Mexico 2 Jamaica 0: Javier Hernandez netted as El Tricolor made it to the Copa America quarter-finals

Javier Hernandez was the matchwinner for Mexico once again his first-half header saw El Tricolor reach the quarter-finals.

Juan Carlos Osorio’s men impressed in their 3-1 opening game victory over Uruguay and were expected to ensure their passage into the next round with ease against the Reggae Boyz.

However, Wes Morgan and Co. proved a stubborn opposition and Mexico had to rely on goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to maintain their lead.

The favourites started slugglishly and the absence of Andres Guardado — who was sent off against Uruguay — was telling.

However, they opened the scoring with their first meaningful foray forward.

Jesus Corona floated a ball in the box and Chicharito, as he did so often with Manchester United, impressively readjusted his body, to head the ball into the corner and make it 1-0 on 18 minutes.

It was goal number 45 in Mexican colours for Hernandez as he closed in to just one behind all-time leading goal scorer, Jared Borghetti.

Jamaica refused to lie down and Je-Vaughn Watson wasted a golden opportunity on the counter attack ten minutes before half-time.

And Ochoa was forced into a super save five minutes later as the Reggae Boyz squandered three more chances during a frenzies melee in the Mexican penalty area.

Mexico began the second period the brighter as Corona missed two decent opportunities in the first ten minutes.

Jamaica’s Clayton Donaldson had a legitimate penalty shout turned down on 65 minutes after he appeared to be bundled down in the box.

Osorio decided there would be no history made in California, as he replaced Hernandez with Oribe Peralta on 77 minutes.

And the substitute made the points — and qualification safe — with a neat shot three minutes later.

The result means Mexico and Venezuela have qualified as both sit on six points, ahead of their encounter in Houston on June 14 — with the winner likely to avoid Argentina in the last-eight.