 men from the 22nd minute of the game at Levi Stadium when striker Enner Valencia was sent off for dangerous play.
The 34-year-old forward struck the chest of Venezuela defender Jose Martinez with his boot while challenging for a high, bouncing ball in the box and was initially awarded a yellow card but after a VAR review he was shown a straight red.
But Ecuador, who had been in control of the game before the dismissal, responded well and went ahead in the 40th minute when Venezuela failed to clear a free-kick into the box and Jeremy Sarmiento pounced on the loose ball to drill home. Venezuela head coach Fernando Batista made two changes at the break, bringing on Cadiz and Bello and both were to make a decisive impact. "Vinotinto" striker Salomon Rondon laid the ball off to Cadiz whose low side-footed shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection as it flashed past Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez.
Then in the 74th minute minute, Alexander Gonzalez whipped in a cross from the right, met with a diving header from Rondon which was parried by Dominguez but Bello reacted to fire home the loose ball.
