Sweden thumped Mexico 3-0 on Wednesday, overpowering their opponents after a scoreless first half in a result that means both teams advance to the World Cup last 16 at the expense of defending champions Germany.
Sweden finished top of Group F on goal difference, with both teams on six points ahead of Germany and South Korea on three apiece, after the champions went down 2-0 in a shock result in Kazan.
After pressing hard for most of the first half and wasting numerous chances, Sweden finally found the net when left-back Ludwig Augustinsson charged up the field in the 50th minute and angled home a left-footed volley.
Twelve minutes later, captain Andreas Granqvist kept his concentration in the face of deafening boos and whistles from the Mexican fans to blast a penalty into the top left corner after Hector Moreno had brought down Marcus Berg.
Mexico’s misery was complete when the ball trickled in off the leg of Edson Alvarez for a tame own goal on 74 minutes.
The Mexicans were a shadow of the team that had beaten Germany and South Korea and had pundits speaking of them as potential world champions.

Swedes beat Mexico 3-0 but both go through to last 16

Sweden’s defender Ludwig Augustinsson (L) scores the opening goal past Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 2018 World Cup Group F football match on June 27, 2018. (AFP)
Reuters, Yekaterinburg, Russia
Wednesday 27 June 2018
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:52 - GMT 06:52
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