Oribe Peralta scored a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in rain-lashed Natal on Friday in a match which once again raised questions over the standard of refereeing at the World Cup.
Miguel Herrera's Mexico side dominated throughout but went in for the half-time break feeling aggrieved after seeing what looked like two perfectly valid goals chalked off for offside.
Those decisions did little to appease a Mexican media which cried foul after seeing Group A opponents Brazil awarded a questionable penalty in a 3-1 win over Croatia on Thursday.
The possibility of yet another refereeing blunder appeared to have crossed the mind of Herrera, who said afterwards: "I told the boys before the match to keep their focus on our gameplan, whatever happens.
"Human error exists. We have to learn to put up with whatever comes our way. We didn't think about the referee when we went back to dressing room (at half-time).
"Concentration is essential and the lads did well to keep their composure."
Volker Finke, the German coach of a Cameroon side whose pre-World Cup was marred by a bitter row over bonuses, refused to use the "difficult" playing conditions as an excuse.
But after sidestepping the issue of refereeing decisions, he admitted Cameroon's next encounter, against hosts Croatia, will be decisive.
"The conditions weren't an excuse for our performance," said Finke, who admitted Cameroon, relatively late arrivals in Brazil, had found Mexico's 5-3-2 system a tough nut to crack.
"We had some problems through the middle of midfield in the first 20 minutes or so, but we eventually adapted. The second half we were better, but overall we're disappointed.
"We had a few chances to score, and didn't. They had goals ruled out, but that's the way it is. Now we've got five days before our next match, which will already be decisive for our World Cup."
After a cagey start at a sodden Estadio das Dunas, Giovani Dos Santos appeared to have opened Mexico's account when he first-timed Miguel Layun's delivery past Cameroon 'keeper Charles Itandje inside the quarter hour.
Ruled out for offside
But despite replays showing the Villarreal striker to be onside, the goal was chalked off by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan.
After Eric Choupo-Moting's close-range tap past 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa was also ruled offside, Cameroon spurned a far better chance when Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto finished off a mazy run down the left to deliver for Samuel Eto'o, but the Chelsea striker saw his first-time shot flash wide.
Mexico, however, remained a constant threat and had the ball in the net for a second time when Dos Santos flashed a header past Itandje at the back post following a corner, although it too was waved off by Roldan.
Finke replaced defender Cedric Djeugoue with Dany Nounkeu for the start of the second half, but the African side were soon under pressure.
Quickly, Itandje was forced to block from Peralta as the Santos Laguna striker jumped on to Dos Santos's smart dink.
And although Choupo-Moting, with a deflected shot, and Assou-Ekotto, with a curling free-kick, came close Mexico went in front just after the hour.
Dos Santos saw his low drive parried by Itandje and into the path of Peralta, who drove home from 10 metres out to send the largely Mexican crowd of 39,216 into raptures.
Herrera replaced midfielder Andres Guardado with Marco Fabian and minutes later Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez came on in place of Peralta.
A chorus of 'Ole' began to ring around the stadium as the Mexicans took control, and in the final 10 minutes Hernandez chased deep in Cameroonian territory to cut back for Fabian, who was blocked by a defender.
Cameroon came close twice in the dying minutes when Benjamin Moukandjo's drive across goal was blocked by an alert Rodriguez and then Ochoa pulled off a spectacular dive to parry Moukandjo's header from Assou-Ekotto's delivery.
However Mexico almost made it two at the death when Layun dispossessed a Cameroon defender to deliver for Hernandez, who volleyed just over.
AFP
Fri Jun 13 2014
Mexico's Oribe Peralta celebrates after scoring during the group A World Cup soccer match between Mexico and Cameroon in the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. - AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Guinea-Bissau akur kepada Israel, tidak beri kebenaran guna bendera bagi misi pelayaran
Kerajaan Republik Guinea-Bissau dilaporkan tunduk dan akur kepada gesaan Israel untuk tidak membenarkan misi pelayaran Break The Siege: Freedom Flotilla to Gaza menggunakan bendera mereka.
Penyakit berkaitan haba dikhuatiri meningkat di Gaza
Penularan penyakit berkaitan haba panas menjadi kebimbangan terbaharu di Gaza selepas suhu luar jangka melampau melanda wilayah itu setiap hari. Ia sudah semestinya diburukkan lagi dengan kekurangan air bersih dan ketiadaan sistem pembuangan sisa pepejal yang sepatutnya wujud di sesebuah kawasan didiami manusia.
