Co-hosts Mexico national football team have become the first side to book a place in the knockout stage of the World Cup after edging South Korea national football team 1-0 in a tense Group A clash at a packed Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday.
Following a goalless and largely uninspiring first half, Mexico broke the deadlock shortly after the restart when Luis Romo capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake to fire home the only goal of the match.
The result ensured Mexico advanced as Group A winners with one group game still remaining.
In the closing stages, goalkeeper Raul Rangel produced a decisive moment, pulling off a brilliant double save to preserve the narrow lead and secure all three points for the hosts.
“It’s really difficult to deal with the emotions,” coach Javier Aguirre said of the challenges going into the game.
He reserved special praise for Rangel and the supporters in Guadalajara.
“His save was just amazing,” said Aguirre.
It was quite a tactical match, and hard to digest for the fans, but they were outstanding.
“I would just like to say thank you to them, they’ve been fantastic ever since we got here.
“Mexico jerseys were everywhere, everywhere you turned it was green shirts.”
South Korea sit second in the group on three points, alongside the Czech Republic and South Africa, who remain in contention with one game left.
South Korea national football team coach Hong Myung-bo’s side will next face South Africa, still needing a positive result to strengthen their qualification hopes.
Match overview: goalkeepers shape the contest
Javier Aguirre made three changes to the Mexico side that previously beat South Africa 2-0, while Hong Myung-bo made only one adjustment, sticking largely with the team that defeated the Czech Republic 2-1.
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South Korea created the first major chance in the 15th minute when Son Heung-min almost opened the scoring, lifting the ball over Rangel, only for Edson Alvarez to clear acrobatically off the line.
The Son Heung-min effort was later ruled offside, though replays suggested it was a tight decision.
Mexico responded through Julian Quinones, whose header forced a strong save from Kim Seung-gyu, lifting the intensity inside the stadium.
Much of the first half, however, was controlled by South Korea’s passing play, as they retained possession and limited Mexico’s attacking threat, briefly quieting the home crowd and drawing half-time jeers.
The hosts returned from the break with more urgency and were rewarded five minutes into the second half.
A loose challenge from goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who collided with a teammate while dealing with a high ball, gifted possession to Romo, who calmly tapped into an empty net to put Mexico ahead.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo made a bold change before the hour mark, substituting veteran star Son Heung-min and introducing Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers in search of greater attacking impact.
Despite the change, South Korea struggled to create clear chances until the final minutes, when Rangel again emerged as the hero for the hosts with a crucial late double save.
Mexico will now turn their attention to their final group fixture against the Czech Republic, while earlier in the day South Africa and the Czech Republic played out a 1-1 draw.