GUADALAJARA: Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the round of 16 of the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over South Korea in a roaring Guadalajara stadium on Thursday.
Luis Romo’s goal just after halftime put Mexico through to victory in Group A with one game remaining, following an incident on the goalkeeper.
On the other hand, Mexican stopper Raul Rangel made a superb double save in the final minutes to maintain his lead.
By finishing first, Mexico remains at home in the round of 16 with a match against a third-ranked team in Mexico City.
South Korea are second with three points, while the Czech Republic and South Africa are also still alive with just one.
Both teams competed in front of a passionate home crowd, knowing that victory would guarantee progress twice as fast.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre made three changes from the team that beat South Africa 2-0 a week ago to open the tournament.
His counterpart Hong Myung-bo made just one change, largely sticking with the team that fought back to beat the Czech Republic 2-1.
South Korean skipper Son Heung-min was the first to sniff at goal after 15 minutes, sending the ball over Rangel only for Edson Alvarez to keep it out with a bicycle kick off the line.
Los Angeles FC forward Son was flagged late for offside, although replays suggested it was a close call.
Julian Quinones, scorer of the first goal of the tournament, then forced South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to make a good header save, raising the decibels.
The remainder of an uneventful half belonged to South Korea who stroked the ball at will, never creating a clear-cut chance, but they managed to silence the home support.
Jeers rang out at halftime from Mexican fans.
The hosts started the second half with much more intention, and five minutes later they took the lead when goalkeeper Kim came for a high ball and smashed into his own player, sending it straight back to Romo.
All he had to do was poke the ball into an unguarded net for the first time, sparking pandemonium.
Hong surprisingly withdrew veteran talisman Son before the hour and started Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan.
But the Koreans were rather toothless until the final minutes, when Rangel, originally from Guadalajara, came to Mexico’s rescue.
They will face the Czech Republic in their final group match, while South Korea will face South Africa.
South Africa and the Czechs drew 1-1 earlier today.
