Korea Republic's Heechan Hwang (white jersey) and Carlos Salcedo of Mexico challenge for the ball during their Men's Olympic Football Tournament match on August 10, 2016, in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
BRASILIA, Brazil – Defending gold medalist Mexico (1W-1D-1L, 4 points) was eliminated from the 2016 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament after falling 1-0 to Korea Republic (2-1-0, 7) on Wednesday at the Estadio Mane Garrincha.
That result dropped the Mexicans into third place in Group C, one point behind Germany, a 10-0 winner over Fiji. Only the top-two teams from each of the four groups advanced to the quarterfinals.
Midfielder Kwon Changhoon scored the lone goal in the 77th minute, when -- after beating two Mexico defenders just outside the penalty area -- he unleashed a left-footed shot into the near top corner.
Mexico played without forward Oribe Peralta and midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, who suffered nose and right-fibula fractures, respectively, in the second group match against Fiji on August 7.
Korea Republic will next face another CONCACAF side -- Honduras -- in Belo Horizonte on Saturday.
