Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory on Tuesday, defeating Ecuador 2-0 at a jubilant Estadio Azteca to book their place in the last 16.
The round-of-32 clash was delayed by an hour because of stormy weather, but the co-hosts made light of the disruption, dominating from the outset in front of a raucous home crowd.
Julián Quiñones gave Mexico a deserved lead in the 22nd minute with a thunderous finish before setting up Raúl Jiménez for a second goal just after the half-hour mark.
Ecuador struggled to mount a response after the break as Javier Aguirre’s side comfortably saw out the victory to secure Mexico’s first World Cup knockout win since they last hosted the tournament in 1986.
The result extends Mexico’s unbeaten World Cup record at the Azteca to 10 matches and sets up a last-16 meeting with either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
An emotional Aguirre, managing Mexico at a World Cup for the third time across three separate spells, admitted the victory had lifted a long-standing burden.
“I am one of those who was never able to play the fifth match,” he said, referring to previous World Cup campaigns in South Korea and South Africa.
“You have a good group stage, and then you get stuck and cannot move forward. But today there was a huge communion with the people.”
The 67-year-old praised the unity within his squad after celebrations erupted across the country.
“I can tell you that this team deserves what is happening,” Aguirre said.
“We have a great connection with our fans. Today we are among the last 16, and we’ve been together for a long time. We still enjoy being together, we are focused, and we are a true family.”
Home advantage
Mexico arrived in the knockout stage as one of only three teams to win all three group matches, alongside France and Argentina, without conceding a goal.
Seventeen-year-old Gilberto Mora started for the hosts, becoming the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match after Pelé in 1958.
Mexico immediately seized control, with Jiménez heading wide from an excellent early opportunity before Mora narrowly missed the target.
Ecuador’s best first-half chance fell to John Yeboah, whose effort clipped the outside of the post.
The breakthrough arrived midway through the first half when Saudi Arabia-based Quiñones collected Roberto Alvarado’s pass, surged into the penalty area and rifled an unstoppable shot beyond Hernán Galíndez.
The hosts doubled their advantage eight minutes later as Quiñones turned provider, slipping a pass into Jiménez, who lashed his finish into the top corner.
Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece made several attacking changes after the interval, but Mexico remained the more dangerous side, with César Montes twice going close to adding a third.
The visitors’ frustrating evening ended on a sour note when Piero Hincapié was sent off in stoppage time following an on-field confrontation.
Mexico will now look to use home advantage once more when they return to the Azteca for Sunday’s last-16 encounter before the remainder of the tournament moves to the United States.
AFP
