TOKYO, Japan – Mexico’s attack put on a goal-scoring clinic in a 6-3 victory over South Korea in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Saturday night at the International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.
With the win, El Tricolor advance to the semifinals, where they will face defending Gold Medal winners Brazil on Tuesday.
Mexico got off to a dream start, 1-0, in the 12’ when Alexis Vega swung a cross to the far post to Luis Romo, who headed across goal and Henry Martin was there to steer home a header himself.
But South Korea had an answer and a fantastic left-footed strike from Lee Dong-gyeong in the 20’ made it 1-1.
The Vega-Romo connection that had set the table for the first goal bore fruit again in the 29’, this time with Vega flighting in a pass to Romo, whose exquisite control and volley gave Mexico a 2-1 lead.
A push on Uriel Antuna in the South Korea area then resulted in a penalty, and Sebastian Cordova calmly converted the spot kick to stretch the lead to 3-1 in the 39’.
South Korea looked to pull a goal back and Dong-gyeong brought his side to life with another left-footed strike in the 51’ to cut the gap to 3-2.
Mexico were unfazed, though, and in short order it was a two-goal advantage again in the 54’ with Martin connected with a header off a Cordova free kick to make it 4-2.
The Mexican attack were keen to put the victory on ice and Cordova duly obliged by firing an absolute rocket into the top left corner of net in the 63’ to give Mexico a 5-2 lead.
Mexico’s memorable night was capped by Eduardo Aguirre swinging in a right-footed shot in the 84’ for a 6-2 lead, before South Korea’s Hwang Ui-jo would pull one back in the 90+1’ to complete the 6-3 scoreline.
