Mexico into Olympic soccer final

Wembley - Oribe Peralta scored with a swerving long-range strike to help Mexico to a 3-1 victory over Japan on Tuesday and secure a spot in the final of the men's Olympic soccer competition.

Mexico will now play either Brazil or South Korea in Saturday's final.

Mexico's previous best showing at the Olympics was in their 1968 home games, when they were beaten 2-0 by Japan in the bronze medal match.

Japan, who had yet to improve on their 1968 performance, opened the scoring with a good strike from Yuki Otsu on 12 minutes, but Marco Fabian headed in a corner for Mexico before half-time to equalise.

On 65 minutes, Peralta won the ball off Japanese defender Takahiro Ohgihara, who lingered with it too long after 'keeper Shuichi Gonda had rolled it to him. Peralta ran with the ball briefly then shot high and to the left of Gonda to give Mexico the lead.

Deep in added time, Cortez cut into the box from the left wing, beat a defender then sent the ball through the legs of Gonda to cap the victory.