The first game of the Mexican team in Guadalajara in World Cups was far from brilliant, but like the opening game, it accomplished the mission. By beating a tough Korean squad 1-0, the Tricolor secured its place in the next round.

Luis Romo scored the lone goal by taking advantage of a childish error by the Korean goalkeeper, who dropped a ball in the area as the second half began, to give Mexico three points.

With the victory, Mexico ensures winning Group A with 6 points and obviously a place in the round of 32 of the World Cup. Korea is second with 3 units and the Czech Republic and South Africa follow with 1.

Although Mexico and Korea finished tied on points, the direct victory of Javier Aguirre's team guarantees them finishing at the top. That also means that Mexico will play its fourth World Cup match at the Azteca Stadium.

Mexican hierarchy over Korea in World Cups

Mexico maintained its dominance over Korea in World Cup matches and has now beaten it three times, the others being 3-1 in France 98 and 2-1 in Russia 2018.

Supported by 45,522 fans in the special World Cup presentation in Guadalajara, Mexico won with opportunism and then, after scoring the goal, with defensive toughness. He could have even scored one or two more goals, but the Korean goalkeeper, after his fatal mistake, was sublime.

This selection is stretching its capabilities to the maximum. She doesn't fall in love, but she has been effective, and has not allowed a goal in 180 minutes of the World Cup.

The goal shout exploded in the 50th minute, just after Brian Gutiérrez had entered the game with a couple of passes that cheered up the crowd. In the extension of one of them, the rebounded ball rose into the area.

Goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu jumped to grab the ball, but innocently lost it when he collided with Lee Gihyuk, one of his defenders. Luis Romo appeared a meter away to finish off the loose ball from the right and send it to the back of the net for the 1-0 score. Mexico, without doing much, capitalized on the terrible mistake of the 35-year-old goalkeeper who plays for Tokyo FC in Japan.

After the goal, the Koreans went furiously to the front, but Mexico firmly held off a series of attempts. And after the hydration break, El Tri put together one of their best plays of the game. Raúl Jiménez, who was very marked until then, received a pass from Julián Quiñones alone in the area, lowered the ball and shot from point-blank range, but goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu made a tremendous save.

The veteran goalkeeper once again avoided the second Mexican goal in the 84th minute when he launched himself to save a mid-range shot from Obed Vargas, who had come on as a substitute and was immediately dangerous.

Korea knocked on the door of a tie at 87', when Cho Guesung could not finish a great cross at the far post, nor could HJ Yang on the counterattack before a foul was called on goalkeeper “Tala” Rangel.

Korea puts Mexico to sleep in the first half

Mexico got a scare in the 16th minute when star player Heungmin Son beat the defenders with a long pass and finished over goalkeeper “Tala” Rangel. Edson Álvarez executed a scissors near the goal line to clear in a spectacular way. The play was invalidated due to offside by the LAFC attacker.

And three minutes later came the first warning from the Tricolor. Julián Quiñones, who scored the first goal of the World Cup, headed Roberto Alvarado's good cross from the right wing. The play was a goal, but Korean goalkeeper Seunggyu Kim made a great save.

Not much else happened in the first half, but it is notable that the Koreans took control of the ball in the last 10 minutes, including a period from 24 to 39 where Mexico did not have possession once. When the clock indicated 43' and the team dressed in purple played uninterruptedly, the bewildered audience began to whistle. El Tri disappeared and went to the locker room booed.

Lineups

Mexico – Raúl Rangel; Jorge Sánchez, Edson Álvarez, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Erik Lira, Luis Romo, Brian Gutiérrez; Roberto Alvarado, Julián Quiñones, Raúl Jiménez. Coach: Javier Aguirre. Korea – Seunggyu Kim; Hanbeom Lee, Minjae Kim, Moonhwan Kim, Youngwoo Seol; Gihyuk Lee, Inbeom Hwang, Seungho Paik, Jaesung Lee, Kangin Lee; Heungmin Son. Coach: Myung-Bo Hong.

News in development.