Luis Romo strike sends Mexico top of Group A with win over South Korea

Luis Romo's second-half goal gave Mexico a 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara. Two games, two wins and no goals conceded send the co-hosts top of Group A.

Mexico made it two wins from two at their home World Cup, Luis Romo's second-half strike enough to see off South Korea 1-0 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and send the co-hosts top of Group A.

The game turned five minutes after the break. Romo arrived in the box to finish on 50 minutes, and that was all the hosts needed. It was the midfielder's first goal of the tournament, and it came against the run of possession.

South Korea had the ball for long stretches, finishing with 57 per cent possession and more than five hundred passes, but they rarely troubled the Mexican goal. Son Heung-min dropped deep to get involved and Lee Kang-in probed for an opening, yet the Koreans managed only two shots on target all night. At the other end César Montes and the Mexico back line stood firm for a second clean sheet in a row.

Javier Aguirre's side now have a perfect record at this World Cup: two games, two wins, no goals conceded, and top spot in Group A on six points. South Korea, who beat Czechia in their opener, stay on three and will need a result in their final group game.

Mexico will not mind that this was far from their prettiest performance. After the opening win over South Africa, back-to-back clean sheets and six points from six is exactly the platform a host nation wants heading into the knockout rounds.

For Kenyan fans, the late Guadalajara kick-off was one for the purists: a grafting, low-scoring win built on a solid defence and one clinical moment. Mexico hawakung'ara, lakini washindi ni washindi: Mexico did not dazzle, but a win is a win, and the co-hosts are flying.