KUCHING: Luis Romo’s 50th-minute strike proved decisive as Mexico ground out a 1–0 victory over South Korea in a forgettable Group A encounter on Thursday, moving the co-hosts closer to securing top spot and a home knockout tie.
Played in front of a passionate crowd at Estadio Guadalajara, the match struggled to come alive for long stretches, with both sides failing to create meaningful chances in a first half dominated by misplaced passes and offsides.
South Korea enjoyed periods of possession and looked comfortable on the ball, but neither side managed to test the opposing goalkeeper as frustration grew among the supporters.
The deadlock was finally broken five minutes after the restart, albeit in unfortunate circumstances for the visitors.
South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu appeared set to comfortably gather a cross into the penalty area before colliding with a teammate and spilling the ball.
Romo reacted quickest, volleying into an empty net from close range to hand Mexico a lead they would never relinquish — much to the dismay of Seung-gyu.
The goal injected some urgency into the contest, but clear-cut opportunities remained scarce.
South Korea pushed forward in search of an equaliser, while Mexico appeared content to protect their advantage and rely on the backing of the home crowd.
Despite seeing plenty of the ball, the Koreans struggled to break through a disciplined Mexican defence, leaving Romo’s opportunistic finish as the defining moment of the match.
For Mexico, the result was far more important than the performance.
The victory strengthened their grip on Group A and leaves them firmly on course for a favourable route into the knockout rounds.
It may not have been a match that will live long in the memory, but Mexico will care little after collecting three valuable points in front of their home supporters.
