Mexico 1-0 South Korea: Romo strike makes Mexico first team into World Cup last 32

Key facts

• Result: Mexico 1-0 South Korea, Group A, Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan
• Goal: Luis Romo, 50th minute, after a goalkeeping error
• Milestone: Mexico is the first team into the round of 32
• Standings: Mexico through as winners; South Korea second on three points; Czechia and South Africa alive on one
• Key Save: Raul Rangel made a double save in the closing minutes to protect the lead

Waiting for a mistake

South Korea had threatened first. Son Heung-min went close after 15 minutes, dinking the ball over Rangel only for Edson Alvarez to hook it off the line with an acrobatic bicycle kick. Son thought he'd made the breakthrough soon after, but the flag went up for a tight offside call.

Mexico ground out a narrow win in front of a home crowd at Estadio Guadalajara. The game looked set to drift toward the break until disaster struck for South Korea five minutes into the second half. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu spilled a cross in his own box and served the ball up on a plate for Luis Romo, who had the simple task of rolling it into an empty net.

At the other end, Rangel stood tall when it mattered, pulling off a double save late on to keep Mexico's lead intact.

A game to forget, but a result to remember

Javier Aguirre praised his players' resistance after sealing top spot with a match to spare. "It was a very close game; we didn't give up a single centimetre and fought for every ball as if it were our last," he told TV Azteca.

Mexico's coach was blunt about the quality on show. "It was a game where whoever made a mistake would lose, and it was them... It was a game to forget, but the result is one to remember," Aguirre said.

The outcome keeps the co-hosts on home soil for the next round. "We'll see how the last match plays out and wait for our opponent [in the round of 32]. I'm leaving happy, because it means we're not leaving home, our beloved Mexico," he added.

The selection calls

Aguirre made three changes from the side that beat South Africa 2-0 a week earlier. His counterpart, Hong Myung-bo, made just one alteration to the team that came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1.

Hong's biggest call came before the hour, when he withdrew captain Son and sent on Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers. South Korea passed the ball around comfortably for spells but rarely threatened.

What it means

Finishing first in Group A guarantees Mexico a round-of-32 tie against a third-placed side. It is the first time Mexico have won a World Cup group since 2002.

South Korea sit second on three points and are not yet through. Czechia and South Africa, who drew 1-1 earlier in the day, both remain alive on one point.

In the last group match, Mexico will play against Czechia. South Korea face South Africa in a match that will shape the rest of the standings.