SOUTH KOREA 1 MEXICO 2 PEASY
Mexico goal hero Javier Hernandez shows the way to the knockout stages in 2-1 victory JAVIER HERNANDEZ sparked a Mexican wave of euphoria with a strike to send them Loco down in Acapulco.
The West Ham and former Manchester United striker grabbed his 50th international goal in 104 games after 66 minutes to add to a first-half penalty opener by one-time Arsenal star Carlos Vela (below).
And after another day of delight for the travelling Mexican fans in the sweltering Rostov Arena, boss Juan Carlos Osorio and his stars are set fair for a fairytale place in the last 16.
Jubilant goal hero Hernandez was ecstatic after reaching a half-century of goals, having now scored in three World Cups.
The ‘Little Pea’ said: “There are no words to describe how I am feeling – it’s more than I could have dreamed.
“I am on the on right track and I’ve got to continue what I’m doing. I want to win victories for my country. That’s what makes me tick.
“Fifty goals is a personal achievement but I devote it to the team – we are one family.
“We’ve come to Russia with a lot of criticism but we’ve channelled that and are doing the best we can.
“All of the criticism is just noise and we don’t hear that. We’ve beaten Germany and now South Korea. We want to enjoy this and we want the Mexican people to enjoy it.
“But we have to be cool and calm. We want to get the three points against Sweden to top the group and then start climbing the ladder in the knockout phase.”
South Korea, led from the front by Tottenham star Heung-min Son, gave it their all. But their Russia dream is in tatters after losing to Sweden and now Mexico.
They had no real answer to the Mexican’s defensive wall – or the potent attacking threat of Hernandez, Hirving Lozano and Miguel Layun.
Son did spread a moment of late panic with a superb 93rd-minute strike – but this was Mexico’s day.
Osorio promised they’d attack and he was true to his word. They may not have a Neymar, a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Romelu Lukaku but their football has a star quality. They went ahead with a crash, Jang, wallop as Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo handled an Andres Guardado cross and Vela scored from the spot. Korea took risks after the break and were caught out by Hernandez. Son’s late strike was too little too late – but for Mexico and Hernandez there was only pure joy.