2010 World Cup Mexico v Uruguay full time report
Mexico 0 Uruguay 1
Any fears of a conspiracy between the two sides that this game would end as a draw to cement their place in the second round could be squashed after a competitive game in Rustenburg ended with a Uruguay win, meaning they finish Group A as winners.
Despite South Africa’s 2-1 victory against France in the other game, Mexico will also take their place in the last 16 as their goal difference was superior to the host nation's.
The only goal of this game was scored by Ajax striker Luis Suarez just before half time and it proved enough to land Uruguay with the all-important top spot in the group.
In a first half where both teams looked dangerous going forward, a mistake in the Mexican backline by Francisco Rodriguez created the first chance of the game, his slip let in 35-goal Ajax striker Suarez, who, from a tight angle narrowly shot wide with Oscar Perez beaten.
Uruguay continued to looked the more threatening, but Mexico continued to play some neat and tidy football. Andres Guardado came closest to breaking the deadlock with a rasping 30-yard drive that hammered the under-side of the crossbar and bounced to safety.
It sort of summed up Mexico’s first half with a lack of ideas in the final third resulting in Guardado taking a pot-shot that very nearly came off.
With the first half seemingly petering out into a draw, Suarez steered in an Edinson Cavani centre with 43 minutes gone, to give the South Americans the lead. Diego Forlan instigated the move with a fantastic ball out to Cavani, who brilliantly picked out the on-rushing Suarez who netted his first goal of the competition.
Mexico came out in the second half knowing that they needed to improve and they did dominate for long periods of the half.
Despite their dominance of possession, with substitute Pablo Barrera impressing on the right of midfield, Mexico failed to break through a dogged Uruguay back-line, spearheaded by the excellent Diego Lugano. And it was the Uruguayan skipper that had the best chance of the second period for the South Americans.
His header from a Forlan set-piece was clawed to safety by Perez and Suarez had his effort blocked from the rebound.
Javier Aguirre’s side only had one real chance in the second period, and what a chance it was. Rodriguez was the guilty party as he headed a Barrera cross wide from no more than six yards out.
With the hosts South Africa failing to score any second half goals against the French, Mexico knew a narrow defeat here would guarantee them a spot in the last 16, and the last 20 minutes of the game was played at a pedestrian pace and the South Americans ran out worthy winners.
It was a tale of two half’s for Uruguay, who proved they could be a force to be reckoned with in the knockout stages. In the first, they played some brilliant attacking football, summed up by the well-worked goal and in the second, their defensive performance proved they are a strong unit, keeping out a very dangerous Mexico side.
It is safe to say, not many teams will want to face the dangerous Uruguayans.
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