San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Mexico, Belgium win to dominate groups
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, beating South Korea 2-1 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. Germany and Sweden could also finish with six points, creating a three-way tie that would invoke goal differential to decide which teams advance.
“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 Hyeonwoo after collecting a pass from Hirving Lozano.
Son Heung-min scored a consolation goal for South Korea in injury time, sending a powerful shot past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
The South Koreans, who have lost their opening two matches, kept Ochoa under pressure throughout the match with Son often out-sprinting the Mexican defense. South Korea still has a sliver of hope to advance on goal difference if it beats Germany (preferably by two goals or more) and Mexico beats Sweden on Wednesday.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, in Russia on an official visit, attended the match at Rostov Arena.
Belgium 5, Tunisia 2: Belgium made a statement in its rout of Tunisia in Moscow. No team has scored more goals than Belgium’s eight, and only Cristiano Ronaldo can match Romelu Lukaku’s tally of four.
Eden Hazard also scored twice in the dominant display that produced the highestscoring game of the tournament. The Belgians are on a 21-game unbeaten run since September 2016.
But Belgium has yet to face South American or European opposition at this World Cup. 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 victories.
No player has had back-toback World Cup games like that since Diego Maradona in 1986.
Tunisia scored on Dylan Bronn’s header in the 18th minute and Wahbi Khazri’s shot with almost the last kick of the match. Tunisia was not yet eliminated ahead of Sunday’s England-Panama match; a draw by England would end the Tunisians’ hopes.
Briefly: Brazil has ruled out Douglas Costa (thigh injury) and Danilo (right hip) against Serbia on Wednesday. Brazil just needs a draw to advance to the second round . ... Spain midfielder Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion says he and his teammates are able to watch all matches in Russia because some are at the same time of the “siesta,” the country’s traditional afternoon nap time . ... There have been no 0-0 draws in the first 29 matches of a World Cup for the first time.