Mexico's forward Javier Hernandez (left) congratulates team-mate Hirving Lozano who scored their second goal during the 2017 Confederations Cup group A match against Russia in Kazan, yesterday.
Kazan: Mexico scored either side of halftime to eliminate hosts Russia from the Confederations Cup with a win 2-1 yesterday that sent them into the semi-finals.
Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev misread a long clearance and was helpless on the edge of his penalty area as a bouncing header by Hirving Lozano floated past him in the 52nd minute.
Russia had taken the lead in the 25th minute with a low strike by Alexander Samedov, beating goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa just inside the far post after Mexico had failed to clear a header and midfielder Aleksandr Erokhin missed the ball as he was trying to shoot.
Mexico defender Nestor Araujo equalised in the 30th minute with a looping header.
Meanwhile, the president of Russia's Football Union, deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko, said yesterday that the country was in talks with FIFA on using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology at some of its stadiums.
VAR, which uses two video assistant referees who monitor the action on screens and call the match referee's attention to mistakes or omissions, is being tested at four Russian stadiums hosting the Confederations Cup.
Soccer governing body FIFA has already said it would like to use video assistant referees in the 2018 World Cup.
"I have asked FIFA to leave the system at the four stadiums and FC Krasnodar has asked for it as well," Mutko told reporters in Kazan ahead of Russia's final Confederations Cup group stage match against Mexico.
"We are at the stage of talks about how to do this," Mutko said. "Our specialists are working with FIFA specialists on this. There are things to think about, but overall the system gives more objectivity and more confidence to each team."
