Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory after first-half goals from Raul Jimenez and Julian Quinón secured a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Wednesday to advance the tournament hosts to the round of 16, amid celebratory scenes at the Azteca Stadium.
The last-32 victory was Mexico's first World Cup knockout stage since their home win over Bulgaria in 1986, and booked a last-16 date with the winner of the England-DR clash, where the hosts will return to the Azteca Stadium for the last match of the tournament to be played at this stadium.
Mexico almost took an early lead when Jiménez set off to receive a cross from Luis Romo with a powerful header that went just past the post, and then rookie Gilberto Moura almost scored one of the most beautiful goals of the tournament, after firing a powerful ball from a tight angle that went very narrowly past the far post of Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galendez.
Defensive mistakes for Ecuador
Ecuador managed to withstand the early pressure and almost shocked the home crowd when Gonzalo Plata launched a quick counter-attack that ended with John Yeboah getting past the defender watching him before firing a powerful ball that hit the outside of the post, but Mexico's first goal came in the 22nd minute and sparked raucous celebrations throughout the Azteca Stadium.
Roberto Alvarado played a neat pass to Quinones that struck Ecuador's advanced pressure, and the Colombian-born striker got past defender Willian Pacho before firing a thunderous shot into the top corner to score his third goal of the tournament.
Mexico doubled their lead after 9 minutes, after Ecuador easily lost the ball on the edge of their penalty area, as Jiménez started the attack himself, exchanging passes with Quinones, then firing a powerful ball from the first touch into the top corner, scoring his 47th international goal, to become just five goals away from Mexico's all-time top scorer Jabier Hernandez.
Ecuador showed signs of recovery before half-time and almost reduced the deficit when Yeboah burst inside and fired a high shot that forced Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel to make a brilliant save, but Mexico went into the break in strong control of the game after delivering what could be described as their best 45 minutes of the tournament.
Ecuador fails to register
The second half began with thousands of Mexican fans chanting "What if?" – a slogan that became the team's chant during the tournament, as confidence spread throughout the packed Azteca Stadium that this could finally be the year the team ends its long absence from wins in the knockout stages.
Ecuador had more control of the ball after the resumption of the game in a bid to get back into the contest, but posed no threat to Rangel's goal.
On the other side, Galendez brilliantly saved his own goal from a powerful header from Mexico captain Cesar Montes, before the defender fired the ball back into the net just past the goal, while the home side continued to threaten from set pieces.
The Mexico coach then took to the bench, pulling scorers Quinones and Jimenez as well as 17-year-old Moura, who received a standing ovation after becoming the youngest player to start a World Cup match since Pele.
"It's unfortunate that Moura has exhausted his energy, but he's just a boy, he's brave. All the players ran a lot."
The Ecuadorians rushed forward in the closing stages but could not find a way to break through Mexico's disciplined defence, which has not conceded a goal in the tournament so far, and their frustration was compounded when defender Piero Hinkapi was shown a red card after covering his mouth during an altercation with Santiago Jimenez.
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