Defending champions Germany have started their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Mexico in Moscow.
Mexico put everything into a relentless first-half display which saw Hirving Lozano give his nation the lead and although Germany came on strong after the break, Juan Carlos Osorio’s team held on to register a famous win to give themselves every chance of progressing from Group F.
Mexico almost took the lead within the first minute of game with Lozano only being denied by a last-ditch tackle from Jerome Boateng before up the other end, Timo Werner directed a shot marginally wide of the far post from 14 yards.
Germany responded through Joshua Kimmich – whose cross was almost diverted into his own net by Carlos Salcedo – before Werner hit a shot on the turn too close to Guillermo Ochoa.
The game had been open from the first whistle and Mexico finally broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark through Lozano, who cut inside onto his right foot and lashed the ball into the bottom corner after some fantastic build-up play from Javier Hernandez.
Soon after the restart, Germany went close to an equaliser through Toni Kroos, but the Real Madrid midfielder’s free kick from 25 yards was fumbled onto the crossbar by Ochoa.
Mexico had used up a lot of energy in the opening 45 minutes and were less willing to throw men forward after the restart, but Hernandez and Vela should have combined to put their team into a two-goal lead before the hour mark after breaking clear, but Hernandez’s pass was over-hit and the opportunity was lost.
However, as Germany threw men forward, it left space at the other end and Miguel Layun twice went close with long-range efforts after leading counter-attacks.
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