Mexico made it four wins from four at the World Cup, still without conceding a goal, as Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez sent El Tri into the last 16.
Mexico had to wait an extra hour because of bad weather at the Azteca. Once the game finally started, the win arrived right on time.
El Tri defeated Ecuador 2-0 in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup, continuing a perfect tournament run that now looks more and more like something historic. Four matches, four wins, zero goals conceded. The dream is no longer just emotional. It is real.
Javier Aguirre’s team settled the match in the first half, with Julián Quiñones once again becoming the face of this Mexican World Cup. The forward opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, moving to three goals in the tournament, and later served the ball that led to Raúl Jiménez’s 31st-minute strike.
That was enough to send the Azteca into celebration and Ecuador into trouble.
Quiñones was named FIFA Man of the Match, and deservedly so. Ecuador’s defense never found a way to contain his movement, pace and directness. Every time Mexico attacked through him, the match tilted in El Tri’s favor.
Mexico also showed the other side of its success: defensive control. César Montes and Johan Vásquez produced a strong performance at center back, while Rangel was rarely forced into desperate work. Ecuador had possession in phases but struggled to create clear chances, with Venezia winger Yeboah the only player capable of causing real danger near the Mexican goal.
Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece tried to change the match at halftime with a double substitution in defense, removing Franco and Ordóñez. The Bruges center back had been involved in the mistake that led to Mexico’s second goal, and Ecuador needed a reaction. But the rhythm of the game never truly changed.
Moises Caicedo, promoted to captain by Beccacece, could not impose himself in midfield. Pacho and Ordóñez, usually defensive pillars, struggled throughout. Enner Valencia was almost invisible, and Ecuador’s attacking structure never found the speed or sharpness needed to trouble Mexico.
The night became even worse for Ecuador in stoppage time, when Hincapié was sent off after a VAR review by Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić. It was the final image of a frustrating elimination for a team that never found its best version.
For Mexico, this was another statement. Aguirre’s side has become the first national team since Italy in 1990 to start the World Cup knockout phase with four wins and no goals conceded. Back then, the magic was at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. This time, it is under the lights of the Azteca.
Mexico is winning, defending, scoring and carrying an entire country with it. The Tri is no longer just hosting a dream. It is living one.
Match Report
Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
Halftime: 2-0
Goals: 22’ Quiñones, 31’ Jiménez
Mexico: Rangel; Sánchez, Montes, Vásquez, Gallardo; Lira, Romo (74’ Vargas), Mora (59’ Gutiérrez); Alvarado (80’ Reyes), Jiménez (74’ Giménez), Quiñones (80’ Pineda).
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Ecuador: Galíndez; Franco (46’ Preciado), Ordóñez (46’ Medina), Pacho, Hincapié; Yeboah (79’ J. Caicedo), M. Caicedo, Vite, Angulo (79’ Páez); Plata, Valencia (59’ Rodríguez).
Coach: Sebastián Beccacece
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Yellow Cards: Franco, Páez, M. Caicedo
Red Cards: Hincapié
