Mexico's Matias Vuoso (left) fights for the ball with Jamaica's Ian Goodison during a World Cup 2010 qualifying football match in Mexico City on Saturday. Mexico won 3-0. - AP

MEXICO CITY, Mexico:

DESPITE suffering a nasty injury in Saturday night's Group Two CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Mexico at The Azteca Stadium, key central defender Ian 'Pepe' Goodison is likely to heal in time for Wednesday's crucial away tie in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

"The nature of the injury is it's a contusion with abrasion," pointed out Dr Charles Roberts, the team's physician.

"The contusion means a direct blow that crushes soft tissue - both the inner thigh and inner leg, all the way down to the ankle.

"The primary disability with that is the effect of pain, more than interference with muscle functions. So it really hurts a lot," he further explained. "But, if all goes well, he really should be able to play on Wednesday. He'll have to get very intensive treatment between now and then," Dr Roberts stated.

"We'll be icing and resting it over the next 48 hours, with pain killers and anti-inflammatory treatment and hope he'll be up and running."

Stretchered off the pitch

After the game, Goodison, who was stretchered off the pitch after the contact, then taken off twice to receive further treatment later in the second half, remarked: "It feels sore ... it's stiff for now."

Goodison was done in by a lunging challenge from Mexican defender and captain Rafael Marquez, at the 40th minute.

Marquez lost the ball on an overlapping play and went studs first into Goodison's thigh, then lower leg.

American referee Baldomero Toledo gave the Mexican a yellow card, for what should have been a red, in the game Jamaica lost 0-3.

Andres Guardado, with a second-minute free kick, Fernando Arce, with a searing shot from 15 yards in the 33rd, and centre half Jonny Magallon who struck a fierce volley into the roof of the net from a corner, scored the goals as their team dominated the contest from start to finish, missing many other chances to score.

The loss left Jamaica at the bottom of the quadrangular series on one point with Canada, which lost 1-2 at home to Honduras, who moved to second on four points. Mexico lead with maximum six points. All the teams have played two games each.

The Jamaicans flew into Honduras this morning to prepare for Wednesday's qualifier against the hosts.

- Audley Boyd