LOOK: Mexico fans laud South Korea for sealing team’s place in last 16

MANILA, Philippines – Mexico fans know that South Korea was the true hero as their team squeaked into the 2018 FIFA World Cup’s last 16 after the Koreans eliminated defending champion Germany, 2-0, on Wednesday, June 27.

Prior to the end of South Korea’s shocking win, Mexico suffered a heavy 0-3 loss to Group F winners Sweden that left Mexico fans clinging on to the Asians for hope. 

However, in the 90+2′ minute of the game, this happened: 

 

Mexico fans became South Korea fans on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/s68RxJWesq

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 27, 2018

 

 

Heung-Min Son sent the corner kick that found Hyun-Soo Jang, who mishandled the ball to Toni Kroos. Hearts stopped when the German fumbled with his pass to teammate Niklas Süle that saw the ball land in front of Young-gwon Kim, who fired it past the goalkeeper. 

 

Goal #Germany  0-1 #KoreaRepublic

Kim Young-Gwon scores.#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/qlNFu4UJum

— Football GIFs (@FootballGIFs4) June 27, 2018

When the match ended with Heung-Min Son tapping the ball into an open goal off a counterattack in the 90+6′ minute, the ecstatic mob found a random Korean outside the stadium and hoised him up – even though he was cheering for Sweden. 

 

The Mexicans found a South Korean outside the stadium  pic.twitter.com/9gG7V9wtOd

— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) June 27, 2018

 

There goes the same thing for a Korean Mexico fan, who felt the best of both worlds back at home. 

 

Things you only see during the #WorldCup: A crowd of Mexicans parading the one single Korean around on their shoulders because Korea’s win against Germany put Mexico through to the next round. It may just be a game, but it sure does bring people together in touching ways. pic.twitter.com/M77zkVKYqC

— Dave Whiteside (@dave__whiteside) June 27, 2018

 

 

But the best part is seeing the fans frolic in front of the South Korean embassy with tequila bottles for consul general Byoung-Jin Han in their hands. 

 

This is the best you’ll see today 

Hundreds of Mexican fans marched to the Korean embassy in Mexico City to thank the Korean Ambassador, danced with him and forced him to drink tequila straight from the bottle after South Korea beat Germany 
pic.twitter.com/b5mOZzJ3F3

— FlFA World Cup (@WorIdCupFC) June 27, 2018

 

And Han did give in to peer pressure:

One last tweet about Byoung-jin Han: that tequila shot he took while wearing a Mexico jersey lent to him by a fan? Another fan @sebasaspe passed this along: pic.twitter.com/JtCAe8390y

— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) June 27, 2018

 

 

But for a day, he was definitely the star of the city. 

 

That’s the Korean consul general to Mexico, Byoung-Jin Han, celebrating with grateful Mexican fans outside the Korea embassy here. One fan said he took a shot of tequila with them earlier. pic.twitter.com/NGWEmRADUW

— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) June 27, 2018

 

 

Mexico will try to come up with another highlight in the last 16, but El Tri will need a lot more than luck as the team clashes with a tough Brazil team on Monday, July 2.  – Rappler.com