Jamaica vs. Mexico: Key Battles to Watch in World Cup Qualifer

Mexico travel to Kingston to take on the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica on Tuesday night, knowing that they are in need of a victory to kick start their World Cup qualification campaign.

Jamaica, though, will not make it easy for El Tri, having already claimed a 0-0 draw on their travels against tonight's opponents. Mexico simply cannot afford to slip up once again.

As ever, the game can be broken down into a series of one vs. one battles. It is in these duals that the game will be won and lost.

So, let's take a look at five of the key battles ahead of the qualification fixture.

Adrian Mariappa vs. Andres Guardado

Reading defender Adrian Mariappa is one of just a handful of Jamaica players playing in a top-level European league, and he will need to use all his experience on Tuesday night if his side are to enjoy any success.

Mariappa will likely play at right-back on the night, a position he has played many times in his career, but he will have rarely opposed wingers of Andres Guardado's quality.

The Valencia-owned left midfielder will be looked to as a major means of supplying Mexico's talented forward line, and Mariappa will be charged with attempting to nullify that threat. It will be no easy task.

Rodolph Austin vs. Giovani Dos Santos

Mexico have played their best football in recent years when they have been able to call upon an in-form Giovani dos Santos.

The diminutive playmaker has never quite made the most of his talents at club level, but he has starred on the big occasion with the Mexican national team.

Keeping him quiet, then, will be the job of Jamaican defensive midfielder Rodolph Austin, who now plays his club football with Leeds United.

A tough tackler who has spent much time playing at centre-back, Austin will stick to Giovani throughout and hope to negate the No. 10's influence on the game.

Daniel Gordon vs. Javier Hernandez

Former Borussia Dortmund defender Daniel Gordon is a recent convert to the Jamaican national team, having previously been eligible for England.

Now playing for Karlsruher, the tall centre-back faces the unenviable task of attempting to keep Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez quiet on Tuesday night.

Hernandez bagged two goals for his country against Nigeria on Friday night to take his remarkable international record to 32 goals in 47 appearances.

His speed and intelligence will be a test for Gordon, who relies mainly on his physical strengths. As opponents go, Chicharito is certainly a tough introduction to life as an international footballer.

Ryan Johnson vs. Diego Reyes

The most experienced of Jamaica's forwards at international level, Portland Timbers striker Ryan Johnson will likely lead the line for the Reggae Boyz on Tuesday night. 

In doing so, he will come up against Porto-bound Mexican centre-back Diego Reyes—a player tipped as a potential star of the future, according to Goal.com.

Given his relative inexperience, Reyes will be seen as a potential weak link for Mexico, and Johnson will hope to examine his readiness for such an important qualification fixture.

Coach Jose Manuel de la Torre has shown great faith in the 20-year-old, and he will hope to be repaid once more in Kingston.

Omar Daley vs. Carlos Salcido

With all the youthful talent on show in other areas of the pitch, it seems only right to take a look at what threatens to be a battle of the veterans—Jamaica right-winger Omar Daley against Mexico left-back Carlos Salcido.

Salcido may have spent a lot of time in midfield of late, but he impressed upon his return to the left-back position against Nigeria and looks set to remain there. Daley, meanwhile, with 71 caps to his name, is the most capped outfield player in the Jamaica squad.

Both players have lost a yard of pace since they were in their prime, but it threatens to be a battle between the trickery of Daley and the intelligence of Salcido.

Jamaica will need all their attacking players firing if they are to claim a much-needed win, and Daley is a player they have consistently turned to for inspiration in recent years.