Mats Hummels (C) of Germany vies with Javier Hernandez (L) of Mexico during a group F match between Germany and Mexico at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia, June 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)
by Michael Place
MOSCOW, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A goal from Hirving Lozano gave Mexico a 1-0 surprise win over defending champions Germany in their World Cup Group F match here on Sunday.
The majority of the 80,000 fans at the Luzhniki Stadium were Mexicans and Lozano induced a deafening roar when he ran onto a Javier Hernandez pass before cutting inside and firing a low shot past Manuel Neuer.
Both sides created several chances in an entertaining first half, but Mexico looked more lethal against an uncharacteristically disorganized German defence.
Joachim Low's side started the match with Marvin Plattenhardt at left-back, taking the place of Jonas Hector, who was left out with the flu.
Somewhat surprisingly, Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio deployed two holding midfielders, with Andres Guardado and Hector Herrera providing extra protection for the back four.
It took less than two minutes for Mexico to signal their attacking intent and Lozano should have done better when he blazed over with only the goalkeeper to beat after being played in by Carlos Vela.
Germany pressed high in an effort to unsettle El Tri in their own half. The move brought mixed results, often leaving the Europeans exposed on the counter-attack.
It was not all one-way traffic and Timo Werner had two half chances in the first half-hour: first pushing a shot narrowly wide and then controlling a high ball before turning and releasing a tame shot that was easily saved by Guillermo Ochoa.
Carlos Salcedo almost gifted the Europeans the lead when he clumsily flung his left foot at a Joshua Kimmich cross, with the deflection rolling just wide of the post.
But Mexico continued to look dangerous going forward, with Vela in particular finding pockets of space.
Lozano put El Tri ahead in the 35th minute following a combination of slick passes and a deft through ball from Hernandez.
Germany's best chance came shortly after when Toni Kroos hit the crossbar with a free-kick after Kimmich was scythed down on the edge of the box. Replays showed that goalkeeper Ochoa may have made contact with his fingertips to keep the ball out.
Mexico have advanced to the knockout phase in each of the past six World Cups dating back to 1994
Only twice in their history have Germany failed to reach the quarterfinals and the last time it happened was in 1978 in Argentina - before any of the team's current players were born.
