From New Zealand was not expecting one wonders at the tournament, All Whites occupy in the Federation Internationale de Football Association ranking is the lowest among all the participants of QC-2017, and the first match against Russia confirmed its status as the main outsider of the tournament.
New Zealand competed well, put their more fancied rivals under pressure and probably deserved more from the game.
Host Russia is third with three points and New Zealand has none.
Peralta made it 2-1 19 minutes later, as El Tri's quality began to tell.
A second Group A loss means New Zealand can't reach the semi-finals, regardless of their final group result against unbeaten Portugal on Saturday.
All Whites coach Anthony Hudson knows it is all or nothing for his team in their second game at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russian Federation.
How to watch Mexico vs. New Zealand
Akinfeev had kept his team in the match early in the second half when he tipped a powerful header by Andre Silva round the post. That's all to say that though Mexico are certainly big favourites, they certainly shouldn't underestimate their opponents.
"I thought it was freakish really, it was like we had elbowed the player the way it was going on", he said. New Zealand's hopes of a first-ever victory in its fourth appearance at the World Cup warm-up tournament were thwarted nine minutes into the second half.
"The game was really rough, almost violent and I think that's unacceptable".
It took two second-half goals from the startled Mexicans in Sochi to avoid an enormous upset after the world No.17 ranked side trailed the 95th-ranked All Whites at halftime. "We went toe-to-toe with the European champions and we managed to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in check", beamed Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio after Sunday's draw in Kazan. "Late in the game, it was much better after Russia's substitutions, but Portugal never lost the control". "They deserve a lot more out of tonight", Hudson said.
"I think Mexico controlled the match more with much more possession, but we were more risky, we had more chances, we just failed a little in the finishing".
In the first half, the new Zealanders are in no way inferior to one of the favorites of the group A, and therefore wood's goal shortly before half-time did not surprise anyone.
"Our efforts on the pitch will come to nothing if, because of this (behaviour), we lose the match, the game is suspended or you are expelled from the stadium".
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