Mexico took a big stride towards qualifying for the second round of the Under-20 World Cup with a 4-1 win over Mali.
The Mexicans opened the scoring in the second minute through Marco Bueno and doubled their lead in the 12th minute through Jesus Corona.
Mali got a goal back after the break through Samba Diallo but were pegged back by Jesus Escoboza and Uvaldo Luna as Mexico earned their first win of the competition.
Follow how all the action unfolded in our commentary.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live text commentary of the Under-20 World Cup Group D clash between Mali and Mexico.
Mexico's hopes of advancing into the second round of the tournament are slim. They need a big turnaround in goal difference and a big win if they are to have a chance of being one of the best third-place teams.
Mali can progress with a win by two clear goals as both Greece and Paraguay are locked on four points each, meaning either side can get leapfrogged with a defeat today.
So, Moussa Keita's side have a lot to play for. The teams have just been announced so we'll start with them.
MALI: Berthe, H Traore, O Keita, Diallo, Diarra, Niane, T Keita, M Traore, Samake, Mariko, Nimaga
MEXICO: Sanchez, Marin, Hernandez, Espericueta, Lopez, Bueno, Corona, Abella, Fuentes, Van Rankin, Escoboza
Mali have named an unchanged team from their 0-0 draw with Greece.
Mexico have made three changes from their defeat to Paraguay. Escoboza, Lopez and Fuentes come into the team for Gonzalez, Zamorano and Briseno.
MALI SUBS: Fofana, A Keita, Sissoko, Denon, S Traore, SI Traore, A Traore, M Berthe, Kone, Diarra
MEXICO SUBS: Flores, Briseno, Zamorano, Gonzalez, Lagud, Morales, Luna, Madrigal, Gurrolo, Trevino
The players are making their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway shortly.
We're underway in this Group D clash.
Good start from Mexico as they force a throw in deep in Mali territory but a poor pass from Lopez stops their attacking momentum.
GOAL!! Mali 0-1 Mexico (Bueno)
Mexico take the lead through an awful error from Mali keeper Berthe who kicks his clearance straight to Bueno, who's left with an open goal and he slots the ball into the net. Disastrous start from Mali.
Mali's turn to force some pressure and Keita whips in a corner but Hamidou Traore can only head his effort over the bar.
A nasty challenge from Samaka on Hernandez stops a Mali move in its tracks as Mexico win a free kick on the edge of their own box after the striker over ran the ball.
Nice interchange of passes between Corona and Escoboza sets Corona through down the ledt, he drives into the box but when he tries to pull the trigger, Traore gets back at him to make the challenge.
SAVE!! Berthe keeps his side in the game with a lovely stop to deny Corona from close range as the midfielder latched onto Lopez's through ball and tried to knock into the bottom corner, but the keeper produced a big hand to turn it past the post.
Corona is causing the Mali defence all sorts of problems down the left hand side in these early stages. He weaves in and out of several challenge before he's brought down by Ousmane Keita.
GOAL!! Mali 0-2 Mexico (Corona)
Mexico doubled their lead and it's Corona this time who gets on the scoresheet. Lopez whips a free kick from the left to the back post and the midfielder rises highest and powerfully heads the ball into the net.
Mali press upfield and Nimaga fires shot from distance which forces a good save from Sanchez in the Mexico goal. They need to get back into this one, quickly if they hope to qualify for the next round of the competition.
Moussa Keita's side win a free kick after Mariko is brought down on the left. Diallo stands over the ball and fires it high and wide over the bar, without troubling Sanchez.
Mexico are in control of this game at the moment as Lopez and Corona are pulling the strings in midfield. Mali, look a threat on the counterattack however.
CHANCE!! Corona does well on the left again as he fires in a cross looking for Espericueta, who gets a foot on the ball but it deflects off Ousmane Keita and goes inches wide of the post.
Mali on another counter and Nimaga breaks forward and slips in Mariko who shoots at goal first time but he drills his effort wide of the post.
