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The anxiety of Mexican fans turns to jubilation. (Andrew Couldridge / Reuters)
Sweden 3, Mexico 0
Sweden's impressive 3-0 win over Mexico paved the way for another late-game play on Wednesday in Yekaterinburg. Then, a merry chaos erupted as enthusiastic Mexican fans learned that South Korea had beaten Germany, 2-0, now Mexico alive despite losing and eliminating Germany, champion in title.
With the win, Sweden will play the second Group E Tuesday, while Mexico will face the first group of Group E on Monday. Both games are at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Mexico left the World Cup in the round of 16 in six consecutive tournaments, but El Tri is lucky even to have that chance after Wednesday's result.
"We just have to go ahead," said goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, via the Associated Press. "It's the World Cup, we can not take it out of our pocket, it's not going to be easy and I think it's a good lesson for what's coming."
Things had gone wrong for Mexico as Sweden scored on a goal against Edson Alvarez in the 75th minute, which already put the fans already anxious exhausted. Sweden led, 3-0, and Mexico's chances of advancement were in jeopardy, resting squarely on the shoulders of South Korea. With South Korea's win over Germany, Mexico and Sweden, the winner of Group F, has reached the knockout phase..
[[[[Germany is out after a shocking defeat in South Korea]
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Updates in play
In the 59th minute, Hector Moreno dropped Marcus Berg and received a yellow card. The result: Andreas Granqvist puts the ball at the back of the net on a penalty shot for a 2-0 lead.
Mikael Lustig took a yellow card, fifth in the match, in the 87th minute, but Hirving Lozano can not convert.
Sweden had better chances in this very entertaining game and finally converted in the 49th minute as Ludwig Augustinsson scored a goal that gave Sweden a 1-0 lead over Mexico and World Cup life. The goal was Augustinsson's first goal for the national team and he came by taking a center from Viktor Claesson.
The first half ended with a tie from 0 to 0, with strong emotions and each team getting their chances. Neither one nor the other could capitalize and the intensity of an already physical match would increase in the second half.
Sweden dominated, but Mexico had the best chance, with Carlos Vela scoring the best in the 16th minute. His kick, however, was just wide, and he was not the only one who could not believe that he was missing that chance.
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Sweden should probably be in the lead, but Mexico had the best chances to score up here.
Thirty minutes later, the match is scrambled with disputes over non-calls – this one about how the ball seemed to hit Javier Hernandez's arm, a.k.a Chicharito. The game resumes and the Swede Marcus Berg has a superb shot that Guillermo Ochoa missed.
In the 25th minute, Sebastian Larsson is hit with a yellow, his second in the group stage, for a collision with Hirving Lozano. Larsson would miss the next match.
The match was lively and spirited from the start. Ten seconds from the end, Mexico's Jesus Gallardo shoots a yellow card for a midfield and midfield collision with Ola Toivonon.
Four minutes later, the controversy breaks out. The two teams paused with Mexico avoiding another yellow when Guillermo Ochoa seemed to handle the ball outside the penalty area and Sweden got a good chance on a close free kick. Ochoa is ready to hit the ball by Emil Forsberg.
Has Mexico been lucky enough to avoid a yellow yonder?
At eleven minutes of play, the free kick Marcus Berg just escapes the net. This match is the antithesis of France-Denmark on Tuesday. It was lit from the start.
Here's how to align Mexico and Sweden:
El Tri fans are in the mood to play football.
Two Mexican fans at traffic lights because they have to. No, they must. It is the #World Cupand they have no other choice. Mexico vs Sweden, Yekaterinburg, Russia, Earth pic.twitter.com/sys2Hh7Hpj
– Chuck Culpepper (@ ChuckCulpepper1) June 27, 2018
Team Profiles
Mexico
- Previous results: Beat Germany, 1-0. Beat South Korea, 2-1.
- Notable: Mexico is trying to reach the round of 16 for the seventh consecutive World Cup.
- FIFA World Rankings: 15. ELO World Rankings: 12.
Sweden
- Previous results: Beat South Korea, 1-0. Lost in Germany, 2-1.
- Notable: Sweden has not reached the second round since 2006.
- FIFA World Ranking: 24. ELO World Ranking: 19.
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