MEXICO CITY — The Mexican team overcame a lackluster first half to defeat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed them to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in the history of the World Cup in Mexico.
The celebration of Mexico's 3-0 victory Wednesday at Estadio Azteca became a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive an ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.
Czechia was eliminated after failing to score more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out if it advances as one of the eight best third places.
Czechia had a great performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly due to the lack of control in the midfield.
Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri beat Czechia and achieved their best victory in the group stage.
Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico's lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czech players in midfield and driving forward, passing to Chavez, who beat Czechia's Michal Sadilek and slotted a shot into the left side of the goal.
Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting the Czech defensive confusion in the penalty area.
Álvaro Fidalgo, who came off the bench in the second half, crowned the victory with a goal in added time. The rush towards the final goal was sparked by a powerful shot from Ochoa and sparked a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.
The match summed up both the present and the future of the Mexican team.
Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team's youngest player in the World Cup, was fundamental in the second half, preparing several of the plays that decided the result. With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from much of the 80,824 Azteca Stadium fans.
Mexico's Julián Quiñones celebrates his team's second goal against the Czech Republic during a World Cup match in Mexico City on Wednesday.
(Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press)
Fans chanted Ochoa's name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball, in honor of a player who has competed in six World Cups with Mexico.
Coach Javier Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which has already qualified for the next round. For the first time, the team achieved three consecutive victories without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second match.
Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament along with Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent, a top third-place finisher, on Tuesday at the Estadio Azteca.
The only sour note for Mexico came in the goalless first half, when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chanting.
