Mexican supporters in the stand finally celebrated. Sombreros were up in the air, drinks were splattering and fans joyously embraced. On the pitch, some Mexican players broke were on their haunches, breaking down in tears.
Tears of distress? For some of them, surely. Kim Young-Gwon had scored a shock winning goal for South Korea against Germany and while the news filtered through for supporters on their smartphone, many Mexican players did not appear to know. They thought they had blown it all.
Has a team ever played so well for the first two games of a World Cup - only then to be dumped from the competition in such brutal fashion? The World Champions Germany were instead the punchline of the day and the Mexicans can instead speak of lessons learned and revitalise themselves for the knockout rounds. From despair to elation in the blink of an eye.
Mexico survived and, for their adventure and passion in this competition, the World Cup is better for it.
In Kazan, however, the dream morphed into calamity. The helter-skelter energy that fuelled Mexico's victory over Germany sapped away and in its place came grave errors.
As for Sweden, what a response. From the desolation of a last-minute defeat by Germany, they demonstrated spirit and courage themselves from the canvas and catapult themselves to the top of Group F.
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