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World Cup: Mexico vs. France: El Tri leads, 2-0

By Kevin Baxter
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This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Baby-faced Javier Hernandez and ageless Cuauhtemoc Blanco came off the bench early in the second half and combined to help Mexico take a 2-0 lead over France in the 78th minute of a World Cup game both teams have to win to keep the second round in view.

Hernandez scored the first goal despite TV replays appearing to show that he was offside, and Blanco got the second on a penalty kick into the lower left corner of the net in the 78th minute after Pablo Barrera was taken down in the penalty area.

If Mexico can hang onto the lead, it will be tied with Uruguay atop the Group A standings with one game left.

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France’s had a scoring chance in the 72nd minute, but an open shot by Andre-Pierre Gignac from about 25 yards sailed high over the net.

Read more about the Mexico-France game.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

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Kevin Baxter

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and other things for the Los Angeles Times, where he has worked for 27 years. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.

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