YELLOW CARD: Diarra goes into the book for a cynical challenge on Corona, as he midfielder looked to break upfield.
SAVE!! Berthe makes a great intervention to stop a certain goal after a great flowing Mexico move. Escoboza hit a wonderful crossfield pass for Lopez who had Espericueta to find in the area but the keeper did well to cut out the cross before the midfielder could strike.
Corona tries another effort, as he gets the ball on the halfway line and drives at the Mali defence, but this time Diarra gets in the way of his shot and clears the danger.
Mexico have been resilient in defence and haven't allowed Mali a shot in anger at Sanchez yet, solid all round from Sergio Almaguer's side.
Mali Substitutions: Ousmane Keita and Hamidou Traore are replaced by Ichake Diarra and Sissoko.
Niane collects the ball 35 yards from goal for Mali, he twists and turns his man and chips an effort from distance, which is little more than catching practice for Sanchez, who collects the ball.
More pressure from Mali on the Mexico defence but Diallo's delivery first from the right and then from the left doesn't beat the first man.
CHANCE!! A clearing header from Diallo's corner lands at the feet of Corona and he surges forward into the penalty area. He goes to place his effort but ends up scuffing his shot wide of the target.
Van Rankin wins the ball in midfield and plays the ball straight to Corona, he weaves in and out of another challenge before firing at goal but Diarra does well to get back and block his shot.
Mexico have just taken the pace out of the game in the last couple of minutes, there's a lot of possession football being played without much penetration in the final third of the pitch.
Hernandez is down in a heap on the floor after being clattered by Sanchez when he came off his line to punch a free kick clear. Diarra put the keeper under pressure so he couldn't control his landing and he fell straight onto the left-back.
It looks as though Hernandez will be assessed at half-time by the Mexican medical staff to see if he can continue after the break. They're down to 10-men for now.
It's another heavy challenge from Mali and Traore goes in hard on Van Rankin who goes down in a heap on the edge of his own box, that was late and could have been dangerous.
HALF-TIME: Mali 0-2 Mexico
So Mexico lead at the break and they thoroughly deserve it. They've been on top since the first minute and they didn't let up despite some strong tackling from Mali.
Mali keeper Berthe's horrendous error allowed Bueno to open the scoring and Corona doubled the lead the lead with a lovely header from Lopez's pinpoint free kick. Mexico's attacking play has been sublime this half and they could pull off the unlikely by qualifying for the second round of the tournament.
Mali haven't been able to cope with Mexico's attacking threat, and they've been poor themselves going forward. They look somewhat tense, perhaps knowing they're under pressure to get a result this afternoon. It's showing in their play.
The players are making their way back onto the pitch and we should be back underway shortly.
Mali substitution: Adama Traore comes on to replace Tiecoro Keita.
We're back underway in this Group D clash.
Corona raids down the right early in the half but Diarra gets back at him and manages to win the ball and clear.
CHANCE!! Bueno raids forward and beats the challenge of Diarra and bares down on goal, he stumbles slightly and continues into the box, he shoots low but Berthe makes a good save with his feet.
CHANCE!! Escoboza finds space on the right and drive forward into the box, he shoots low and with power but his effort is straight at Berthe, who makes a comfortable save.
A long ball forward from Mali bounces awkwardly high for Sanchez and he is initially beaten as he tries to collect but he gets back in time before the ball crosses the line to gather. That was nearly embarrassing.
SAVE!! Berthe makes a great reaction save to deny Corona second goal, as he latched onto Escoboza's cross into the area and was unmarked just six yards from goal.
Mali are trying to take the game to Mexico but they're leaving a lot of gaps at the back for the Mexicans to exploit, which they are doing aplenty on the counter.
SAVE!! Diallo lines up a free kick from 35 yards out and he shoots with power and the ball looks to be creeping into the bottom corner but Sanchez sticks out a hand and parries the ball clear.
