Mexico edges past North Korea

By foxsports
Published

Javier Hernandez scored the winning goal in the 69th minute to lift Mexico to a 2-1 victory over North Korea in an international friendly Wednesday.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute, scoring on a perfectly directed, 20-meter (yard) free kick in the match between two teams headed to this year's World Cup.

North Korea equalized in the 57th when Choe Kum Chol scored from a left-footed, bouncing shot that was poorly played by Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Mexico used the match to try out uncapped players with Blanco and goalkeeper Ochoa among only a handful of players for Mexico sure of inclusion in the World Cup squad.

The victory was the third for Mexico in friendlies this year, going with a 5-0 win over Bolivia and a 2-0 win over World Cup-bound New Zealand.

Hernandez, who plays for Guadalajara Chivas, has been scoring for his club team and also notched a goal in the victory over New Zealand. His ability to put the ball in the net may assure him a play on the team for South Africa.

Mexico has an extensive schedule of friendlies heading into the World Cup.

The next match is Wednesday (March 24) against Iceland at Charlotte, North Carolina. Three more matches are set to be held in the United States, where millions of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans live - May 7 in East Rutherford, New Jersey vs. Ecuador, May 10 in Chicago vs. Senegal and May 13 in Houston vs. Angola.

Mexico is home to Chile on May 16 at the 100,000-seat Azteca Stadium before heading to Europe for several more matches, opening with England on May 24 at Wembley Stadium.

Mexico is drawn in Group A at the World Cup with South Africa, France and Uruguay.

North Korea, playing in only its second World Cup and its first since reaching the quarterfinals in 1966, is in Group G, which many regard the toughest headed by five-time champion Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast.

Lineups:

Mexico: Guillermo Ochoa, Oscar Rojas (Jose Antonio Castro 46), Jonny Magallon, Juan Valenzuela, Jorge Torres, Patricio Araujo (Angel Reyna 46), Jonathan Dos Santos, Braulio Luna, Alberto Medina (Daniel Arreola 83), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Miguel Sabah 54), Javier Hernandez (Jesus Molina 83).

North Korea: Ri Myong Guk, Ri Kwang Chon, Pak Nam Chol (Ri Kwang Hyok 80), Ri Jun Il, Cha Jong Hyok (Nam Song Chol 62), Ji Yun Nam, Mun In Guk, Kim Yong Jun, Pak Chol Jin, An Chol Hyok, Choe Kum Chol.