The decisive moment arrived early in the second half when South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu failed to hold a routine high ball, spilling it into the path of Luis Romo, who calmly finished into an empty net in the 50th minute.
It was a cruel turning point in an otherwise tightly contested match, with both sides cautious and compact for long stretches of the first half. South Korea’s attacking threats, including Son Heung-min, were repeatedly blunted by Mexico’s disciplined defensive structure, while Mexico struggled to create clear chances from open play.
South Korea came closest in flashes, particularly in the closing stages when Cho Gue-sung was denied twice in quick succession by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel and last-ditch defending from Johan Vásquez. Despite six minutes of stoppage time and sustained pressure, they could not find an equalizer.
Earlier, Son had been involved in one of South Korea’s best openings, only for Mexico to survive a scramble in their box. At the other end, Mexico looked dangerous on the break, with Raúl Jiménez and substitutes providing late energy as the hosts dropped deeper to protect their lead.
The win also carried major group implications. Mexico became the first team to mathematically progress from the group stage and secured top spot in Group A with one match to spare. The result reflects a controlled tournament performance under head coach Javier Aguirre, who again prioritized structure and game management over attacking risk.
For South Korea, the defeat is not terminal. They remain in contention for qualification and now need at least a draw against South Africa in their final group match to keep their knockout hopes alive.
In front of a jubilant home crowd singing long after the final whistle, Mexico celebrated another step forward in their World Cup campaign, decided not by dominance, but by composure and a single costly mistake.
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