Mexico hold off Ecuador after strong first half to record first knockout win in 40 years

[p]An hour-long storm delay only added to the anticipation for a fervent Mexican crowd who created a cauldron of noise to provide the fitting backdrop to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a]’s relentless first-half performance, which yielded numerous chances and two deserved goals.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mora-gilberto/6oBtqO4C/"]Gilberto Mora[/a] threatened twice, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jimenez-raul/ENwqg0Pd/"]Raul Jiménez[/a] headed wide as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aguirre-javier/2gjul1lr/"]Javier Aguirre[/a]’s side flew out of the blocks, shortly before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yeboah-john/jHriw9D2/"]John Yeboah[/a]’s toepoke struck the near post in one of the rare moments where [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]Ecuador[/a] relented Mexico’s incessant pressure in an exhilarating first period. [/p][p]The majority of those in attendance celebrated wildly when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quinones-julian/dQkfXJPR/"]Julian Quinones[/a] netted an emphatic 22nd-minute opener, running in behind on the left channel [b]before cutting inside to rifle a fierce effort in at the near post, registering his third goal of the tournament.[/b][/p][image alt="Match Stats" id="be45bc6d-a820-4661-b865-dc3eacf2fc07" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="a004d015-d512-42d0-958c-39118949ccef" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]The decibel levels increased even further when Raul Jiménez doubled Mexico’s lead just past the half-hour mark. The veteran forward won the ball back high up the pitch, neatly exchanged possession with Quinones [b]and then applied the finish with a sliced strike that swerved away from the helpless [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/galindez-hernan/CMsj4Kx5/"]Hernan Galíndez[/a]. [/b][/p][p]With a mountain to climb, Ecuador boss Sebastian Beccacece made a double change at the break and then sent on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-kevin/zidM8dFE/"]Kevin Rodriguez[/a] before the hour mark in a bid to spark a comeback. [/p][p]However, their task was made tougher by Mexico’s decision to adopt a conservative approach in the second period, frustrating [i]La Tri[/i] while still threatening to add to their lead just before the hydration break. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/montes-cesar/j9EcJFsj/"]Cesar Montes[/a]’ powerful header drew a smart stop from Galindez, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vasquez-johan/Qydfoeer/"]Johan Vasquez[/a] nodded wide from the subsequent corner. [/p][image alt="Momentum" id="a8820930-2893-4556-b259-807ce7b865f4" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="0f8592ef-e8d0-42d2-b9ea-e05f42fadc1d" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Unable to find a way back into the contest, Ecuador’s miserable night was compounded when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hincapie-pedro/2TTElOLP/"]Piero[/a] Hincapie was sent off for covering his mouth in a confrontational manner.[/p][p]Mexico, meanwhile, celebrated a memorable victory and a fourth consecutive clean sheet of the tournament, as they now look forward to a last-16 tie against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]DR Congo[/a].[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quinones-julian/dQkfXJPR/"]Julian Quinones[/a] (Mexico)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ecuador-8tbm8Tri/mexico-O6iHcNkd/summary/stats/?mid=fydIxpfR"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]