FIFA World Cup – Uruguay v Mexico results: Luis Suarez’s Goal Wins it for Uruguay
A solitary header from the Uruguayan sensation Luis Suarez settled the tie at the Royal Bafokeng Palace in Rustenburg. The 1-0 win saw Uruguay seal the top spot in Group A, but a win for South Africa over a shambolic France means that Uruguay’s losing opponents Mexico also qualify for the next round.
There was all the pre match hype about the two sides conspiring to play out a drab draw, as it was all they needed to ensure their progress into the second round at the expense of France and the vibrant hosts South Africa. But an outright victory for either side offering the probable prize of avoiding the red hot in form Argentina and a keenly contested affair put paid to those fears, with the match decided by a Suarez header from close range off Edinson Cavani’s pinpointed cross from the right wing.
The result meant that the hosts’ 2-1 victory over the Les Blues had no significance on the outcome of the group, as Mexico progressed to the next round having a superior goal difference to that of Bafana Bafana and Uruguay topped the group with 7 points and having still to concede in the tournament.
Uruguay started the match brightly and Ajax’s lethal marksman Suarez had the chance to give his side an early lead, but the striker, after latching onto a long ball that Mexicans failed to cut, fired a low shot across the face of the goal that went past the post.
The group leaders threatened to take the lead again, when Pereira was sent clear on the let hand side of the pitch and the winger instead of picking Diego Forlán with a simple pass went for glory and missed by miles much to the fury of the Rojiblancos striker. Moments later in the game, it was Mexican’s turn, as Andres Guardado shook the frame of the goal with a 30 yard thunderbolt hitting the underside of the crossbar and only just staying out. Giovani Dos Santos, the former Chelsea man, was a potent threat throughout the match and the Mexican winger almost gave his side the advantage in the match, but a last ditch tackle by Fucile denied him a shot at goal from close range.
Blanco, the oldest player taking part in this year’s World Cup at the age of 37, tested Muslera with a long range shot in an effort to give his side an edge in the game, but Muslera was too attentive to be beaten from such a long range.
Uruguay continually looked to be a more potent threat throughout the game with Diego Forlán a live wire in the field, creating one opportunity after another and only a superb save from Perez kept the parity in the match when Forlán unleashed a lethal strike from just outside the box. Forlán turned provider again a few minutes later when his free kick was headed by Diego Lugano, but Perez palmed the effort out.
The Mexicans enjoyed good possession towards the end of the match, but failed to turn it into a goal, and some dogged defending by the South Americans kept another hard fought clean sheet. The result means that Uruguay will now meet South Korea in the next round. Park Ji-Sung inspired South Korea drew with Nigeria 2-2 in a pulsating encounter to make sure of their qualification into the round of 16.
Mexico, meanwhile, face the daunting task of facing the hot in form Argentina, who remain unbeaten in the tournament with another comprehensive 2-0 win in their last group game, becoming the only side in the World Cup so far to win all 3 of their 3 matches.
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