South Korea 1-2 Mexico live: World Cup 2018 Russia Group F
Carlos Vela and Javier Hernández goals saw Mexico defeat South Korea, for whom Son Heung-min hit a spectacular late consolation.
South Korea 1-2 Mexico: match report
Mexico maintained their 100% record at the World Cup in Russia with a win over South Korea in Sochi on Saturday afternoon. It wasn't an overly convincing win in the end even if they dominated for large spells of the game against a mediocre South Korean side.
It was Carlos Vela who opened the scoring after a handball inside the penalty are from Jang. He slid in with his hand in the air and the referee didn't need VAR or much thought to make his decision. Vela sent the keeper the wrong way and South Korea had a hill to climb.
They had planned to work on the counter but going a goal down left them with somewhat of a dilemma and it was obvious they are not built to play on the front foot. They barely troubled Mexico for the remainder of the game.
Even when Javier Hernandez put Mexico 2-0 up in the second half after Herrero won the ball back in the middle and fed it to Hirving Lozano to launch an attack. The PSV attacker laid it off Chicharito and he cut inside before poking it home.
South Korea were given a lifeline when their best player, Heung-Min Son, curled one by Ochoa in injury time but it was false hope. They tried to get an equaliser to keep themselves in the tournament but it wasn't to be as Mexico put themselves in a very healthy position to qualify for the last 16 as all of the onus is now on Germany and Sweden to catch the Juan Carlos Osorio's side.
South Korea vs Mexico live updates
South Korea vs Mexico live: preview
If Mexico are able to keep up the intensity, tactical nous and effectiveness they demonstrated in their famous and shock opening-game victory over reigning champions Germany then they should breeze past South Korea, who in turn narrowly lost to Sweden in their opening game. Moreover, a Mexico win would rubbish the idea they are a one-hit wonder.
The only other World Cup encounter between the two sides came at France ’98, with El Tri winning 3-1 in Lyon courtesy of two goals from Luis Hernández and another from Ricardo Peláez. The main difference between twenty years ago and now is that that Mexico side was made up of players from La Liga MX, whereas in Russia they have more European-based foundations and with two, three or even four – the case with long-serving Rafa Márquez – under their belt.
Shin Tae-yong’s side, meanwhile, will look to make tactical changes, moving away from a three-pronged attack and towards a line-up with the towering figure of Kim Shin-wook leading the line and two in behind. Juan Carlos Osorio is unlikely to ring too many changes, despite Mexico’s track record of shifting things around in the second game of a tournament, with the Colombian keen to avoid rocking the boat and to keep up the momentum that could see them top the group and avoid Brazil in the last 16.