Fifa World Cup: Son Heung-min draws blank as Mexico overcome South Korea to reach last 32

Son Heung-min must have thought he was about to shush the inhospitable Guadalajara Stadium and quieten the noises about his powers being on the wane following a recent series of ineffective performances.
Lifting the ball over Raul Rangel in the Mexico goal after 16 minutes, Son was poised to celebrate his first World Cup goal since 2018, only for defender Edson Alvarez to perform a superb acrobatic overhead clearance off the line.
Had the ball gone in, a belated linesman’s flag would have ruled out Son’s effort anyhow. Foiled at every turn: that is how it is going for the 33-year-old right now.
Conversely, for Luis Romo, the night could not have been sweeter. Playing in his home stadium, the C.D. Guadalajara midfielder was perfectly positioned to capitalise on some madcap goalkeeping from Kim Seung-gyu and steer home the 50th-minute strike that settled this low-grade contest.
Romo’s intervention got the home crowd firmly back on side, and booked Mexico’s passage to the last 32. Hosts or not, they will have to significantly improve to last long in this tournament.

Soon after Romo’s gift goal, Son was withdrawn to a cheer from the home fans; instinctively relieved to see the back of a man with 56 international goals.
It is illustrative of a change in Son’s stature, nonetheless, that Hong Myung-bo, the head coach, would remove him when his side needed a goal. It was a move that would once have qualified as heresy.
There was enough in a bright and purposeful front-running shift, nonetheless, to indicate that Son will continue raging against the dying of the light for a while yet. He retains the presence, mobility and intelligence to frighten opponents, if not the physical standing of his replacement, Oh Hyeon-gyu.
Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo is currently competing in his second World Cup since playing at 33 in 2018. Lionel Messi was 35 when he won the tournament for the first time.
The often disguised fiery streak remains intact, too, Son unable to contain his fury when he felt wronged by a first-half decision from Gustavo Tejera, the Uruguayan referee.
Certainly, the former Tottenham Hotspur player figured far more prominently than any of his Mexican attacking counterparts; all full of pace, ingenuity and hunger against South Africa seven days ago, but largely contained and subdued here.
Howls rained down from the pulsing stands as South Korea hogged possession around 10 minutes before half-time. They kept the ball so long that the baying fans ran out of breath, allowing the crisp passing to fleetingly continue in near silence.
Outstanding against the South Africans, Julian Quinones had Mexico’s clearest first-half opening but his header from Roberto Alvarado’s right-wing cross was well saved by Kim.
A mariachi band had entertained supporters enjoying tailgate parties in the vast car park outside this beautiful, remote stadium pre-match.
When Mexico fans jigged to more of the same music, played live during both hydration breaks, the bizarre spectacle perfectly encapsulated how football has been ‘repackaged’ for this World Cup.
After the first-half pause, a refreshed Son was soon outfoxing Alvarez and thrashing a shot that Rangel repelled at his near post. It then emerged that he had again strayed offside before collecting possession.
South Korea kept coming. Seol Young-woo flashed a close-range strike off target. Had Lee Jae-sung been one shoe size bigger, he would have converted a fizzing low delivery from the right.
The half-time whistle was met with fierce, sustained booing from the restless home supporters.
They grew excited when Jesus Gallardo aimed wastefully into the side-netting after scurrying clear following the restart, before previously untroubled South Korea became the architects of their own downfall.
Coming for a routine cross, Kim toppled over his own defender, Lee Gi-hyuk, crash-landing and spilling the ball at the feet of Romo.
He lifted his controlled finish over the grounded keeper and through the scattered defensive bodies forlornly trying to recover.
Son was overrun in the Mexico penalty box as he targeted an instant response, and he would soon be dragged off. The attacker’s barren World Cup finals patch now extends to six matches, stretching back to his goal in a 2-0 victory over Germany eight years ago.
Kim gained partial redemption after saving very smartly from the otherwise anonymous Raul Jimenez.
Rangel did even better to claw away a firm six-yard box header from substitute Cho Gue-sung; supporters celebrating as if their side had just scored a second. They raised the volume again at full-time.
In pole position to top Group A, Mexico are on course for a knockout clash with a third-placed team back at the Azteca Stadium.
South Korea have been left to sweat on their result against South Africa in five days. One point should see them through, and give star man Son the platform to leave his mark on this protracted World Cup.