Mexico made a triumphant start to their World Cup campaign as co-hosts, defeating New Zealand 4-0 in a thrilling opener at the Estadio Azteca. Raul Jimenez was the star of the show, scoring twice to send the home crowd into raptures.
Dominant Display from El Tri
From the first whistle, Mexico took control of the match. Their high press and quick passing overwhelmed the New Zealand defense, which struggled to cope with the pace and creativity of the Mexican attack. Jimenez opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a powerful header from a corner kick, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Jimenez Double Seals Victory
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker doubled Mexico's lead just before half-time, slotting home a precise finish after a clever through ball from Hector Herrera. In the second half, Mexico continued to dominate, with Hirving Lozano adding a third goal in the 55th minute. Jimenez completed his brace and Mexico's scoring with a penalty in the 78th minute, awarded after a handball in the box.
The victory was a perfect start for Mexico, who are looking to advance deep into the tournament on home soil. Coach Gerardo Martinez praised his team's performance, saying, "We played with intensity and intelligence. The fans were incredible, and we are proud to give them this joy."
New Zealand, despite the heavy defeat, showed moments of resilience but were ultimately outclassed. Their coach, Darren Bazeley, acknowledged Mexico's superiority, stating, "They were too good for us today. We need to learn from this and move forward."
Mexico's next match is against Sweden, while New Zealand face Germany in their second group game.
