Guillermo Ochoa appeared at his sixth World Cup and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora shone as the youngest player to start in the competition for 24 years as co-hosts Mexico eliminated Czech Republic with a third consecutive win in Group A.
Mexico were already through as group winners after beating South Africa and South Korea but continued the feelgood factor with a 3-0 victory thanks to second-half goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo in a party atmosphere at the Azteca Stadium.
It was a night of celebration for Mexico, who could potentially meet England after the round of 32, and featured a farewell cameo from 40-year-old Ochoa, who appeared as a substitute having joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in being at his sixth World Cup.
Ochoa’s long kick led to Mexico’s late third and a player at the opposite end of his career, in Mora, had a hand in their second when his through-ball released Jorge Sanchez in the build-up. At 17 years and 253 days, he became the youngest player to start a World Cup game since Nigeria’s Femi Opabunmi against England in 2002.
As Mexico celebrated, Czech Republic bowed out of the tournament tamely, mustering only one shot on target on the night. Their misery was compounded by a potentially serious injury to West Ham’s Tomas Soucek, who had to be helped off after jarring his knee.
South Africa’s 1-0 win over South Korea means they advance Group A runners-up, while South Korea must wait for other results to know if they will go through via the third-place table.