Fans party outside Korea embassy as Mexico enter last 16

MeXICO CItY: Hundreds of Mexican football fans partied outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City to thank the Asian country for their victory over Germany, which guaranteed the national team a spot in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

After Sweden beat Mexico 3-0 on Wednesday, Mexican fans turned their support to South Korea, fearful that a victory by Germany would send their players home.

South Korea then stunned the world by defeating Germany 2-0 with two goals in the final minutes of the game, ensuring the former world champions were eliminated and allowing Mexico to finish the group in second place.

Though South Korea themselves were knocked out, Mexicans flocked to the embassy to celebrate the Asian team.

“Thank you so much, (Koreans) are awesome. They are awesome,” Gladys Ison, a 19-year-old Mexican said as she waved a South Korean flag outside the embassy.

Mexican airline Aeromexico announced a 20% discount on its Korean flights, saying: “We love you Korea!”

Traffic snarled around the embassy in the capital’s upscale Lomas de Chapultepec neighbourhood as jubilant fans leapt up and down, cheered and drank tequila, mobbing Korean diplomatic staff and singing Mexican football hymns.

Counselor Park Sun-tae was raised smiling aloft on fans’ shoulders, who chanted “Korean, brother, now you’re Mexican!”

The consul general at the embassy, Han Bjoung-jin, said: “There’s no distinction between Mexicans and Koreans today. We’re celebrating together.”

Fans also led an embassy official in a chorus of “Cielito Lindo”, Mexico’s unofficial football anthem. — Reuters