- Full Time
- 90 + 9'M. Caicedo
- 90 + 5'P. Hincapié Card upgraded by VAR
- 90 + 3'K. Páez
- I. Reyes on for R. Alvarado80'
- O. Pineda on for J. Quiñones80'
- 79'K. Páez on for N. Angulo
- 79'J. Caicedo on for J. Yeboah
- S. Giménez on for R. Jiménez74'
- O. Vargas on for L. Romo73'
- 59'K. Rodríguez on for E. Valencia
- B. Gutiérrez on for G. Mora58'
- 46'Y. Medina on for A. Franco
- 46'Á. Preciado on for J. Ordoñez
- Half Time
- 45 + 1'A. Franco
- R. Jiménez31'
- J. Quiñones22'
- Kick Off
-
1
Raúl Jiménez1 - 2Julián Quiñones1
- 1Raúl Jiménez4
- 2Gilberto Mora3
- 3Roberto Alvarado3
- 1
Piero Hincapié2 - 2Kendry Páez1
- 3Luis Romo1
- 1Julián Quiñones1
- 2Roberto Alvarado1
- 1Roberto Alvarado4
- 2Julián Quiñones3
- 3Jorge Sánchez2
- 1Pedro Vite62
- 2Moisés Caicedo57
- 3Piero Hincapié52
- 1Nilson Angulo4
- 2John Yeboah3
- 3Gilberto Mora1
- 1Luis Romo2
- 2Jorge Sánchez1
- 3Gonzalo Plata1
Mexico booked their place in the Round of 16 with a commanding 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca – ending a 40-year wait to win a World Cup knockout match on home soil and setting up a last-16 clash with England or DR Congo.
Julian Quinones and Raúl Jiménez found the net in a breathtaking nine-minute first-half burst, with Ecuador unable to respond despite mustering seven attempts across the full 90 minutes. Mexico are now unbeaten in 10 World Cup games at the Azteca – a record they extended in front of a partisan crowd that willed every touch forward
Quinones sets the tone
The match kicked off after an hour-long delay due to inclement weather, but the downpour had not dampened Mexico’s determination. Ecuador threatened early – John Yeboah took on Montes one-on-one inside the box in the 17th minute, only for his shot to crash against the post, offering a warning the hosts chose to heed immediately.
Mexico reset and, in the 22nd minute, Roberto Alvarado slid a perfectly timed through ball into Quinones’s path. The forward cut inside the box and powered a thunderous strike into the top corner – his third goal of the tournament and the moment the Azteca truly ignited.
Ecuador’s Joel Ordonez conceded possession in the most damaging of circumstances nine minutes later. Quinones punished the error immediately – playing a quick give-and-go inside the box before Jimenez rifled a shot into the corner of the net to double Mexico’s lead. Two goals in nine minutes. The tie was effectively over before half-time.
- Mexico manage, Ecuador misfire
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece made several changes after the break in an effort to find a way back into the match, but Mexico, largely content to sit back, still looked the more threatening team. Raul Rangel produced a fine save to keep out another Yeboah effort as Ecuador got a foothold in the match, but the hosts always carried the greater danger on the counter.
Cesar Montes went close twice for Mexico as the second half wore on, while Ecuador substitute Kevin Rodriguez poked just wide with 15 minutes remaining – their last genuine moment of threat. Piero Hincapie was sent off in stoppage time after covering his mouth during a confrontation with an opposition player to cap a wretched evening for the Ecuadorians.
Mexico finished the group stage as one of only three sides – alongside France and Argentina – to win all three matches without conceding a single goal, and they now carry a perfect defensive record into Sunday’s Round of 16 at the same Azteca ground that hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. The hosts will fancy their chances of going further still.
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