A place in the next round of the men’s Olympic football tournament will be decided in the final round of fixtures in Group A, as Mexico look to confirm their passage with a final group win over South Africa.
Olympic Football Preview
The final round of games in Group A will be played with fixtures having huge stakes. South Africa’s tournament is already effectively over, as they have lost both of the two games that they have played to this point. They were beaten by Japan in their opening game, before they played out a thrilled with France in their second group game. However, they were unfortunately on the losing side against the French, as they fell to a 4-3 defeat. Andre-Pierre Gignac was the difference maker between the two sides, as he hit a stunning hat-trick. It was an agonising defeat for South Africa, as the match-winning goal was scored in the final minute of injury time. South Africa had led the game going into the final five minutes after goals from Evidence Makgopa, Teboho Mokoena and Kobamelo Kodisang.
Mexico come into the final game with a great chance of reaching the next round of the competition. A draw could be enough to progress, depending on the result in the other fixture in the group. However, three points would be the result that they would need to make certain of their progression. Mexico are currently level on points with France, but have a superior goal difference. However, Mexico were handed a first defeat at the Olympics this summer in their second group game, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Japan. That defeat almost certainly means that the hosts have made it through to the next round, but Mexico will need a positive result in their final game.
South Africa vs Mexico Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between Mexico and South Africa since the World Cup finals eleven years ago. That match ended in a 1-1 draw between the nations. South Africa’s last win against Mexico came in 2005, while Mexico won the first two fixtures between the nations in 1993 and 2000.
South Africa vs Mexico Prediction
South Africa produced a much-improved performance in their second group game against France. However, Mexico will make life tricky for their opponents, and we fully expect them to get the three points that they need to reach the next round of the Olympics.
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