Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel's Elite Play And South Korea's Mistake Help Mexico Advance

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Three and a half years aft its biggest nonaccomplishment connected nan World Cup stage successful half a century, nan Mexican nationalist squad needed only 2 games to beforehand to nan knockout information of this year’s tourney arsenic victor of Group A.

Mexico’s defense held disconnected a spirited last push by South Korea, earning a 1-0 win connected Thursday nighttime astatine Guadalajara Stadium successful beforehand of a fiery announced sellout crowd of 45,522.

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made a correction successful nan 50th minute, failing to extremity what appeared to beryllium a elemental transverse and bobbling nan ball. That allowed Mexico’s Luis Romo to easy pat nan shot into nan nett and declare a 1-0 lead.

South Korea put unit connected nan Mexican squad passim nan game. Late successful nan scoreless first half, Jae-sung Lee came adjacent to giving South Korea nan lead. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre hoped his squad would shingle disconnected nerves pursuing nan affectional opener astatine Azteca Stadium and show much wound successful its 2nd crippled against South Korea, but his squad didn’t person overmuch powerfulness down its onslaught during nan game’s first 45 minutes.

Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel blocks a changeable from South Korea’s Son Heung-min during their World Cup lucifer astatine Guadalajara Stadium connected Thursday.

(Natacha Pisarenko / Ap Photo/natacha Pisarenko)

The crowd successful Guadalajara grew disappointment and began booing nan Mexican nationalist team’s capacity astatine nan extremity of nan first half.

Mexico, however, won backmost their cheers erstwhile it capitalized connected South Korea’s costly correction and converted it into a goal.

El Tri earned a triumph without immoderate different goals thanks, successful part, to a awesome nighttime by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, who stopped a header by Cho Gue-sung successful nan 87th minute. Captain Edson Álvarez helped move distant South Korea’s onslaught late, holding up comparatively good contempt having near ankle room during nan past year.

LAFC prima and South Korea skipper Son Heung-min fired 1 changeable complete Mexico’s goalkeeper successful nan first half, but Álvarez cleared it disconnected nan statement earlier nan referee ruled Son was offsides.

South Korea vanished controlling possession 58% of nan time, but it only earned 2 shots connected target.

Mexico was coming disconnected a comfortable 2-0 triumph complete South Africa, while nan South Koreans had defeated nan Czech Republic 2-1, marking their first World Cup opening-match triumph since 2010.

During nan 2022 World Cup successful Qatar, Mexico was eliminated successful nan group shape for nan first clip since 1978, breaking a streak of 7 consecutive appearances successful nan knockout rounds. However, playing connected location soil, nan team’s extremity is to emulate El Tri’s achievements successful 1970 and 1986, erstwhile they reached nan quarterfinals — nan country’s champion World Cup finish.

Due to nan caller 48-team format, Mexico would request to triumph 2 knockout-round matches and scope a sixth crippled to recognize its goals.

Mexico’s Luis Romo celebrates pinch his teammates aft scoring during a lucifer against South Korea astatine Guadalajara Stadium connected Thursday.

(Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

After nan triumph complete South Korea, Mexico will adjacent retired group play against Czechia astatine Azteca Stadium successful Mexico City connected Wednesday. El Tri will get to play nan first 2 games of nan knockout information — should it triumph nan first 1 — astatine Azteca Stadium, a venue wherever it has ne'er mislaid a World Cup game.

South Korea has 4 points and will beryllium favored erstwhile it plays South Africa Wednesday successful Monterrey. If South Korea wins nan match, it would beryllium nan Group A runner-up and beforehand to play nan Group B runner-up connected June 28 astatine SoFi Stadium.