Korea subdues Mexico on penalties at U-17 World Cup

November 6, 2009

Mexico surrendered a goal 1:13 into second-half injury time and then was outlasted on penalties 5-3 by Korea Republic to be eliminated from the Under-17 World Cup on Thursday.

Mexico was the last team from CONCACAF to be ousted, joining Honduras and Costa Rica, who failed to get past the group stage, and the United States, which was beaten by Italy 2-1 in its second-round match on Wednesday.

Mexico, which had the better of play, seemed headed for the quarterfinals until second-half substitute Kim Dong-jin scored his first goal for his country in injury time. Yun Il-lok worked his way to the byline before sending a sharp low ball into the middle of the box, where Kim volleyed it with his left foot, sending just inside the far post to equalize 1-1.

Guillermo Madrigal gave Mexico the lead in the 44th minute, running onto a through ball from Victor Manon in the area and lifting it over sprawled Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin-young from near the byline.

Mexico appeared to have scored an insurance goal in the 87th. Kristian Alvarez was unmarked at the right post to head in Carlos Campos’ free kick from the near touchline, but TV replays clearly showed the defender offside.

Goalkeeper Jose Rodriguez kept Korea Republic goalless in the 90th, positioning himself to block a right-footed poke from Lee Jong-ho after the Korean and beaten the Mexican defense to the left post.

After Lee Kang converted his penalty to put Korea Republic ahead in the shootout, Kim Jin-young dived to his left to block Campos on his attempt. An Jin-beom, Kim Jin-su, Lee Jong-ho and Lee Min-soo then converted their penalty attempts to send the Koreans to a quarterfinal showdown against either host Nigeria or New Zealand.

BAUCHI, Nigeria

Source