Recap

Mexico downs South Korea to close in on round of 16

Carlos Vela's penalty and a superbly-taken breakaway goal by Javier Hernandez gave Mexico a 2-1 World Cup Group F win over South Korea on Saturday which put them on the brink of a place in the last 16.

El Tri sits top of Group F thanks to goals from Carlos Vela, Chicharito

Thomson Reuters ·
Mexico's Carlos Vela celebrates a goal with teammate Javier Hernandez during El Tri's 2-1 win over South Korea in Group F action on Saturday. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Carlos Vela's penalty and a superbly-taken breakaway goal by Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez gave Mexico a 2-1 World Cup Group F win over South Korea on Saturday which put them on the brink of a place in the last 16.

Mexico, shock winners over Germany in their opening game, went ahead in the 26th minute when Vela sent goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo the wrong way from the spot after Andres Guardado's cross hit the outstretched arm of Jang Hyun-soo at close range.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernández got his 50th international goal on Saturday to become the third Mexican to score in three different World Cups. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Hernandez added the second in the 66th minute, cutting inside his marker before guiding the ball home to finish off a lightning counter-attack after Mexico won the ball deep in their own half. Son Heung-min pulled one back for South Korea in stoppage time with a spectacular left-foot strike from outside the area.

Mexico lead with six points from two games while South Korea have lost both matches and have only a remote mathematical chance of progressing. Germany (no points) face Sweden (three) later on Saturday.

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