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Fifa World Cup 2018: Live Updates; Hernandez hits half-century as Mexico battle past South Korea

Nigeria , Brazil and Switzerland on Friday won their FIFA World Cup group matches against Iceland , Costa Rica and Serbia respectively.

By Web Desk
June 23, 2018

Hernandez hits half-century as Mexico battle past South Korea

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia: Mexico laid one foot in the World Cup´s last 16 and left South Korea on the brink of elimination after goals from Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela clinched a 2-1 victory in Rostov on Saturday.

Hernandez became the first Mexican player to score 50 goals for his country, after 104 appearances, with Vela earlier opening the scoring through yet another penalty kick.

Son Heung-min´s stunning long-range effort in stoppage time gave South Korea a glimmer of hope but it was too little too late.

Mexico lead Group F on six points after two games, having backed up their shock victory against Germany with another display to suggest they can go deep in this tournament.

South Korea, beaten by a Sweden penalty in their first match, had their chances but again lacked cutting edge up front.

Yet to register a single point in Russia, they are left needing a miracle to progress.

Lukaku and Hazard score two each in Belgian rout

MOSCOW: Romelu Lukaku notched his second brace in as many World Cup games and Eden Hazard also scored twice as Belgium thumped Tunisia 5-2 in their World Cup Group G match on Saturday to put themselves on the brink of clinching a round of 16 place.

Hazard won and converted a sixth minute penalty before Lukaku ran onto a Dries Mertens pass to coolly slot home the second 10 minutes later.

Dylan Bronn headed one back for Tunisia in the 18th minute before Lukaku restored Belgian´s two-goal lead in first-half stoppage time.

Hazard added the fourth on the break six minutes after the restart, Michy Batshuayi added a fifth in the last minute before Wahbi Khazri pulled another back for Tunisia.

Belgium unchanged for Tunisia clash

MOSCOW: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez started with the same team which beat Panama for Saturday´s World Cup group match against Tunisia in Moscow.

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is looking to add to the two goals he scored in their opening 3-0 rout of Panama for the clash at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

Belgium and England clash next Thursday in their final Group G match in Kaliningrad in a contest likely to decide the pool winner.

Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul swapped his goalkeeper with Farouk Mustapha taking over from Mouez Hassen, who played in the opening 2-1 defeat to England, failing to stop Harry Kane scoring the late winner for the Three Lions.

In the only other change, Troyes midfielder Saif-Eddine Khaoui replaced Naim Sliti in the middle of the park for Tunisia.

Nigeria, Brazil, Switzerland win group matches

Nigeria , Brazil and Switzerland on Friday won their FIFA World Cup group matches against Iceland , Costa Rica and Serbia respectively.

Brazil edge towards World Cup knockouts after Costa Rica late show

SAINT PETERSBURG: Philippe Coutinho and Neymar broke down dogged Costa Rica in injury time , sealing a 2-0 win for Brazil that propels the five-time champions towards the World Cup last 16.

Nigeria beat Iceland to lift Argentina hopes of reaching World Cup last 16

Volgograd, Russia: Nigeria moved to within one win of the World Cup last 16 as Ahmed Musa scored twice in a dramatic second half to secure a 2-0 victory over Iceland in Volgograd

Switzerland strike late to beat Serbia 2-1

KALININGRAD: Xherdan Shaqiri's last minute strike secured Switzerland a 2-1 win over Serbia in a blistering-paced World Cup Group E match.


Pakistani teenager Ahmed Raza conducts toss for Brazil and Costa Rica match

Pakistani teenager Ahmed Raza performed the coin toss in Friday’s FIFA World Cup match between Brazil and Costa Rica.

For detailed coverage visit    Fifa World Cup 2018


From Russia to Leicester and back for record-breaking Ahmed Musa

 Leicester City´s out-of-favour striker Ahmed Musa wrote himself into the World Cup record books by scoring twice to fire Nigeria to their first win in Russia against Iceland.

The 25-year-old produced two virtuoso second-half finishes to keep the Super Eagles in the hunt for a place in the last 16 on Friday.

They would guarantee progress with victory against Argentina in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday and even a draw could take them through if other results go their way.

Musa became, in the process, Nigeria´s all-time highest scorer at World Cup finals with four goals and he the only man from his country to score in two different World Cups.

He is also just the second African player to register two goals in two World Cup matches since Cameroon´s Roger Milla in 1990.

Neymar hits back at World Cup critics

Saint Petersburg: Neymar rounded on his critics and defended his emotional reaction to scoring in Brazil´s 2-0 World Cup win over Costa Rica after he broke down in tears at the final whistle.


Brazil beat Costa Rica 2-0, edge towards World Cup last 16

Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored in injury time as Brazil beat Costa Rica 2-0 to edge towards the last 16 of the World Cup on Friday despite another unconvincing performance.


Pakistani teenager Ahmed Raza conducts toss for Brazil and Costa Rica match

Pakistani teenager Ahmed Raza performed the coin toss in Friday’s FIFA World Cup match between Brazil and Costa Rica.



This is a live blog for the Fifa World Cup 2018 which is being updated round the clock.