A mistake from South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu gifted Mexico the only goal of the game and secured their passage into the next round of the World Cup at a raucous Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on Thursday evening.
In a tight and cagey encounter, the hosts kept their opponents at bay with relative ease until a nervy last few minutes, when goalkeeper Raul Rangel pulled off an astonishing double save to keep out Cho Gue-sung’s close-range header and Yang Hyun-jun’s scooped follow-up effort,
Team booed off at half-time but cheered at final whistle
It was a curious performance from both teams in an insipid first half that rarely got going. Mexico labored through struggling to create chances and drawing boos from frustrated fans after a scoreless opening 45 minutes against South Korea.
The performance reflected the pragmatic approach favored by coach Javier Aguirre, whose reputation has been built on defensive organization rather than expansive attacking play. The veteran manager has long been admired for guiding teams through difficult situations with a disciplined, results-first philosophy.
Aguirre set Mexico up to stay compact without the ball, willingly conceding possession in order to protect his defense and disrupt South Korea’s attacks. The approach limited clear opportunities at both ends but did little to entertain the crowd, which made sure to show their dissatisfaction.
The match changed after Luis Romo broke the deadlock, allowing Mexico to play with greater freedom and commit more players forward. South Korea responded by increasing the pressure during a frantic closing stretch.
Mexico ultimately held firm to secure the result, but the contrast between Aguirre’s cautious tactics and supporters’ desire for a more adventurous style remained evident throughout the night.
Canada smash six past nine-man Qatar in fiery game
Elsewhere, Canada all-but secured their spot in the next round with an explosive performance against Qatar in a game that saw six goals, two red cards, a hat-trick, and heated confrontations between both sets of players and team staff.
Canada took control early as Cyle Larin opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finishing from close range for his second goal in as many matches. Jonathan David doubled the lead 13 minutes later to put the hosts firmly in command.
Qatar’s task became even harder in the 33rd minute when Homam El Amin was sent off for bringing down Tajon Buchanan as the winger raced clear on goal. David added his second in first-half stoppage time to give Canada a 3-0 lead at the break.
The second half was overshadowed by a horrific injury to Ismaël Koné, leading to the second red card of the game for Qatar, with Assim Madibo sent for an early bath. However, Canada continued to press forward. Nathan Saliba curled in a free kick in the 63rd minute before holding up Koné’s shirt in tribute, drawing a loud ovation from the crowd.
Canada extended its advantage with 15 minutes remaining when Mohammad Al Mannai turned Jacob Shaffelburg’s effort into his own net under pressure from the Canadian attack.
David completed his hat trick in stoppage time, pouncing on Buchanan’s attempt before firing past Mahmoud Abunada to cap a dominant Canadian performance.
Switzerland overcome Bosnia and Czechia share points with South Africa
Meanwhile, Switzerland strengthened its position in the group with a commanding 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure their first win of the tournament. The Swiss controlled much of the contest and pulled away in the second half to move into contention for a place in the knockout stage.
Bosnia struggled to contain Switzerland’s attacking pressure after falling behind, leaving its World Cup hopes hanging in the balance ahead of the final round of group matches. Only a win will do against Qatar if they are to surv
Earlier, Czechia and South Africa played out a 1-1 draw in Group A, with both teams earning a point in a tightly contested encounter. Czechia had chances to claim all three points but they were unable to find a winner against a resilient South African side.
The result leaves Group A finely balanced heading into the final round of fixtures, with several teams still in contention for qualification.
