Read for 5 minutes19 Jun 2026 09:43 AM IST
The chorus of boos that followed the half-time whistle at Guadalajara Stadium on Friday confirmed what the statistics showed. The first 45 and a few minutes of football between Mexico and South Korea, which will determine which team will be the first to book a place in the knockouts at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was a cagey snoozefest. Just one save to show and an xG of 0.11 for both sides, which translates into almost negligible chances of seeing a goal.
The Mexican players looked somewhat confused by the fans’ response. It was no secret at this tournament that they would take a pragmatic approach when needed. “At the World Cup, the team that plays the most beautiful football doesn’t always win. The team that knows how to compete wins,” manager Javier Aguirre said in the run-up to the tournament. At the time, however, it might be safe to assume that at least some of those playing for El Tri thought the South Korean goalkeeper had put the ball at their feet at some point in the first half so they could score.
Well, that’s exactly what happened at five o’clock in the second half.
Julian Quinones, who scored the first goal of this World Cup, sent a cross from the right into the air by Raul Jimenez in the 50th minute. Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu came out to collect it but the ball slipped out of his gloves after coming into contact with Jimenez and his teammate Lee Gi-hyuk. He fell kindly at the feet of Luis Romo, a familiar name in these parts as he plays for CD Guadalajara who call this stadium home in the Mexican league and made no mistake turning the ball into an unguarded goal.
Korea had a half chance soon after that goal and their superstar captain Son Heung-min took the ball and raced into the box. Once there, though, he couldn’t get the ball off his feet and the move fizzled. It was Son’s final action of the day in that match, replacing Oh Hyun-gyu, who scored the winning goal against Czechia on the opening day last week.
Mexico’s Luis Romo (7), left, scores in the 50th minute for Mexico against South Korea. (AP Photo)
This time it was a different story for him and the Korean side. After a hydration break in the first half, Mexico slipped back into their comfort zone. The only difference is that this time there were no boos or whistles from the fans as the score was 1-0. The equation becomes simple, a win in this match will confirm Mexico as the group winners. The crowd in Guadalajara was well aware of this. They cheered every time a Korean chance was squandered, and the ball was brought out for even more rare counter-attacks.
Apart from the full-time whistle, the biggest cheer came in the 87th minute when Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel put his body on the line and made a double save to secure his side’s lead.
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For all of South Korea’s possession – 64 percent in the second half and 53 percent in the first half – it was the first and only time they troubled Rangel so much. Eom Ji-sung’s cross from the left was met by Cho Gyu-sung with a header. He was too close to Rangel, who did well to push the ball past. Cho flicked the ball towards the goal on the rebound, which Rangel was alert to. He dove left from a prone position and somehow managed to catch the ball.
Half-time boos aside, a further indication of the frenetic nature of the match was that both sides were awarded their first corner in the second minute of injury time. It was for South Korea and Lee Kang-in sent a near-perfect ball to Lee Han-beom. The latter, however, failed to turn it on. Crosses were then flown by the Koreans but the Mexicans were willing to do the job. The final whistle actually blew just as Mexico looked to have grabbed the game’s first corner after a counter-attack.
Half-time worries were forgotten. Guadalajara erupted with joy. The co-hosts qualified for the first round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup, winning their group for the first time since 2002. And they did it by keeping clean sheets in their first two matches.