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Mexico complete perfect group record to send Czech Republic out
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- Mexico complete perfect group record to send Czech Republic out
Co-hosts Mexico scored three second-half goals to complete a perfect group record with a 3-0 win over a disappointing Czech Republic.
Goals from Mateo Chavez , Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo made it three wins out of three for Mexico and condemned the Czechs to an early exit at the foot of Group A.
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Denis Visinsky flashed an early effort wide for the Czech Republic, but it was a rare opening in the first half in Mexico City.
Mexico, who made a host of changes with top spot in the group guaranteed, overplayed after a break with nobody willing to pull the trigger and they had to wait 36 minutes for a shot – Israel Reyes launching an ambitious overhead kick wide from the edge of the box.
David Doudera and Julian Quinones traded long-range efforts over the bar before the break, Jorge Sanchez forcing a first save from Matej Kovar.
Mexico soaked up some early, if largely unthreatening, pressure after the break and struck with two goals in six minutes before the hour.
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First Mateo Chavez rounded off a quick break after being released by good work from Luis Romo , Quinones adding a second from close range after a clearance rebounded off Sanchez once his initial effort was blocked by Kovar.
Mexico had the luxury of bringing 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa off the bench to appear in a fourth World Cup and Alvaro Fidalgo rounded things off as he lashed home a loose ball in stoppage time after Kovar denied Santiago Jimenez.
Mexico midfielder Obed Vargas said: "(The coach told us) to have personality, to play the way we've been playing with our clubs, and to give everything for this country, because we'll never have a home World Cup again."
