POLOKWANE, South Africa (AP) -- Substitutes Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco each scored in Mexico's 2-0 win over France at the World Cup on Thursday, leaving Mexico needing only a draw to reach the next round.
Hernandez, nicknamed "Chicharito (Little Green Pea)," ran onto Rafael Marquez's pass as the France defense stopped, believing Hernandez was offside. He dribbled around goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before guiding the ball home in the 64th minute.
Hernandez's grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, scored for Mexico against France in the 1954 World Cup.
Blanco put in a penalty kick in the 79th minute after Eric Abidal fouled another substitute, Pablo Barrera.
Mexico next plays Uruguay, which also needs a draw to advance. France has only one point and has to beat South Africa and hope Mexico and Uruguay don't draw their match in Tuesday's final group games.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mexico fans taunted the French with cries of 'Ole! Ole!' as the clock wound down and vuvezelas blasted. France fans were heavily outnumbered by flag-waving Mexico supporters who packed each end of the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and unfurled one 30-yard flag.
For France coach Raymond Domenech, it seems like a repeat of the 2008 European Championship, with a 0-0 tie followed by a defeat, and his controversial six years as coach of the French could end in more embarrassment.
Tactical brilliance from Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, with all three substitutes making an impact, and strategic redundancy from Domenech, whose team selection proved baffling once again, made much of the difference.
Argentina 4, South Korea 1
JOHANNESBURG -- Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat trick and Argentina beat South Korea 4-1 at the World Cup on Thursday, putting the South Americans on the brink of qualifying for the next round.
Argentina took the lead in the 17th minute when Park Chu-young deflected in a free kick from Lionel Messi. Higuain made it 2-0 in the 33rd after Nicolas Burdisso passed along a cross from Maxi Rodriguez.
In first-half injury time, Lee Chung-yong pounced on a defensive mistake to close the gap, but Higuain's two second-half goals -- in the 76th and 80th minutes -- put the game away.
Argentina leads Group B with six points off two victories and one game remaining in group play. South Korea and Greece are tied for second place with three points apiece.
ADVERTISEMENT
Greece 2, Nigeria 1
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa -- Greece claimed its first World Cup win, rallying to beat 10-man Nigeria 2-1 in a World Cup Group B match on Thursday.
Vassilis Torosidis poked home a loose ball in the 71st minute after a mistake from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to make history for Greece, which had lost all four previous World Cup matches.
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 16th minute at Free State Stadium when Kalu Uche's curling free kick from 35 yards deceived everyone, particularly goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas, who moved the wrong way.
But the game changed in the 33rd minute when Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita was shown a straight red card for kicking Torosidis.
