POLOKWANE (Reuters) – Mexico pulled off a surprise 2-0 victory over France on Thursday, leaving the 2006 World Cup finalists facing serious risk of elimination in the group stage of this year’s tournament.

Substitute striker Javier Hernandez, 22, put the Mexicans in the lead in the 64th minute, springing France’s offside trap before rounding keeeper Hugo Lloris and calmly netting.

Mexico’s second came from a rather older substitute, 37-year-old Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who scored from the penalty spot after Eric Abidal brought down Pablo Barrera in the 79th minute.

France, like hosts South Africa, have just one point from two games in Group A while Uruguay and Mexico, who meet each other in the last group game, are on four and need only a draw to guarantee that both go on to the last 16.

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