Mexico making more noise
Second straight victory answers team’s critics
The criticism of Mexico’s national team heading into the World Cup was loud and scathing.
The answer emphatic.
The Mexicans won their second straight match at the tournament, beating South Korea 2-1 on Saturday in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, to move closer to a spot in the round of 16.
“We didn’t listen to the criticism,” said Javier Hernandez, one of the scorers against South Korea. “It was just noise.”
In its opening World Cup match, Mexico upset defending champion Germany 1-0. A second victory Saturday gives it six points and a chance to win Group F on Wednesday when it faces Sweden.
“We want the Mexican people to enjoy this; we are going to enjoy it,” Hernandez said. “But as of (Sunday) we will be thinking about Sweden. And regardless of the results against Germany and South Korea, we are going to go out there to get the three points.”
Carlos Vela also scored for Mexico, doing so in the 26th minute. He converted from the penalty spot after Jang Hyun-soo handled the ball while trying to stop a cross from Andres Guardado.
Hernandez added the second goal in the 66th minute, his 50th for Mexico. He hit the ball low past goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo after collecting a pass from Hirving Lozano.
“We have beaten two brilliant and complicated teams,” Hernandez said. “Our talent and hard work have paid off.”
Mexico coach has Juan been Carlos Osorio said he prepared more for this match than the one against Germany.
“Very often when you play countries or teams with less of a football history, human beings tend to rest on their laurels a little bit,” Osorio said. “They tend to relax, to lose focus . ... We’ve received a lot of praise and we’ve tried to remain focused.”
Son Heung-min scored a consolation goal for South Korea in injury time.
Germany 2, Sweden 1: The desperate world champions from Germany were seconds from losing control of their Cup fate when Toni Kroos whispered to Marco Reus just outside Sweden’s penalty area.
With the score tied in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Kroos seemed to remind Reus of a trick play from training that will on in World Cup lore.
Down to 10 men after Jerome Boateng was given a second yellow card, Germany rallied for a victory over Sweden in Sochi thanks to a strike from Kroos that caught the Swedes by surprise.
“The fact Toni Kroos put it away is just incredible,” Reus said. “He’s shown that talent on previous occasions, but really in this case it was practically the very last opportunity to win this match.”
Kroos lined up for a free kick as if he were going for the goal but just tapped the ball to Reus, who held it with his toe as the defenders paused. Kroos swung his right foot, curling the ball past a spinning Sebastian Larsson and over the outstretched hand of diving Swedish goalkeeper live Robin Olsen.
The Swedes watched the ball go in, mouths open in disbelief, while the Germans ran to Kroos and erupted in emotional relief.
“This was a thriller, full of emotions, a roller-coaster ride right up until the final whistle,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.
Coming off an opening loss to Mexico, Germany fell behind again when Kroos’ early mistake led to Ola Toivonen’s goal in the 32nd minute. Reus provided the equalizer for Germany 16 minutes later.
A point for a draw would have been enough to keep Germany alive for the knockout stage, but it would have needed help on the final day. Now Germany has some control over what happens.
Mexico leads with six points, Group F and Germany and Sweden both have three. Mexico faces Sweden and Germany takes on winless South Korea in the final group matches.
Crazy as it seems, all four teams still have a chance to advance on the final day.
“There’s nothing strange to get ready for that match,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said. “We still have an excellent opportunity to qualify.”
Belgium 5, Tunisia 2: Belgium made a big statement in Moscow, producing the highest-scoring match of the tournament in its victory over Tunisia.
No team has scored more goals than Belgium’s eight, and only Cristiano Ronaldo can match Romelu Lukaku’s total of four. Belgium has yet to face South American or European opposition, however, and playing England on Thursday should decide who advances to the round of 16 as the winner of Group H.
“In the end, we need to play better teams and have better focus,” said Lukaku, who has scored two goals in each of Belgium’s two wins.
No player has had backto-back World Cup games like that since Diego Maradona in 1986, though Argentina’s iconic captain did it in the quarterfinals and semifinals — against Belgium — before lifting the trophy.
Though Belgium is a long way from a first World Cup title, it is has looked like the most complete attacking force in Russia. On Saturday, Eden Hazard also scored twice for Belgium, while Michy Batshuayi, who substituted for Hazard in the 68th minute, added a goal in the 90th.