Mexico secured its place in the World Cup round of 32 on Friday morning with a 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara, though the performance was widely described as unconvincing. Luis Romo scored the decisive goal after being rewarded with a start by Javier Aguirre, giving the veteran coach first place in Group A and helping Mexico reach the next stage.
The win also guarantees that Mexico will play its next match at Estadio Azteca, and if it reaches the round of 16, that game too would be held at the iconic venue. With top spot already sealed, Mexico is expected to field 17-year-old Gilberto Mora against Czechia in the next match. Guillermo Ochoa is also expected to start, which would be his sixth World Cup appearance and his fifth as the first-choice goalkeeper, in what could be a farewell appearance for the veteran.
Mexican media focused heavily on Romo and goalkeeper Raul Rangel. Writer Julio Rodriguez said, “In football there is always a second chance,” adding that Romo’s goal gave Mexico its second World Cup victory and showed he can be trusted. At the same time, commentators noted Mexico’s poor overall play, with El Pais reporting that the team had to crowd back and defend, angering the stands after an uninspiring first half that ended with some home fans booing.
Rangel received especially strong praise for his late saves, with several outlets saying he rescued the team in the closing minutes. Sport Nation called his double save “a candidate for save of the tournament.” Aguirre summed up the match by saying, “It was a complicated game, very complicated. In the end, the mistake decided it. The fans were the best part of the game.”
