Mexico is one win away from its second Olympic medal in soccer after thrashing South Korea 6-3 on Saturday in Yokohama. A tight game burst into a rout after a stunning Luís Romo volley, and Sebastián Córdova put the game out of reach with a long-range golazo.
Mexico won gold in 2012 but failed to reach the knockout rounds in Brazil five years ago, heading home after a 1-0 defeat to South Korea in the final group-stage match. El Tri wasn’t about to bow out with another loss to South Korea.
Henry Martín and Córdova scored two apiece as Mexico cruised to a big win despite two well-taken goals from Lee Dong-gyeong.
Mexico will face Brazil in the semifinals on Tuesday. The winner advances to the gold-medal match against either Japan or Spain, with the loser still having a chance to medal in the third-place game.
Mexico vs South Korea Highlights 2020 Olympics
South Korea had the better of possession early in the match but once El Tri found a chance to attack it paid immediate dividends. Romo headed a cross back to Martín who headed in the first goal of the match.
¡Se acabó la maldición !@HenryMartinM no cree en fantasmas y marca el primer gol de #MEX ante #KOR en #OlimpicosTelemundo
⚽ Segundo gol del delantero en #JuegosOlimpicos de #Tokyo2020 #KOR 0-1 #MEX pic.twitter.com/g3ZOrUBKtN— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
South Korea battled back into the game when Lee unleashed a wicked shot from 20 yards that Guillermo Ochoa couldn’t get close to stopping. The defense probably should’ve done better to prevent the shot, but once Lee let ripped it was always heading to the top corner.
¡La puso como con la mano !
⚽ Dong-Kyeong Lee no dudó y con un golazo empata el partido
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/Rc9UchvVqW #OlimpicosTelemundo#KOR 1-1 #MEX pic.twitter.com/H1ubgHIhMc— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
That was as close as South Korea would get.
Romo scored the go-ahead goal with one of the most spectacular strikes we’ve seen in Japan this summer. Alexis Vega, who was superb on the wing, found Romo streaking into the box. The Cruz Azul midfielder controlled the pass with his first touch and before the ball touched the ground smashed a left-footed volley just inside the right post.
¡La bajó como crack y la definió con maestría !
⚽ @Luis3Romo hace un golazo para marcar su segundo gol en #Tokyo2020 #OlimpicosTelemundo
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/Rc9UchvVqW #KOR 1-2 #MEX pic.twitter.com/sDMA3xCze6— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
Córdova then made it 3-1 with a penalty kick before halftime. His short run-up gave the South Korean keeper no time to react and Mexico was comfortable at the break.
¡No hay dos, sin tres !
⚽ @Cordovar97 convierte el penal y @miseleccionmx aumenta la ventaja
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/Rc9UchvVqW #OlimpicosTelemundo#KOR 1-3 #MEX pic.twitter.com/MSR2owqfVz— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
South Korea did pull within 3-2 six minutes into the second half, with Lee again beating Ochoa after the ball fell kindly to him.
That only seemed to anger Mexico, which added three more goals to finish off the emphatic victory.
Córdova’s free kick found the head of Martín to restore the two-goal advantage just two minutes later.
¡Ya se enrachó Henry !@HenryMartinM marca su doblete y lleva tres goles en los últimos dos partidos de #Tokyo2020 #OlimpicosTelemundo
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/Rc9UchvVqW #KOR 2-4 #MEX pic.twitter.com/UZKE24kBVA— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
Córdova then scored his second of the night, this one far more spectacular. While his first was a simple penalty, his second was a perfect 20-yard bomb.
¡Le pegó con rencor al balón !
⚽ @Cordovar97 marca su doblete con un zapatazo inalcanzable para el arquero#OlimpicosTelemundo
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/Rc9UchvVqW #KOR 2-5 #MEX pic.twitter.com/geBCXgjYVz— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
As if things couldn’t get much worse for South Korea, Diego Lainez came on shortly thereafter and it didn’t take the Real Betis youngster long to make an impact. The diminutive attacker diced a few opponents on the wing before setting up Eduardo Aguirre for the sixth goal.
¡Seis minutos tenía en el campo !
⚽ Eduardo Aguirre de media vuelta marca su segundo gol en los #JuegosOlimpicos de #Tokyo2020#OlimpicosTelemundo
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/Rc9UchvVqW #KOR 2-6 #MEX pic.twitter.com/INQYSL4uQf— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 31, 2021
South Korea did find a bit of late consolation right as the clock struck 90 off a corner kick, but the match was long over.