Mali push forward again and Mariko whips a ball out to Adama Traore on the right, he has time and space to hit a cross into the area, but his effort is poor and goes over the head of every player in yellow in the penalty area.
GOAL!! Mali 1-2 Mexico (Diallo)
Mali are back in the game and it's a fine effort from Samba Diallo from the edge of the area, as he fired a dipping volley at goal, which bounced in front of Sanchez and looped over his hands into the net.
Now it's Mali who are first to every ball. The momentum looks to have swung in this game, can Mali get a second?
Mali are forcing the issue going forward Diallo and Nimaga are pulling the strings in midfield, and are looking dangerous themselves.
SAVE!!! Berthe makes another excellent save, this time he denies Escoboza as he tips his downward header past the post, after he latched onto Lopez's cross from the right.
OFF THE LINE!!! Mali should be level as Diallo somehow can't turn the ball goalwards when just a yard out and Van Ranking forces the ball clear. Niane's initial effort was half saved by Sanchez but he was out of position and the goal was gaping for Diallo but he couldn't take the chance.
GOAL!!! Mali 1-3 Mexico (Escoboza)
Mexico restore their two-goal advantage as Escoboza raids down the left and cuts into the box but this time he fires his effort low across Berthe into the bottom corner of the net, with a fine finish.
SAVE!!! Berthe makes an outstanding stop to keep the score at 3-1, as Escoboza surges down the left and cuts the ball back to Zamorano but his low effort is straight at Berthe who makes the save.
CHANCE!! Diallo plays a one-two with Niane and the ball gets back to the midfielder, his shot is blocked but Niane swings a foot at the ball and his effort trickles past the post with Sanchez beaten.
CHANCE!!! Luna does well down the right as he beats his man and gets into the penalty area, he fires at goal and beats Berthe but the ball deflects wide of Morales, when the ball looked to be heading into the net.
SAVE!!! Berthe with yet another stop low down to his right. Escoboza raids down the left flank and cuts the ball back to Morales on the edge of the penalty area, he drills a low right footed shot but the keeper gets across and turns it behind.
What a mad 15 minutes of football, either side could still win the this game. No lead looks safe at the minute.
Mali press forward and Diallo looks to slip Niane behind the Mexico defence but as soon as he plays the ball, Niane is flagged for offside. That was careless, he was in there and should have kept himself in line.
A long ball forward finds Morales in the penalty area, he tries to take a touch but it's a heavy one and the ball goes straight into the hands of Berthe.
Morales shoots from the edge of the area but his effort goes wide, are Mexico going to rue these missed chance? They need to improve their goal difference to advance.
GOAL!!! Mali 1-4 Mexico (Luna)
Mexico get a fourth goal and that will be enough surely to secure their place in the second round of the competition as Morales slips Luna in on goal and he slots the ball past Berthe into the net. Mali are all but done in this competition now.
Mali are looking shell shocked now, they pushed all their players forward in the second half and they've paid the ultimate price conceding twice.
Adama Traore does well down the left and manages to get a cross into the penalty area but the ball is just too high for Niane and no other player in a yellow shirt follows the cross into the box.
Mali are trying their best to get a consolation goal and win a corner. Diallo whips the ball in and Sanchez rises highest in the penalty area to claim the ball and that should be that.
FULL-TIME: Mali 1-4 Mexico
Mexico win in comfortable fashion this evening thanks to goals from Bueno, Corona, Escoboza and Luna. It may be enough to secure them qualification for the second round of the competition.
It was a comprehensive performance from the Mexicans and they full deserve their win, with Corona and Escoboza playing particularly well, in the victory. They could be players to watch out for as the tournament progresses.
Mali are now out of the competition following the defeat. Their defending today was poor and they showed a lot of nerves considering a draw or a win would have seen them through. Unfortunately, they cracked under the pressure and are now going home.
Thanks for joining our commentary today, until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
