Mexico's Rafael Marquez (L) vies for the ball with Croatia's Mateo Kovacic during a Group A match between Croatia and Mexico of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Arena Pernambuco Stadium in Recife Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Argent Soldes , Brazil, June 23, 2014. (XinhuaLui Siu Wai) Croatia's Darijo Srna vies with Mexico's Andres Guardado during a Group A match between Croatia and Mexico of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Arena Pernambuco Stadium in Recife, Brazil Homme Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Noir Soldes , June 23, 2014. (XinhuaLui Siu Wai) Croatia's Luka Modric (C) vies for the ball during a Group A match between Croatia and Mexico of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Arena Pernambuco Stadium in Recife, Brazil, June 23 Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Or Soldes , 2014. (XinhuaLui Siu Wai) Mexico's Hector Moreno (L) competes with Croatia's Ivan Perisic during a Group A match between Croatia and Mexico of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Arena Pernambuco Stadium in Recife, Brazil, June 23, 2014. Mexico won 3-1 over Croatia on Monday. (XinhuaLui Siu Wai) Mexico's Javier Hernandez celebrates for his goal during a Group A match between Croatia and Mexico of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Arena Pernambuco Stadium in Recife Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Jaune Soldes , Brazil, June 23, 2014. Mexico won 3-1 over Croatia on Monday. (XinhuaGuo Yong) Croatian soccer fans react as they watch the televised 2014 FIFA World Cup match between Croatia and Mexico in Zagreb's central square, Croatia Asics Onitsuka Tiger MEXICO 66 DELUXE Blanche Soldes , June 23, 2014. Croatia lost the match to Mexico 1-3 and got knock out of the rest of the game. (XinhuaMiso Lisanin) Croatia's Sime Vrsaljko (2nd L) competes for a header during a Group A match between Croatia and Mexico of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Arena Pernambuco Stadium in Recife, Brazil, June 23 Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Mid Runner Jaune Noir Soldes , 2014. Mexico won 3-1 over Croatia on Monday. (XinhuaLui Siu Wai) By Michael Place
RECIFE, Brazil, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Mexico scored three goals in 10 electrifying second-half minutes to advance to the World Cup knockout phase with a 3-1 victory over Croatia on Monday.
The Group A clash looked to be petering towards a 0-0 draw before former Barcelona defender Rafael Marques' 72nd minute header sparked his team to life.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Andres Guardado then rifled in a second before Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez made it 3-0 with eight minutes left.
Croatia scored a consolation goal when Wolfsburg midfielder Ivan Perisic found the net after an Ivan Rakitic backheel.
The result at Pernambuco Arena clinched second spot in Group A for Mexico, who will meet the Netherlands