Korea Republic have set up a quarter-final showdown with France after qualifying from Group C with a 2-1 win over Mexico at Toronto's National Soccer Stadium. Lee Geummin and Lee Sodam scored the all-important goals as the Asian champions climbed off the foot of the table to leapfrog both their opponents and England to finish as runners-up to Nigeria.
Korea Republic edge Mexico to advance
Mexico, for whom Tanya Samarzich scored an excellent consolation, had begun the better of the two teams, with Fabiola Ibarra providing the game's first effort with a long-range shot that Min Yukyeong did well to save. Poor passing plagued both sides in the first half and, frustrated by the lack of clear-cut chances, El Tri's Luz Duarte tried her luck with a long-range effort that sailed harmlessly over from 30 yards.
Korea Republic enjoyed a good spell towards the end of the opening 45, though, and missed a glorious chance two minutes from the break when Lee Geummin sliced wide from eight yards after Mariel Guttierez had mis-kicked her clearance. Fortunately for the Ulsan College star, she needed just seconds to make amends, and did so with an excellent opening goal. Springing Mexico's offside trap, Lee took a long ball on her chest, cushioned it on to her right foot and flicked a first time, outside-of-the-foot shot high beyond Cecelia Santiago.
Though Mexico pushed hard for an equaliser, this remained a game of precious few chances, and it seemed the South Koreans had made sure of victory when they won a penalty with 25 minutes remaining. Clarissa Robles was penalised for a foul on Lee Geummin, and while Santiago guessed right on Lee Sodam's spot-kick, the set piece specialist's strike was hard and accurate enough - fired low in the corner - to leave the keeper with no chance.
But if Korea Republic anticipated calmly ticking down the seconds to full-time, they had another thing coming. Indeed, nine minutes after scoring, Lee Sodam went from hero to villain with a poor touch on the edge of her box that set up Tanya Samarzich for a shot on goal. The Mexico No7 still had plenty of work to do though and did it with considerably style, sending a superb first-time, left foot volley just inside the far post from 16 yards.
That sparked a nervy, frantic finish dominated by the Mexicans, but one which ended with the Asians looking forward to a Montreal meeting with Les Bleuettes.
FIFA.com
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