Fifa World Cup: Son Heung-min draws blank as Mexico overcome South Korea to reach last 32
Luis Romo settles slow-burning contest as co-hosts win encounter that does little to calm fears surrounding Son Heung-min’s decline
Son Heung-min must have thought he was about to shush the inhospitable Guadalajara Stadium and quieten the noises about his powers being on the wane following a recent series of ineffective performances.
Lifting the ball over Raul Rangel in the Mexico goal after 16 minutes, Son was poised to celebrate his first World Cup goal since 2018, only for defender Edson Alvarez to perform a superb acrobatic overhead clearance off the line.
Had the ball gone in, a belated linesman’s flag would have ruled out Son’s effort anyhow. Foiled at every turn: that is how it is going for the 33-year-old right now.
Conversely, for Luis Romo, the night could not have been sweeter. Playing in his home stadium, the C.D. Guadalajara midfielder was perfectly positioned to capitalise on some madcap goalkeeping from Kim Seung-gyu and steer home the 50th-minute strike that settled this low-grade contest.
Romo’s intervention got the home crowd firmly back on side, and booked Mexico’s passage to the last 32. Hosts or not, they will have to significantly improve to last long in this tournament.
Soon after Romo’s gift goal, Son was withdrawn to a cheer from the home fans; instinctively relieved to see the back of a man with 56 international goals.