Raúl Rangel double save lifts Mexico to Group A win
Mexico finished first in Group A after a 1-0 win over South Korea, clinched by Raúl Rangel’s 87th-minute double save.
With three minutes left and a narrow lead, South Korea pressed hard. Cho Gue-Sung struck a shot that Rangel got a hand to while diving left. The ball rebounded to Yang Hyun-Jun, seemingly set for a tap-in. Rangel, still on the ground, recovered and blocked the follow-up—completing his double save.
Mexico’s goal earlier was scored by Luis Romo, leaving the final minutes tense. The result gave El Tri their best World Cup group-stage finish in 24 years and their first Group A top spot since 2002. It also made Mexico the first team to qualify for the knockout stage from Group A.
Raúl Rangel (José Raúl Rangel Aguilar) plays for Guadalajara (Chivas) and has 16 national team caps since joining the squad in 2024. Multiple outlets have already called the 87th-minute sequence the “save of the tournament.” Rangel’s heroics—and Mexico’s defensive approach—were key to preserving the 1-0 scoreline.
Neutral
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