You know how sports writers use adjectives like “earth-shattering” and “seismic” to describe shock results that no one saw coming? Well, Mexico defeating defending world champions Germany at the Fifa World Cup on Sunday may just have lived up to that hyperbole.
When 22-year-old Hirving Lozano put his side 1-0 ahead after 35 minutes on the clock, you can bet your life savings that celebrations would have been wild back in Mexico. Just how wild though? Well, wild enough to seemingly trigger an “artificial earthquake” according to SIMMSA, a “seismic monitoring network” operated by the area’s Institute of Geological and Atmospheric Research, which attributed the event to “massive jumps”, possibly.
“The ‘Sismo’ detected in Mexico City originated artificially. Possibly by massive jumps during the goal of the Mexican national team in the World Cup. At least two sensors inside the city detected it at 11:32,” the account tweeted.
This is not entirely unheard of in sport. It is often reported that NFL team Seattle Seahawks fans trigger minor tremors every time they celebrate with gusto.
Thousands of jubilant Mexico supporters partied in the streets of the capital Sunday after their team’s shock 1-0 victory over World Cup holders Germany – singing, dancing, blaring car horns and cheering El Tri.
Fans crammed into the Zocalo, the city’s main square, to celebrate.
“What happened today was an earthquake of joy for us – just imagine, we beat the world champions!” said Laura Villegas, a 45-year-old merchant who downed her beer with tequila in one gulp.
“What happened hey, what happened hey, to the Germany that was going to beat us today?” the crowd chanted.
President Enrique Pena Nieto joined the party, saying on Twitter: “Confirmed: Mexicocompetes and wins against the best in the world, Congratulations to @miseleccionmx! Great match!”
Victory rallies erupted in other major cities such as Guadalajara, Toluca, Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez.
- ‘Lozano for president’ -
Throughout the capital, the streets filled with exhilarated fans, on foot, bicycles, motorbikes or in cars. Some blasted their car stereos, while others shrieked in glee.
Amid the cacophonous bustle, a veteran violinist played the traditional tune “Cielito Lindo” – roughly translated as “Lovely Sweet One.”
The victory was a heart-stopping one, but “a small goal is still a goal,” said the musician, while fans left coins in his instrument case.
One female fan, a flag in her hand and the national colors painted on her cheeks, screamed: “We are an Aztec warrior force!”
“Lozano for president, Lozano for president!” fans cheered – not forgetting that the country will hold elections to choose a new leader on July 1.
Ana Maria Contreras, a primary school teacher, came with her children and even dogs decked out in El Tri’s signature green jerseys to join the festivities.
“We have shown that we can compete with any power. And I hope that whoever wins as president also knows how to lead us to victory,” she said.
As for the players themselves, the win meant a great deal.
And the fans in Russia? Well, they had a whale of a time as well.
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