ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – Mexico took a big step toward clinching a spot in the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 win over South Korea in Group F action on Saturday afternoon at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
FW Carlos Vela converted a penalty kick in the first half, while all-time Mexico leading scorer FW Javier Hernandez scored his 50th international with a second half strike to earn Mexico (2W-0D-0L, 3GF, 1GC) three points and top spot in the group.
The Mexico attack picked up where it left off against Germany and was awarded a penalty kick when an Andres Guardado cross struck the arm of South Korea DF Jang Hyun-soo in the area in the 24.
Vela assumed penalty taking duties and calmly fired in the spot kick to hand El Tricolor a 1-0 lead in the 26’.
Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s team was hungry for more and less than two minutes after Vela’s conversion, MF Miguel Layun came within a foot of making it two but his hard-struck right-footed shot sailed just over the crossbar.
The Mexico momentum carried into the second half and a perfectly executed counterattack was finished off by the right foot of Hernandez in the 66’ to give Mexico a 2-0 advantage.
The Mexico defense also delivered another superb performance, anchored by GK Guillermo Ochoa and only a second half stoppage time strike from Son Heung-min that cut the lead to 2-1 prevented a second straight clean for the Mexico stopper.
Mexico will look to close Group F with a perfect record when they face Sweden on Wednesday in Yekaterinburg.
