Unlucky Korea lack precision in loss to Mexico

Korea's defender Kim Min-jae looks dejected after the team's second group match against Mexico at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, Thursday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap

Korea's 1-0 loss to Mexico in their Group A showdown at the FIFA World Cup on Thursday came on a combination of their lack of precision and a stroke of bad luck.

The Taegeuk Warriors didn't quite have the clinical touch to finish off their opportunities in the frustrating loss at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, western Mexico, while they gifted a goal to the home side in a preventable miscue.

The teams didn't score in a careful first half, though Korea made their intent clear. They wanted to hold on to the ball and bide their time trying to find space behind the defense, not to be deterred by groans and whistles from a restless, partisan Mexican crowd in the stands.

Some active off-the-ball movements gave Korea some dangerous looks but their timing was just a tiny bit off — leading to four offside violations in the first half alone.

One such call came on captain Son Heung-min's opportunity in the 16th minute, when he went one-on-one goalkeeper Raul Rangel and floated a shot into what was momentarily an empty net. Defender Edson Alvarez somehow kept it out with an acrobatic overhead clearance.

Korea controlled the middle of the field and Mexico failed to mount much of a push in the first half, other than Julian Quinones' header grabbed by diving goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu in the 20th minute.

That the match's lone goal came off a silly miscue in their own box added to Korea's frustration.

About five minutes into the second half, Kim Seung-gyu came off his line and leapt to claim a harmless header from Raul Jimenez. But on his way down, Kim crashed into the back of his own defender Lee Gi-hyuk, who failed to get out of the way. The ball spilled loose for Luis Romo, who poked it into the gaping net for the 1-0 lead.

Better communication between the goalkeeper and the center back would have prevented the goal that ended up being the difference in the match.

Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo inserted attacking players into the match in desperate search for some offense. And those substitutes nearly got it done in the late moments of the second half.

First, Yang Hyun-jun crossed for the oncoming Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 76th minute, in a similar move that had the latter score the go-ahead goal against Czechia last week. This time, Oh couldn't quite get to the pass inside the six-yard box, though Yang was eventually ruled offside anyway.

Korea took two cracks at the equalizer in the 87th minute, but goalkeeper Raul Rangel made miraculous stops on Cho Gue-sung's initial header and then on Yang's follow-up attempt.

In response to Korea's subs, Mexico sent in defenders trying to lock things down on their own end.

The teams were level with eight shot attempts each, with Korea putting two on target and Mexico sending four attempts on goal.

Now with six points, Mexico won Group A with one match to spare and became the first team to qualify for the knockouts.

Korea are in second place with three points and will join Mexico in the round of 32 with a win or a draw against South Africa in the Group A finale next Wednesday.