France vs Mexico Highlights: World Cup 2010

New Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez enhanced his burgeoning reputation with the opening goal as Mexico took a significant stride towards qualification from Group A and hastened France’s early exit at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Just nine minutes after coming off the bench the 22-year-old, who will officially move to Old Trafford from Chivas in a £7million deal, sprang the offside trap to race on to Rafael Marquez’s pass, round goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and coolly slot home.

Veteran striker and cult hero Cuauhtemoc Blanco sealed victory with a 79th-minute spot kick. It was Mexico’s first win over France at senior level and they deserved it after a performance full of vigour and attacking invention.

For the French, winners on home soil in 1998 and runners-up four years ago, the prospect of an early exit looms large as in Euro 2008 when they failed to progress from their group.

Highlights:
France 0-1 Mexico

France 0-2 Mexico

Greece vs Nigeria Highlights: World Cup 2010 (Group B)

A blunder by Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama handed Greece their first taste of victory at the fifth attempt in two World Cup finals. It also maintains their slim hopes of an advancing to the next stage although their final Group B game is against Argentina.

Enyeama, whose side were down to ten men following Sani Kaita’s red card, failed to deal with a soft shot from Alexandros Tziolis in the 72nd minute. The rebound fell to Vasileios Torosidis, who toe-poked the ball home to give Greece a famous victory. Nigeria now face the threat of an early exit.

Highlights:

Argentina vs South Korea Highlights: World Cup 2010

Gonzalo Higuain scored the first hat-trick at the World Cup since 2002 as Argentina all but assured themselves a place in the last 16 with an impressive victory over South Korea at Soccer City.

Diego Maradona’s men were already dominating when they took the lead through a Park Chu-young own goal in the 17th minute. Higuain doubled the advantage after 33 minutes, but a lapse in concentration from Martin Demichelis on the stroke of half-time allowed Lee Chung-yong to pull one back for the Korean’s.

After briefly threatening a comeback early in the second half, the Koreans crept into a shell thanks to a double from Real Madrid striker Higuain that handed his side maximum points from their opening two fixtures in Group and Argentina became the first side to advance to the second round.

Highlights:

Brazil vs North Korea Highlights: World Cup 2010 (Group G)

A game which many were tipping to be a rout, the South Americans could find no way past a disciplined North Korea in the first half of their World Cup Group G encounter at Ellis Park.

The joint tournament favourites found their Asian opponents difficult to break down and had their Samba blushes saved, thanks to Maicon and Elano’s second-half strikes.

Inter Milan full-back Maicon gave the Brazilians the goal their dominance deserved with a 55th minute piledriver that zoomed past goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk from an impossibly tight angle on the right by-line.

Robinho, who was the game’s stand out player, then provided one of the assists of the tournament so far as he threaded a delightful ball to Elano in the 72nd minute before the midfielder slotted home a second.

North Korea, who showed lot of heart, got their reward when Jong Tae-Se, their best player on the night, played in Ji Yun-Nam to grab an 89th minute consolation goal but Brazil hung on to top the ‘Group of Death’ after Portugal and Ivory Coast’s goalless draw earlier on Tuesday.

Like so many games in the South Africa finals, it failed to catch the imagination but Dunga will be ecstatic that his side continued their 76-year record of being unbeaten in their opening match.

Complete Highlights:

visitor stats DigNow.orgTopOfBlogs
Tech Product Review News Updates & Tech Tips Powered by itechtalk