Mexico filters out ‘ noise’
Vela, Hernandez score as El Tri muzzles critics
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 consecutive match at the tournament, beating South Korea 2- 1 on Saturday in Rostov- On- Don, Russia, 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 Oso- rio 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,” he said.
Son Heung- min scored a consolation goal for South Korea in injury time, sending a powerful shot past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Germany 2, Sweden 1
Toni Kroos scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time from outside the penalty area, and 10- man Germany rallied to top Sweden in Sochi, Russia, 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 right- footed shot to the far post. Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen couldn’t get his hand on it.
Reus scored in the 48th minute to pull Germany even after Ola Toivonen’s goal in the 32nd minute put the Swedes in front. Germany finished with 10- men after Jerome Boateng was sent off following a second yellow card with about 10 minutes remaining.
Belgium 5, Tunisia 2
Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard scored two goals each in a dominant display by Belgium in Moscow, 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.