Corona takes Mexico top in Copa group

LOS ANGELES — Mexico’s Jesus Manuel Corona weaved his way past five players before firing home in the 80th minute to give his side a 1-1 draw with Venezuela that secured top spot in Group C of the Copa America Monday. By topping the group Mexico is likely to avoid Argentina in the quarterfinals. Argentina requires just a point in its final game against Bolivia to be sure of top spot in Group D. Mexico and Venezuela each finished with seven points from their three matches but ‘El Tri’ had a superior goal difference. Venezuela had seized the advantage in the 10th minute when Jose Manuel Velazquez silenced the pro-Mexico crown in Houston with a sensational overhead kick. Venezuela’s Josef Martinez came close to scoring with a bicycle kick but Mexico goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona saved well. Venezuela keeper Daniel Hernandez also produced a string of saves before conceding his first goal of the tournament. In the group’s other match, Uruguay finished the tournament on a high with a 3-0 victory over Jamaica in Santa Clara, California. With both teams already eliminated after losing their opening two games, Uruguay went ahead through Abel Hernandez in the 21st minute, doubled their lead on an own goal in the 66th minute before Mathias Corujo made it 3-0. Jamaica ended the tournament without picking up a point or scoring a goal. 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.