Mexico tops S. Korea to quiet critics
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – The criticism of Mexico’s national team heading into the World Cup was loud and scathing. The answer has been emphatic. The Mexicans won their second straight match at the tournament, beating South Korea 2-1 Saturday to move ever 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.”
Mexico opened its World Cup by upsetting defending champion Germany 1-0. A second victory on Saturday gives it six points and a chance to win Group F on Wednesday when the team faces Sweden.
“We want the Mexican people to enjoy this. We are going to enjoy it,” Hernandez said. “But as of tomorrow we will be working hard thinking about Sweden and regardless of the results of the matches against Germany and South Korea, we are going to go out there to get the three points.”
Hernandez and Carlos Vela scored a goal each at Rostov Arena. Vela converted from the penalty spot in the 26th minute after Jang Hyun-soo handled the ball while trying to stop a cross from Andres Guardado.
Hernandez added the second in the 66th, scoring his 50th goal 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, Germany and South Korea,” Hernandez said. “Our talent and hard work have paid off.”
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he prepared more for the match against South Korea than for the game against Germany.
“Very often when you play countries or teams with less of a footballing history, human beings tend to rest on their laurels a little bit. They tend to relax, they tend to lose focus, so every weekend, every match, we insist on being fully focused on not losing that important message,” Osorio said. “We’ve received a lot of praise, we the team, and we’ve tried to remain focused.”
Son Heung-min scored a consolation goal for South Korea in injury time, sending a powerful shot past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Belgium 5, Tunisia 2
MOSCOW – Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard scored two goals each in a dominant Belgium display, leading their team over Tunisia in the highest scoring game of the World Cup.
The Red Devils were rampant at times and rested both forwards in the second half for tougher tests ahead. A spot in the round of 16 is almost certain after an opening 3-0 win over Panama.
Belgium had a two-goal lead within 16 minutes. Hazard scored with a sixthminute penalty kick he earned by being tripped, and Lukaku angled a low, leftfoot shot into the corner of the opposing goal.
Germany 2, Sweden 1
SOCHI, Russia – Toni Kroos scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time from outside the penalty area, and 10man Germany rallied to beat to stay alive at the World Cup.
Kroos’ goal came off a set play after a foul in the closing minutes of stoppage time.
Kroos tapped the ball to Marco Reus, who set it up for Kroos to curl the rightfooted shot to the far post. Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen couldn’t get his hand on it.