Mexico stun defending champions Germany

Mexico stun defending champions Germany
Hirving Lozano of Mexico celebrates after scoring the 1-0 during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group F preliminary round soccer match between Germany and Mexico in Moscow

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday Jun 17, 2018. 18:58

Defending champions Germany suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Mexco in their first 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday.

The win takes the Tricolor to the top of Group F standings after match day one, while Die Mannschaft are placed fourth on the table.

The match got off to a lively start and it was Die Mannschart, who threatened first through Timo Werner following a good move by the Germans.

Joshua Kimmich played in Werner down the right-hand side and the German striker flashed his shot across goal as the Tricolors survived a scare.

Mexico looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Hirving Lozano, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and Carlos Vela all looking lively upfront for the Tricolor.

However, Juan Carlos Osorio's men were struggling to keep their shots on target and they could not seriously test Manuel Neuer in Germany goal.

Die Mannschaft came close to scoring in the 22nd minute when Julian Draxler set up Toni Kroos and the latter fired straight at Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa's hands.

The Tricolor then took a surprise lead when Lozano cut inside and drilled the ball low from close range beyond Neuer to make it 1-0 to Mexico in the 35th minute.

Germany nearly responded with a goal a few minutes later when Kroos hit the crossbar with a brilliant taken free-kick with Ochoa well-beaten.

The last chance of the first-half fell for Andres Guardado following a quick-counter, but the Mexico captain placed his shot just wide from the edge of the area just before the break.

Mexico were leading 1-0 at the interval following an entertaining first-half.

The second-half was dominated by Germany followed, but Mexico still looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Chicharito made a good run, before setting up Vela, but the ball was just ahead of the latter and Germany survived a scare in the 57th minute.

Jochiam Low, the Die Mannschaft head coach, reacted by introducing Marco Reus on the hour-mark as the defending World Cup champions looked to level matters.

The Germans pushed forward in numbers and Kroos unleashed a shot from the edge of the area in the 76th minute, trying to guide a first-time shot into the bottom corner, but it went wide of the target.

Mario Gomez had a chance to score with a header from Kimmich's delightful cross, but the Die Mannschaft striker headed wide of the target in the 88th minute.

It should have been 1-1 a minute later when Julian Brandt hit a brilliant snap-shot from 20 yards out which clipped the outside of the post with Ochoa well-beaten.

Mexico then contained Germany in the closing stages of the game, and ultimately, the Tricolor emerged 1-0 winners on the day.

Germany (0)
Mexico (1) 1 (Lozano 35')

Germany: Neuer, Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Plattenhardt (Gomez 79'), Khedira (Reus 60), Kroos, Müller, Özil, Draxler, Werner (Brandt 86').

Mexico: Ochoa, Salcedo, Ayala, Moreno, Gallardo, Herrera, Guardado (Marquez 74'), Layun, Vela (Alvarez 58'), Chicharito, Lozano (Jimenez 66').





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