Mexico completed a perfect FIFA World Cup group campaign after defeating Czech Republic 3-0 at the Azteca Stadium, confirming their place in the knockout stages as Group A winners.
Already guaranteed top spot after victories over South Africa and South Korea, Mexico continued their impressive run in front of a passionate home crowd. Second-half goals from Mateo Chávez, Julián Quiñones and Álvaro Fidalgo secured a comfortable victory, while Czech Republic were eliminated after a disappointing tournament.
Softfootball understands that the match was also a historic night for Mexican football as veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made an appearance at his record sixth World Cup, joining Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in achieving the milestone.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora became the youngest player to start a World Cup match in 24 years, showing confidence and maturity on the biggest stage.
Mora played a role in Mexico’s second goal after his pass helped create the move that released Jorge Sánchez, while Ochoa’s long kick contributed to the late third goal. Czech Republic struggled throughout the match, managing only one shot on target as Mexico controlled the key moments.
South Africa’s 1-0 victory over South Korea confirmed Bafana Bafana as Group A runners-up, while South Korea must wait for other results to determine whether they advance through the third-place qualification route.
Mexico now move into the knockout stage with confidence and could potentially face England after the Round of 32.
Player Ratings
Mexico
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Raúl Rangel | 6.0 |
| Jorge Sánchez | 7.5 |
| César Montes | 6.5 |
| Israel Reyes | 7.0 |
| Mateo Chávez | 8.0 |
| Edson Álvarez | 6.0 |
| Roberto Alvarado | 7.5 |
| Gilberto Mora | 6.5 |
| Luis Romo | 7.0 |
| Julián Quiñones | 7.0 |
| Guillermo Martínez | 6.0 |
| Álvaro Fidalgo | 7.0 |
Czech Republic
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Matej Kovár | 5.5 |
| Tomás Holes | 5.5 |
| Robin Hranác | 6.0 |
| Ladislav Krejcí | 6.0 |
| Vladimír Coufal | 5.5 |
| Lukás Cerv | 6.0 |
| Michal Sadílek | 6.0 |
| David Doudera | 6.5 |
| Pavel Sulc | 6.0 |
| Denis Visinsky | 6.0 |
| Adam Hlozek | 6.0 |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Czech Republic | Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 51.6% | 48.4% |
| Shots | 13 | 11 |
| Shots on Target | 1 | 5 |
| Corners | 5 | 1 |
| Accurate Passes | 332 | 331 |
| Passing Accuracy | 83.4% | 85.3% |
| Shots Off Target | 8 | 4 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 2 | 1 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
