South Korea Send Mexico Packing After PK Shootout

Mexico's dreams of advancing in the Under-17 World Cup came to a crashing halt Thursday as the young Tricolor lost to South Korea in penalty kicks after finishing regulation and extra time tied 1-1.

Mexico seemed in control of the match deep into the second half as Mexico held a 1-0 lead from the 44th minute on but South Korea's Dong Jin Kim scored in the dying moments of regulation to keep his side's hopes alive.

South Korea advance to play host Nigeria while Mexico will go home.

Mexico dealt the first blow of the match just one minute from halftime when Guillermo Madrigal scored for El Tri. Victor Omar Mañon slipped a ball from the top of the box to the left side of the area and Madrigal got to the ball as goalkeeper Kim Jin Young slid in an attempt to thwart Madrigal, but the Mexican teenager did well to lift the ball over Young and into the back of the goal.

South Korea pressured Mexico in the second half but neither team looked very dangerous for stretches of the half. In fact, Mexico nearly scored a second goal but Mañon's aim was just a bit off. Mañon ripped a 20-yard free kick on goal but the ball caromed off the crossbar with a shot potent enough that threatened to leave a dent in the woodwork.

Finally, however, the Koreans were sensing the finality of the situation and started to penetrate deep into Mexico's third. Kim Jin Su tried to flick a header off a set piece onto the goal from about 10 yards out but his header attempt sailed well over the crossbar.

However, it was Mexico who scored next but the goal was ruled offside. Kristian Alvarez knocked a header into the back of the net off a set piece but he was ruled to have been in an offside position when the ball was sent in from the right flank and the goal was disallowed.

With four minutes of added time, South Korea got the time they needed and bagged the equalizer. Yun Il Lok held the ball on the right side of the penalty area and raced towards the end line. As a Mexican defender closed in on him, Yun sent the ball to the middle of the box. With Mexico's defense pushed deep towards the goal, Dong had ample time and space to pick his spot. He chose the far side of the goal and buried a left-footed shot past a diving Jose Rodriguez to give South Korea a dramatic equalizer.

Demoralized, Mexico did enough in the 30-minute extra time session to fend off a motivated Korean side from burying Mexico before penalties.

As it stood, Mexico and South Korea were even 1-1 after 120 minutes of play and the match went to penalties.

Lee Kang took the first spot kick and easily buried it. Mexico's Carlos Alberto Campos stepped to the spot next but was not as fortunate. Korean goalkeeper Kim parried Campos' strong attempt away without too many problems.

South Korea and Mexico then exchanged penalties for the next three rounds as both sides were effective in their own attempts: An Jin Beom, Kim Jin Su and Lee Hong Jo were clinical as were Mexico's Miguel Basulto, Oscar Garcia and Erick Vera.

Lee Min Soo stepped to the spot for Korea next as Mexico's Rodriguez seemed desperate to make one save. But it was Lee who won the encounter and sent Korea through to the quarterfinals as he buried his attempt past a helpless Rodriguez. South Koreans ran around in frenzied celebrations while the young Tricolor squad were dealt with the harsh realities of crashing out earlier than expected.

Goal.com

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