Co-hosts Mexico are through to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Korea in front of a vociferous home fans at the Guadalajara Stadium<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luis Romo’s goal just after half-time put Mexico through as Group A winners with a match to go following a goalkeeping mistake by Kim Seung-gyu. In contrast, Mexico stopper Raul Rangel made a superb double save in the dying minutes to preserve their lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finishing top keeps Mexico at home in the last 32 with a game against a third-placed team in Mexico City. Korea Republic are second on three points, with Czechia and South Africa also still alive on one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both teams went into the clash in front of a passionate home crowd knowing that victory would guarantee progress in double-quick time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre made three changes from the side that beat South Africa 2-0 a week ago to open the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His counterpart Hong Myung-bo made just one alteration, largely keeping faith with the team that fought back to defeat the Czechia 2-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Korea Republic skipper Son Heung-min had the first sniff at goal after 15 minutes, looping the ball over Rangel only for Edson Alvarez to prevent it going in with a bicycle kick on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Los Angeles FC attacker Son was belatedly flagged for offside although replays suggested it was a close call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julian Quinones, who scored the opening goal of the tournament, then forced Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim into a good save from a header, raising the decibels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of an uneventful half belonged to Korea Republic as they stroked the ball around at will, without ever creating a clear chance, but they did succeed in silencing the home support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hosts started the second period with far more intent, and five minutes in they went ahead when the goalkeeper Kim came for a high ball and clattered into his own player, spilling it straight to Romo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He just needed to poke the ball first time into an unguarded net, triggering pandemonium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hong took off Son before the hour and threw on Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers but the Koreans were mostly ineffective going forward until the final few minutes, when Guadalajara native Rangel came to Mexico’s rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They will face the Czechia in their dead-rubber final group game while Korea play South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Co-hosts Mexico are through to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup with a hard-earned 1-0 win<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[430],"tags":[276,63],"class_list":["post-13986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-fifa","tag-football"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t