Former Asian champions Japan had gone three games without a single defeat on the international friendly scene before they faced Gold Cup champions Mexico in their last game as far as the just concluded November international break was concerned. Japan and Mexico faced off last week Tuesday at the Liebenauer Stadium in Graz, Austria.

Japan came into that friendly game on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, while opponents Mexico have not tasted defeat on the international friendly stage since the thumping 4-0 loss to Argentina last year.

Mexico have not been beaten for more than a year since Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez starred for the Argentines during the aforementioned game. Martinez scored two goals in the space of five first half minutes before Paris Saint Germain (PSG) player Leandro Paredes added a third goal from the spot. Martinez would go on to complete his hattrick and wrap up the comprehensive win for Argentina with all the goals coming in the first half of the game.

At the end of the Japan vs. Mexico game, an unbeaten run was ended and that was for four-time Asian champions who succumbed to the might of the CONCACAF champions. Mexico beat Japan 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run.

After a goalless first half, Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez gave the Mexicans the lead on 63 minutes before Hirving Lozano doubled that advantage five minutes later. Lozano plays his club football for Italian Serie A giants Napoli.

Since the Japanese team suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Korea in the final round of the East Asian Cup, they played out a goalless draw with Cameroon before consecutive 1-0 wins over Ivory Coast and 10-man Panama. The Cameroon and Ivory Coast games took place in October, while the Panama and Mexico games were played earlier this month.