Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday to reach the World Cup round of 16. Julian Quiñones scored and set up Raul Jiménez inside the first half. It was Mexico's first knockout win since 1986.
Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday to reach the World Cup round of 16. Julian Quiñones scored and set up Raul Jiménez inside the first half. It was Mexico's first knockout win since 1986.
The hosts flew forward from kick-off in front of a crowd of more than 80,000. Quinones broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, latching onto a Roberto Alvarado pass, driving into the box and firing into the top corner past Hernan Galindez.
Nine minutes later he turned provider. Jiménez won the ball back, played it to Quinones and collected the return to smash home from the edge of the area. Raul Rangel then denied John Yeboah before the break, and Ecuador never recovered.
Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout game since 1986, the last time they hosted the tournament. Javier Aguirre's side have won all four games so far without conceding, a goal difference of 8-0. Group wins over South Africa (2-0), South Korea (1-0), and Czechia (3-0) preceded this result.
Error-free defending was again central. Cesar Montes and Johan Vasquez shielded Rangel, who has kept four straight clean sheets. Gilberto Mora, 17, started in midfield, becoming the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match behind Pelé in 1958.
Ecuador's night ended with a dismissal. Piero Hincapié was sent off in the second-half stoppage time for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Santiago Gimenez, an automatic ejection under a new tournament regulation.
He is the second player punished under the rule this tournament, after Paraguay's Miguel Almiron. Ecuador, who had beaten Germany in the group phase, fell to a second knockout defeat in their history.
Ecuador held 57 percent of possession but managed only one shot on target. Manager Sebastian Beccacece made several changes at half-time in search of a way back. Kevin Rodriguez poked wide with just over 15 minutes left, but the visitors could not force the game.
Mexico return to the Estadio Azteca on Sunday for the round of 16. They will face the winner of Wednesday's meeting between England and DR Congo.
