Alice Soto leads Mexico’s rout over Jamaica in MexTourW

HOUSTON – The crowd’s excitement intensified when Alice Soto received the ball Tuesday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Mexico’s diminutive attacking midfielder captivated the pro-Mexico crowd dressed in El Tri’s famed green jerseys in the stands.

Each time the talented 22-year-old from Guanajuato, Mexico, got the ball after the 24th minute it fueled hopes for a hat-trick.

The 5-foot-2 starlet settled for a career-best two goals to lead Mexico’s 4-0 victory. In a MexTourW match that proved anything but friendly, the Mexican women’s national team showcased their “fuerza femenina.”

That women’s strength led Mexico to a dominant performance against Jamaica’s “Reggae Girlz.”

Dominance

A wave of goals in the first half set the tone for Mexico at Shell Energy Stadium.

Jacqueline Ovalle opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a long-range left-footed strike. Just three minutes later Soto extended the lead to 2-0 with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Nicole Pérez.

Scarlett Camberos scored in the 18th minute to make it 3-0. Her right-footed shot from the right side of the box went into the top corner off Ovalle’s assist.

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Soto barely celebrated her 22nd birthday on March 26. She is one of Mexico’s best talents. In 2023 she won la Liga BBVA MX Femenil’s Balón de Oro as the league’s best young player.

After a stellar career with Mexico’s youth national teams, she made her senior national team debut with two goals in October against Thiland.

On Tuesday, her second goal was off a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner. Camberos provided the assist.

Special victory for Alice Soto

Soto had some clear motivation for scoring two goals against Jamaica.

“It was also special because it was Jamaica. That’s one of the teams that in the end eliminated us in World Cup qualifying,” Alice Soto said. “Winning both (matches against Jamaica) is something important for us, for Mexico. I also realize that we are growing a lot.”

As the teams headed to the locker room, “El Rey” by José Alfredo Jiménez, made famous by Vicente Fernández, played in the background.

El Tri Femenil kept a strong 52.7 percent of possession.

While Jamaica tightened up their defense in the second half, their offense couldn’t overcome the damage done by Mexico.

Soto settled for a brace instead of a hat trick, but Mexico delivered a clear victory over Jamaica before their fans in Houston.