Mexico qualified for next year's World Cup finals after beating Panama at the Azteca Stadium. Substitute Hirving Lozano's second-half goal was enough to earn Mexico a 1-0 victory and lift them three points clear of Costa Rica at the top of the CONCACAF qualifying table. The win means Mexico is guaranteed a top-three finish with three matches still to play, and with it a place at Russia 2018. It is the seventh successive time Mexico will be at the World Cup finals and 16th overall. The 22-year-old Lozano, who joined PSV Eindhoven this summer from Pachuca, struck the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute when he powered home a header from Jesus Corona's cross. Mexico joins Brazil, Iran and Japan in securing their berth at the World Cup finals, alongside hosts Russia.
|