Mexico takes over World Cup with 1-0 victory over reigning champion Germany

MOSCOW – They played the game on the banks of the Moscow River, but given the noise, the waves of green Mexican national team jerseys and multi-colored sombreros and the loud renditions of “Cielito Lindo,” Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday might as well have been Estadio Azteca.

Mexico may been a long way from home, but it was clearly the home team in its World Cup opener. And its raucous supporters were rewarded with a 1-0 win over Germany that made history on several fronts.

For Germany, the 2014 World Cup champion, the result marked the first time in four tries it has lost the opening game of a title defense. For Mexico, the win was its first in three tries over a reigning champion.

Then there was the ageless Rafael Marquez who came on in the 74th minute to make some history of his own, tying a record by playing in his fifth World Cup.

But the day belonged to forward Hirving Lozano, who scored the game’s only goal late in the first half, and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who made that score stand up with a brilliant performance, turning away nine shots to shut Germany out.

“I don’t know if it’s the biggest victory in history, but it’s one of the biggest for sure,” said the 22-yearold Lozano, who was playing Hirving Lozano of Mexico celebrates after scoring a firsthalf goal against reigning World Cup champion Germany during a Group F match in Russia.

in his first World Cup game. “It’s great to start on the right foot when you are playing the reigning

world champions.

“It’s definitely the best goal I’ve ever scored in my entire life.”