Ilhan Omar melawat peserta tunjuk perasaan
Wakil Dewan Perwakilan Amerika Syarikat (AS) Ilhan Omar mengadakan lawatan di kampus penyokong Pro Palestin di Universiti Columbia New York pada Khamis.
Dua lelaki didakwa jadi 'tali barut' kepada China
Dua lelaki yang mana salah seorangnya pernah bertugas di Parlimen United Kingdom (UK) enjalani proses perbicaraan di mahkamah London pada Jumaat selepas didakwa menjadi tali barut menyalurkan maklumat sulit kerajaan kepada negara tembok besar itu.
Polis serbu pejabat 'Save the Children' di Guatemala
Polis Guatemala melakukan serbuan mengejut ke atas pejabat-pejabat Pertubuhan Save the Children di pelbagai lokasi di negara itu. Ia bagi mencari bukti dakwaan pertubuhan yang memperjuangkan kebajikan kanak-kanak itu, terlibat dalam jenayah penderaan terhadap golongan itu.
LIMA '25 dianjurkan pada 20-24 Mei tahun depan
Pameran Maritim dan Aeroangkasa Antarabangsa Langkawi 2025 (LlMA ‘25) akan dianjurkan pada 20 hingga 24 Mei tahun depan bertemakan Innovate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.
Malaysia komited tingkat hubungan dua hala bersama Libya
Malaysia terus komited mempertingkatkan hubungan dua hala yang berterusan bersama Libya demi manfaat bersama dalam pelbagai sektor.
Demi rakyat, Zahid-Muhyiddin henti saman fitnah
Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Presiden Bersatu, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bersepakat untuk menamatkan pertikaian peribadi antara mereka.
Sultan Selangor berangkat ke Majlis Bacaan Yassin di Pangkalan TLDM
Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yang juga Kepten Yang Dipertua Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) berkenan berangkat ke Pangkalan TLDM Lumut di Perak bagi menghadiri Majlis Bacaan Yasin, Tahlil dan Khutbah Khas sempena Sambutan Hari TLDM ke-90.
PM Anwar pulangkan elaun Pengerusi Khazanah
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memaklumkan beliau memulangkan elaun sebagai pengerusi Khazanah Nasional Berhad yang diterimanya dan sekali lagi menegaskan tidak menerima gaji bagi jawatan Perdana Menteri yang disandangnya sejak November 2022.
Cameroon lancar kempen vaksinasi malaria pertama di dunia
Dalam usaha menangani ancaman malaria yang berterusan, Cameroon pada Isnin memulakan kempen vaksinasi pertama di dunia terhadap penyakit itu.
16 terkorban nahas lebuh raya di Cameroon
Sekurang-kurangnya 16 orang terbunuh dalam kemalangan di lebuh raya Douala-Edea wilayah Littoral Cameroon pada Jumaat, menurut Menteri Pengangkutan Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe.
Piala Dunia Qatar: Brazil pertaruh skuad kedua berdepan Cameroon
Pasukan pilihan itu turun tanpa tekanan dalam perlawanan akhir, tetapi masih perlu memastikan tempat teratas.
Piala Dunia Qatar: Cameroon pamer kebangkitan ikat Serbia
Cameroon bangkit daripada ketinggalan dua gol untuk mengikat Serbia 3-3.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pokok bunga 'rare' ditemui saintis, dinamakan sempena Leonardo DiCaprio!
Pokok Bunga 'Rare' Ditemui Saintis Dan Dinamakan Sempena Nama Leonardo DiCaprio!
UFC 260: Menang KO, Francis Ngannou rampas kejuaraan heavyweight Stipe Miocic
Francis Ngannou berjaya meraih kejuaraan heavyweight UFC selepas menewaskan Stipe Miocic dalam aksi UFC 260 di Las Vegas, pada Ahad.
Piala Dunia Wanita: England dan Perancis mara ke suku akhir
England menewaskan Cameroon 3-0 dalam perlawanan yang dipalit kontroversi, manakala Perancis menundukkan Brazil 2-1.
Piala Dunia: Cameroon mara ke pusingan kalah mati
Cameroon mara ke pusingan kalah mati hasil gol kemanangan pada minit terakhir permainan menentang New Zealand.
Pilihan raya Cameroon, proses undian tamat
Presiden Paul Biya, yang memegang jawatan itu sejak 1982, bersumpah untuk menamatkan krisis yang berlangsung lebih setahun yang telah mengorbankan lebih 400 orang.