Knockout Round Set

Another Win! Mexico Celebrates Thanks to a Goalkeeper Blunder

Mexico defeats South Korea.(Bild: AP/Fernando Llano)

Second win in their second game. Mexico also celebrated a victory against South Korea; the World Cup host nation defeated the Asian side 1-0, thereby securing a spot in the knockout stage. Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after a costly mistake by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.

Mexico has clinched its spot in the Round of 16 at the World Cup ahead of schedule. The co-hosts defeated South Korea 1-0 (0-0) on Thursday in Guadalajara, leaving the second-place team in Group A three points behind. The Czech Republic and South Africa are already five points behind after a 1-1 draw in their head-to-head match ahead of the final game. Mexico kept a clean sheet, just as they did in their 2-0 win over South Africa; the only goal was scored by Luis Romo (50th minute).

“It was difficult; they put us under a lot of pressure, didn’t give us any space, and we didn’t give them any either. In the end, you had the feeling that a single mistake would make all the difference. It wasn’t a great game; the opponent didn’t allow us many chances,” summarized Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre. According to South Korea’s coach, his team played exactly as they had planned. “The way we conceded the goal was disappointing. We’ll give it our all in the final group match,” said Hong Myung-bo.

In an almost uneventful first half, there was only one clear scoring chance in front of 45,522 spectators, and it belonged to the home team, who were playing without their suspended captain, Cesar Montes. Following a cross from Alvarado, Julian Quinones’s header was saved by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (20th minute). Otherwise, he—just like his counterpart—was completely untroubled, as neither team managed to penetrate the penalty area for most of the match. The scoreless tie at halftime was the logical outcome. After the restart, the Mexicans needed just five strong minutes. Jesús Gallardo first hit the side netting (49th minute).

A Gift from the Hosts Proves Decisive
One minute later, the Mexicans gratefully accepted agift from the hosts. Kim caught a cross but let the ball slip out of his hands after colliding with a teammate—Romo slotted it into the empty net. After that, Korea’s goalkeeper saved his team from falling further behind, closing down the near post on a shot by Raúl Jiménez (75th minute) and stopping a shot by Vargas (85th minute). But Mexico’s goalkeeper, Jose Rangel, also took center stage for the first and only time in the 87th minute. He first secured Cho Gue-sung’s close-range header and then stopped Yang Hyun-jun’s follow-up shot (87').

Luis Romo scored the only goal of the game.(Bild: AP/Silvia Izquierdo)

It wasn’t until stoppage time that the only two corner kicks of the entire match were awarded. They did nothing to change the fact that “El Tri” came out on top against South Korea, just as they did at the 2018 World Cup (2–1).