Mexico complete perfect group record to send Czech Republic out

By Press Association Sport Staff

Co-hosts Mexico scored three second-half goals to complete a perfect group record with a 3-0 win over a disappointing Czech Republic.

Goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones, and Alvaro Fidalgo made it three wins out of three for Mexico and condemned the Czechs to an early exit at the foot of Group A.

Denis Visinsky flashed an early effort wide for the Czech Republic, but it was a rare opening in the first half in Mexico City.

Mexico, who made a host of changes with top spot in the group guaranteed, overplayed after a break with nobody willing to pull the trigger and they had to wait 36 minutes for a shot – Israel Reyes launching an ambitious overhead kick wide from the edge of the box.

David Doudera and Julian Quinones traded long-range efforts over the bar before the break, Jorge Sanchez forcing a first save from Matej Kovar.

Mexico soaked up some early, if largely unthreatening, pressure after the break and struck with two goals in six minutes before the hour.

First Mateo Chavez rounded off a quick break after being released by good work from Luis Romo, Quinones adding a second from close range after a clearance rebounded off Sanchez once his initial effort was blocked by Kovar.

Mexico had the luxury of bringing 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa off the bench to appear in a fourth World Cup and Alvaro Fidalgo rounded things off as he lashed home a loose ball in stoppage time after Kovar denied Santiago Jimenez.

Mexico midfielder Obed Vargas said: “(The coach told us) to have personality, to play the way we’ve been playing with our clubs, and to give everything for this country, because we’ll never have a home World Cup again.”