MEXICO CITY, June 18 -- Host nation Mexico scored twice in the second half to defeat DPR Korea 3-1 on Saturday in the opening match of the FIFA U-17 Word Cup of soccer.

DPR Korea scored just two minutes into the match and goalkeeper Cha Jong Hun made key saves early on, but Mexico applied consistent pressure and tied the match on a goal by Carlos Fierra in the 37th minute.

Mexico, playing in the western city of Morelia with an enthusiastic home crowd, continued applying pressure throughout the second half and capitalized on the expulsion of the DPR Korea goalkeeper.

Substitute goalkeeper Jong Kwang Sok gave up an own goal in 68th minute and Mexico scored another by Giovani Casillas in 86th minute.

Mexico's Giovanni Casillas (R) fights for the ball against Chol Bom (l) of Democratic People's Republic of Korea during the inaugural game of the World Cup Under-17 at the Morelos Stadium in Morelia city, Mexico, June 18, 2011

In the the northern city of Monterrey, France scored three times late in the first half to easily defeat Argentina 3-0.

Other matches scheduled for Saturday evening included the

Netherlands versus Congo and Japan versus Jamaica.

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