New Zealand vs. Mexico: Score and Twitter Reaction for 2016 Friendly

Nissan Stadium, which is home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, was draped in red, white and green on Saturday night as the Mexican national soccer team defeated New Zealand 2-1 in an international friendly. 

Mexico bossed 65 percent of the possession and attempted 13 shots, but New Zealand proved to be a difficult opponent despite its lack of soccer success with eight shots and six corners. 

Before the festivities even began, Saturday night provided a special moment for Mexico striker Giovani Dos Santos, who reannounced his presence with El Tri in style, per ESPN FC's Tom Marshall:

However, it appeared as though this wouldn't be much of a competitive match based strictly on world rankings. Heading into Saturday night, Mexico was ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, while New Zealand was 88th. 

Recording artists Boombox Cartel thought the same thing:

But a tentative start allowed New Zealand to set up shop at the back and use its physical play to keep Mexico at bay.

It was the All-Whites who came up with the first big chance of the match when midfielder Marco Rojas weaved his way through the Mexican defense into the box, but Mexico goalkeeper Jose Corona saved his low shot.

Marshall wasn't impressed with Mexico's start:

Vice Sports' Jorge Arangure was already looking ahead to when the United States and youngster Christian Pulisic next play Mexico, predicting good things after El Tri's slow start:

Mexico was bailed out when Deklan Wynne was deemed to have taken down Hirving Lozano in the box. 

Up stepped Dos Santos, who placed his penalty shot into the upper right-hand corner of the goal to put Mexico up 1-0 in rare fashion, via ESPN Stats & Info:

The goal had Cozmo—the mascot of Dos Santos' MLS side, the Los Angeles Galaxy—pumped:

But in the first minute of the second half, New Zealand found an answer when a Mexican turnover in the midfield provided Wynne an opportunity to cross the ball into the Mexican box, where Rojas was waiting to slot the ball past Corona.

Obviously, New Zealand Football was pleased with Rojas' goal:

Marshall continued to break down Mexico's shortcomings:

Mexican panic would be curbed 10 minutes later when Marco Fabian and Oribe Peralta linked up for El Tri's most beautiful play of the match. 

Outside of New Zealand's box, Fabian delivered a perfect through ball into the 18-yard area for Peralta, who drew a pair of defenders with him. Toward the left of New Zealand's goal, Peralta also grabbed the attention of goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic. 

Instead of shooting, Peralta laid it off for an on-rushing Fabian, who blasted his shot into an open goal, via Univision Deportes:

Just one more friendly separates Mexico from an enormous World Cup qualifying match against the rival United States, but a questionable performance against New Zealand won't do anything to pad El Tri's confidence going into such a big match. 

Mexico will have one more opportunity to get things right in a friendly against Panama on Tuesday. 

Stats courtesy of ESPNFC.com.