Mexico overcame South Korea 6-3 in a goal fest to reach the semifinals of the men’s Olympic football tournament in Yokohama to set a semi final date with holders Brazil tomorrow.
El Tri, gold medal winners at London 2012, helped eliminate France in the group stage as they finished runners-up to hosts Japan in Group A.
Henry Martin opened the scoring with a close-range header on 12 minutes but Dong-Gyeong Lee pulled South Korea level eight minutes later with a shot from just outside the box.
Luis Romo re-established Mexico’s lead 29 minutes before a Francisco Cordova penalty six minutes before half-time, awarded after a foul by South Korea’s Kang Yoon-Sung on Uriel Antuna, put Raul Gutierrez’s side 3-1 ahead.
South Korea came out with intent in the second half and reduced the deficit on 51 minutes when Lee got his second after being set up by Kim Jin-Ya.
However, Mexico made it 4-2 just three minutes later as Martin doubled his tally.
Cordova then got his second on 63 minutes to net Mexico’s fifth before Eduardo Aguirre added a sixth on 84 minutes.
Hwang Ui-Jo headed in a consolation goal in stoppage time for South Korea.
Meanwhile, holders Brazil reached the Olympic men’s football tournament semifinals following a narrow 1-0 victory over Egypt.
Hertha Berlin forward Matheus Cunha scored the game’s only goal in the first half to maintain Brazil’s charge for the gold medal.
Japan will meet Spain in the other last-four match.
The hosts beat New Zealand 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, while Spain came from the brink of elimination to beat Cote d’Ivoire 5-2 after extra time.