Fifa World Cup quake: earth literally moves in Mexico City as fans trigger sensors after victory
Seismologists detect an ‘artificial’ rumbling as shock victory over defending champions Germany sets off night of singing, dancing and cheering
Mexicans jumping in jubilation on Sunday shook the ground hard enough to set off earthquake detectors and throngs danced in the streets after their team scored a surprise victory over World Cup defending champions Germany.
Elated fans waved Mexican flags and donned traditional “sombrero” hats at the iconic Angel of Independence monument in downtown Mexico City as they sang the country’s unofficial soccer anthem, Cielito Lindo, or “Pretty Little Sky,” a popular folk song.
In the city’s massive main square, families in Mexican football jerseys had watched on a giant screen in front of a towering cathedral as Mexico beat Germany 1-0 in Moscow.
When star player Hirving Lozano scored a goal in the 35th minute, supporters jumped up and down, shouting, “Yes, we did it!”
At the Angel of Independence monument after the match, Rodolfo Pulido, 47, led a chant of “Mexico! Mexico! Mexico!” perched on a concrete barrier that usually separates traffic on a busy thoroughfare.
“I am incredibly happy,” said Pulido, with his girlfriend and son on a Father’s Day outing. “It’s a double gift: Mexico won and I get to celebrate with my son.”
“El Tri,” as the team is called in homage to Mexico’s three-colour flag, has failed make it to the round of 16 in the last six World Cups.
Presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered his congratulations at a campaign event in Mexico state, telling supporters: “Just like the team won today, Mexico will keep winning.”
Others riffed on US President Donald Trump’s pledge to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico, placing photos of Ochoa guarding the goal alongside the caption “Hey! We already have a wall.”
Another popular meme depicted German Chancellor Angela Merkel holding a phone to her ear with the text: “Donald? It’s me Angela. Please build the wall.”
Mexico will face South Korea in their next game on Saturday in Rostov-on-Dov, Russia.