Mexico 2-0 Ecuador: Hosts continue stunning World Cup run with four wins and zero goals conceded

Mexico enactment connected a amusement for their supporters astatine the iconic Azteca Stadium connected Tuesday evening. In the past 32 of the 2026 World Cup, the hosts swept speech Ecuador 2-0 to beforehand to the past 16 with minimal fuss for overmuch of the contest.

A ascendant archetypal fractional saw Mexico unfastened the scoring done a stunning onslaught from Julian Quinones. Shortly afterwards, the goalscorer turned provider, teeing up Raul Jimenez for different good finish.

The hosts' awesome triumph was built connected 2 pillars: the quality to neutralise Ecuador's top spot and yet different section successful what has been a singular tourney campaign.

How the lucifer unfolded astatine the Azteca

Intensity and sheer determination from the Mexican broadside defined the archetypal half.

It was virtually a one-sided affair, with 2 exceptions courtesy of John Yebboah, who struck the woodwork portion the people was inactive goalless and aboriginal forced an outstanding prevention from Raul Rangel aft the hosts had taken a two-goal lead.

Beyond those moments, Mexico were successful implicit power and came adjacent to extending their vantage further done Jimenez and Gilberto Mora earlier the break.

With the pb secured, Mexico sat deeper successful the 2nd half. They astir added a 3rd from a brace of corners, 1 of which saw Hernan Galindez nutrient a good halt from a Cesar Montes header, but Ecuador enjoyed much of the shot without ever uncovering the gaps.

In the closing stages, Piero Hincapie was sent disconnected for covering his rima portion directing maltreatment astatine an opponent.

It was a near-perfect show from the hosts astatine some ends of the pitch. A thoroughly deserved victory.

One of the standout campaigns astatine the World Cup

Four matches, 8 goals scored and nary conceded. Dominant victories implicit South Africa, the Czech Republic and Ecuador, positive a harder-fought triumph against South Korea. Javier Aguirre's Mexico did not committedness this overmuch earlier the tournament, but they person proven connected the pitch, roared connected by their location support, that they are 1 of the astir accordant sides successful the competition.

To bushed Ecuador, Mexico showed tactical courage. The South American side, boasting elite players specified arsenic Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho and Hincapie, property aggressively successful the attacking half, a reflection of manager Sebastian Beccacece's philosophy.

When that precocious property was triggered astir the 20th infinitesimal to unit the Mexican build-up, which had deliberately invited the press, Quinones dropped heavy to connection support. Roberto Alvarado held steadfast and played a shot successful down for the forward, who exploited the exposed abstraction astatine the backmost of the Ecuadorian defence to score.

Mexico besides caused problems by forcing errors from Ecuador's attempts to play retired from the back. Galindez resorted to respective agelong clearances. From 1 of those, the hosts won the aerial duel, accelerated guardant and Jimenez exchanged a one-two earlier finishing.

The triumph was each the much implicit because, having imposed themselves successful the archetypal half, Mexico chose to beryllium heavy and did truthful efficaciously for the last 45 minutes, portion inactive looking unsafe connected the counter.

Can Mexico dream?

Mexico's flawless run deserves thing but praise. At the aforesaid time, it is worthy noting that they person not yet faced the strongest imaginable absorption astatine this World Cup. In the past 16, they could conscionable either England oregon the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who play connected Wednesday astatine 18:00 UK time.

If it is the African side, Mexico would participate arsenic favourites. Should it beryllium England, the hosts would find themselves arsenic underdogs for the archetypal clip successful the tournament. In a World Cup that has already seen Paraguay destruct Germany, it is not intolerable to ideate the hosts upsetting the English.

The answers volition travel connected Sunday astatine 22:00 UK time, erstwhile again astatine the Azteca. The Mexican supporters are promising different magnificent spectacle astatine a stadium wherever the hosts person ne'er mislaid successful a World Cup: 8 victories and 2 draws successful 10 matches, scoring 18 times and conceding conscionable twice.