Who was the favorite at Estadio Azteca? Mexico, one of the co-hosts of the tournament, appeared to hold a slight edge, at least on paper. However, Ecuador, fresh off an impressive victory over Germany in the final group stage match, was determined to put up a fight.
Ecuador’s hopes, under the guidance of Sebastián Beccacece, were shattered in just nine minutes during the first half. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Julian Quinones latched onto a pass from Roberto Alvarado, driving into the penalty area and firing a powerful shot past Hernan Galindez.
Soon after, in the 31st minute, the roles reversed. Quinones turned provider, setting up Raul Jimenez, who found the back of the net with a stunning strike into the top corner. Javier Aguirre’s squad headed into halftime with a commanding two-goal advantage.
The second half brought little change to the overall dynamic. Ecuador struggled to advance their play, while Mexico seemed to maintain firm control.
In the 68th minute, Hernan Galindez made a stunning save, denying Cesar Montes’ powerful header. Then, during injury time, La Tricolor star and Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie was sent off after an altercation, receiving a red card for covering his mouth during a dispute.
The co-hosts held onto their lead until the final whistle, securing their place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. In the next stage, they will face the winner of the England vs. DR Congo clash.